Degree's?

[JrSadowski]

Im alittle confused about what degree to go ahead and go for. My admissions said to go for criminal justice, but with some research I have found that the classes for criminal justice is for correctional officers, security, and etc... but no police officer. The degree that I found out was a degree in Law Enforcement that said it mainly focuses on police officers.

My question is: Is this the right thing to do, to become a police officer? Should I go for an associate degree or bachelor degree in Law Enforcement? Please tell me what you went through to becoming a police officer.

Another question is that by 2010 I will be 21 years of age and able to apply at a prospective police department. Most police departments around here say high school diploma/GED, some say minimum of a associates degree, and some go as far as having a bachelor degree. May other question is do you think that by 2010 will make it mandatory to have a bachelor degree or just the same as like today?

[Cinnamon]

ANY type degree is better than none. And of course a 4 year degree is better than a 2 year degree.

[RO56]

Another question is that by 2010 I will be 21 years of age and able to apply at a prospective police department. Most police departments around here say high school diploma/GED, some say minimum of a associates degree, and some go as far as having a bachelor degree. May other question is do you think that by 2010 will make it mandatory to have a bachelor degree or just the same as like today?

What's mandatory is that you have the skills, knowledge, and character that every OTHER applicant doesn't.

Which is better, 2 or 4? Red or Green? More or less? Clean or dirty? It's not a matter of 'minimum requirements', it's a matter of 'Who are you up against?' and 'What do you have to offer that they don't?'.

Think about it. It's all pretty straight-forward. Education is good. More education is better. The same goes for any other 'requirement'.

[Kimble]

Im alittle confused about what degree to go ahead and go for. My admissions said...

Stop right there! Keep in mind two things: (1) depending on where you're enrolled, Admissions are often in the business of sales, and therefore they will tell you what will make them a sale, and (2) Admissions often read off of a script, and are not "experts" in an academic field, nor are they experts in the career field. Take what they say with a grain of salt

...but with some research I have found that the classes for criminal justice is for correctional officers, security, and etc... but no police officer. The degree that I found out was a degree in Law Enforcement that said it mainly focuses on police officers.

In most hiring processes with departments all across the U.S., having a degree is what is needed. The major or subject of that degree is usually not as important as having the degree. For more info on this subject, see this link: http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=44734

My question is: Is this the right thing to do, to become a police officer? Should I go for an associate degree or bachelor degree in Law Enforcement? Please tell me what you went through to becoming a police officer.

Use you're reasoning skills here. What do you think is better: an associate's degree (i.e. 2 years worth of work) or a bachelor's degree (i.e. 4 years woth of work). Neither one is a guarantee for employment, but one can easily see that more work will make you more competative than someone with less work.

May other question is do you think that by 2010 will make it mandatory to have a bachelor degree or just the same as like today?

I don't know of anyone here who has a crystal ball and can answer this with any certainty. But, if you were a hiring official, and you had three applicants (regardless of whether we're talking about today or in 2010), who would you hire? If all three were relatively equal candidates, but one had a bachelor's degree, one had an associate's degree, and one had only a high school diploma, who would you give the one spot you have open to? Do the math, it's not that hard.

[NJPrisonCop]

I was told when I was in College that if you are looking to get into the FBI OR CIA, etc a Crim Justice degree is not really all that sought after. Reason being is with all the white collar crime these days, and the age of the internet, they are looking for more business degrees and computer science degrees than anything. You can still get hired with a CRIM degree, but that is most beneficial when you work a street job or small municipality. Like someone else said, any degree is better than none. I have a BA Criminal Justice and work in the DOC for NJ. Go figure. But my area of NJ does not pay anything near what I am making, so I went for the money.

Scott

[Kimble]

I was told when I was in College that if you are looking to get into the FBI OR CIA

Scott,

While a lot of the information you gave has already been gone over (and for the most part is accurate), I do want to clarify one point. Central Intelligence Agency is not a criminal justice or law enforcement agency. They are a foreign intelligence agency. A Criminal Justice degree would be of no help in applying to CIA, not because they are involved in white collar crime, but because they are involved in collecting and analyzing foreign intelligence.

[Stan Switek]

If you want to work for the FBI, their website tells you what degrees they are looking for. If you are going to work for a state, county or minicipal law enforcement agency, consider a degree in public administration with a minor in communication or speech. You will have a well rounded education & be able to write & speak well. When you decide to promote, you will be way ahead of the game. Regarding criminal justice, there is no reason you cant take a few classes in criminal law, rules of evidence or juvenile law in addition to your public administration courses.

[carterfsmith]

(the) Central Intelligence Agency is not a criminal justice or law enforcement agency. They are a foreign intelligence agency.

I am with you, ROS . . . and why is it people think they are? :-) Working undercover in LE would be a good experience for the Agency, but . . . I think a business degree with a minor in International Relations might be the appropriate combination, and it sure would help to have a language or two under your belt WITH an understanding of the culture that goes along with that language!

We've got enough book-smart folks out there screwing up the landscape!

[Gutwrench]

Brother and Sisters:

I strongly encourage the young men and women I meet to pursue a bachelor's degree in one of the traditional colleges at a university.

A business or management degree (and many other fields of study) are a valuable asset when competing for positions within your agency.

In my opinion, a degree in criminal justice is rather redundant after an officer has been working the street for about five years. In my experience when interviewing police candidates or during promotion oral boards is that I was looking for a educationally well rounded and experienced person. The experience gained in completing a bachelor's degree from university goes a very long way in meeting this criteria. Furthermore, I am of the belief it improves ones critical thinking skills which impacts the quality of decisions; as well as vastly improves both written and oral expression helping our interaction with the people we deal with, and in written reports and on the stand in court.

Lastly, another reason I encourage a traditional degree is for insurance reasons. We can not see the future and I can give you countless examples of officers who left law enforcement early due to medical retirements, cut backs, firings, or even losing the desire to do the job any longer. A traditional bachelor's degree offers valuabe transferrable skills to LE or non-LE positions.

Just my humble $ .02 worth.

[Masterfulks]

I choose to get my degree in Accountancy as I thought it would be about the best backup degree I could have.

It would also help open the door towards the FBI if I decided to go that route.

All of my friends in Law Enforcement told me that it's better to get a non criminal justice degree so that you have a backup if something happens to prevent you from continuing or starting your LE career.

[Switchback]

My degree is in molecular bio... and low & behold I am a knuckle-draggin', trigger-pullin' 1811. Generally, what your degree is in has less bearing on getting hired than the fact that you have a degree. Go for the 4yr. It's not about hiring from the minimum requirements. It's about standing out above the other applicants.

FWIW, I would consider anyone a fool who goes to college, choosing a major because it is on the list of disciplines that the FBI is looking to hire. In all liklihood, by the time that you get your degree, their list of desireable diciplines will have changed.

Study something you like. If it is CJ, so what. If it is home decorating, big deal! Get decent grades and put in for a job.

[Kimble]

A lot of good info is being posted here. A good bit has been discussed before, so I'm going to close this thread down to keep it from getting too repetitive, though I think the original poster has more than ample information for his original inquiry.