What type of Criminal Justice Degree?

[K9 Police]

"What type of Criminal Justice Degree?"

None.

Do you have to have a CJ degree in order to be hired by a PD in your state? If not, I would say stay away from CJ. Yes, there are some advantages to it, however I would look into a different degree if you are pursuing law enforcement. Many departments could care less what the degree is in, as long as you have a degree. Which basically means to them that you are educated, you can learn, have the ability to learn, and retain learning. You have surpassed those requirements with your education so far. Just because a department tells you that you need this or that, it may be just a ploy to get you out of their pool. You would be surprised how many people are hired just by the "buddy" system. If I were you, I would look into some non-sworn positions (dispatcher, community service officer, park patrol, etc.) to get your foot in the door if you are serious about LE. Get some contacts and then step into the full-time position. And if you hate it (and you can't say you won't until you try it) you can go into something else. I have wanted to do this all my life, now that I have done it, I am looking into other fields and I am only 23.

Just what I would do if I were in your position.

K9

[lawdawg]

I take CJ and I absolutely love it. I started out in business management and that dragged and sucked. I'm having fun with it so I'm gonna stick to it and if I want to branch out after, I will.

[rob1982]

So what you guys are saying is that a CJ degree is meaningless when compared to a business degree? I would figure in law enforcement it would be better to have a criminal justice degree over a degree in business. If this is true then what would be the difference in an applicant with a criminal justice degree than someone with a business management or accounting degree? What opinion do people who do have jobs in law enforcement have? Does it make it any easier than not having a degree or a degree based in a different discipline?
Thanks
Rob

[Switchback]

Just get a degree. I can't tell you how many people with CJ degrees that I beat out for my job... with a degree in molecular bio! In MOST cases, your degree does not matter... just get one in what you like. IF it is in CJ, so be it. If it is in something else, consider it a backup to LE.

[K9 Police]

If I could do it over again, I would have gotten a major in something either with business, human resources, or maybe even computers. Minor in criminal justice.

Otherwise, I have a major in sociology with an emphasis in law, criminology and deviance. Minor in Leadership and German as my language.

K9

[jake47]

If you are interested in a federal job though like the DEA you need to have your degree in CJ, Police Science, Finance, Economics or Accounting. So decide what your goals are and don't just wing it on sports management. It would be very wise to take a language.

[Switchback]

Originally posted by jake47
If you are interested in a federal job though like the DEA you need to have your degree in CJ, Police Science, Finance, Economics or Accounting. So decide what your goals are and don't just wing it on sports management. It would be very wise to take a language.

I don't think so.

Most the guys in DEA, FBI, USSS, and USMS do not have cja degrees. It runs the gambit, really.

[jake47]

Well I have the requirements right in front of me so I don't know maybe they lied to me. I was not talking about the FBI or any of those other agencies so I am unsure of their requirements.

[Switchback]

I am an 1811 series Deputy U.S. Marshal. I have been one for about 8 years, working with all kinds of other federal agents. CJ is NOT the norm. Degrees vary greatly... much as you would come aross people on the street, it is a little of everything. Of 11 people in my office, I think there are 2 Cj degrees...and one of them was a co-op hire. That's very typical for the USMS.

I would say this is the case even more for the DEA than many other agencies, as they recruit heavily from guys with military and street time with local PDs.

Then again, maybe the paper is right and I am mistaken.