How versatile is a criminal justice degree?

[Dan208]

I know that this is a topic that has been discussed to death but I couldn't really find anything pertaining to my question. I still don't know what I want to get into for a career (I need to decide because I'm not getting any younger ) but I do know that I want to get some kind of degree. What careers are out there that a criminal justice degree would be relevant to? It's probably not as versatile as say a business or public administration degree, but I don't want to study something that doesn't interest me. Sorry for beating a dead horse.

Dan

[Kimble]

What careers are out there that a criminal justice degree would be relevant to?

You know, I thought I had posted info about this before, but I can't find it, so maybe I've written this out before but never posted it on this forum.

Well, as the name of the degree would suggest, a criminal justice degree is designed to teach a college student about the CJ field. What careers are there in the CJ field?

While prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys are a part of the CJ system, these jobs require one to have a juris doctorate (i.e. a law degree), so a CJ degree (whether associates up to PhD) alone won't cut it. What fields one could pursue with a CJ degree include:

*law enforcement (IMHO, the best field in CJ, or anywhere ;))
*probation/parole
*court administrator/magistrate
*corrections
*community/drug counseling
*private/industrial security
*loss prevention/corporate fraud investigations
*any untold number of support positions in these jobs

There more, I'm sure, but this is probably a good general list of fields in the CJ system.

It's probably not as versatile as say a business or public administration degree, but I don't want to study something that doesn't interest me.

No, you won't find yourself being an accountant, or being at the top of the list for hire as a stock broker, with a CJ degree, but then that's not what the degree is designed to teach you. I've seen several choose other "fall back jobs" with their CJ degree, as some jobs only require a college degree (in anything). However, if you're career sights are not on the CJ field, I would not encourage you to seek a CJ degree.

[Creeker]

Some of us with CJ degrees recommend any other degree in most anything else, because you don't really need a CJ degree to be hired in any of the above fields.

Just IMO.

[Kimble]

Some of us with CJ degrees recommend any other degree in most anything else, because you don't really need a CJ degree to be hired in any of the above fields.

Just IMO.

All true, and many give this advice, which is sound. However, as I've said before, some simply aren't interested in anything other than CJ (and know that's where they wish to work), or work in the field and want experience/training transferred in as academic credit. These are generally those who a CJ degree is right for.

After all, having a degree - CJ or otherwise - the the important factor, but if one field pushes one to complete it because that is what they're interested in, it's better they end up with the degree at the end of their schooling.

[Creeker]

...

After all, having a degree - CJ or otherwise - the the important factor, but if one field pushes one to complete it because that is what they're interested in, it's better they end up with the degree at the end of their schooling.

Not to disagree for the sake of the argument, I have personal experience that having a CJ degree can limit a persons future if for some reason they are unable to physically (or even psychologically or legally) maintain and perform most of the occupations that you listed.

Whereas a person who obtains a Business Management degree, goes into LE and becomes physically disabled, that person is pretty well able to go into Management of most any business on the planet, whereas the guy with the CJ degree is going to have to obtain further schooling to even be considered for most of those jobs.

I am one of those people you speak of..."some simply aren't interested in anything other than CJ (and know that's where they wish to work)" and going into my last semester, I debated switching Majors, but it meant that I would lose some credit hours... and I was tired of the schooling and wanted to work.

I wish I'd had someone like me in my ear, now.

Young people just don't think anything unpredictable could happen to their plans... :cool:

[renli3d]

Not to disagree for the sake of the argument, I have personal experience that having a CJ degree can limit a persons future if for some reason they are unable to physically (or even psychologically or legally) maintain and perform most of the occupations that you listed.

Creeker is right on, listen to the man.

[RO56]

Certain degress, especially 2-year degrees, are typically "applied" degrees - not only do they give you proof of accomplishing a long term goal, they give you some skills and knowledge that can get you working in a particular field ASAP. Criminal Justice happens to be one of a plethora of fields and degrees that (can) fall into this category.

Beyond this, I can honestly say that, other than a small number of very specific fields of work, it doesn't matter WHAT your degree is in. What matters is that you HAVE a degree.

What we're talking about here is: what degree will do you good OUTSIDE of the CJ/LE world (e.g., if you are hurt/physically unable to continue working as an officer).

As such, let me be the first to tell you that, outside of LE, most businesses hire people for their skills and knowledge, not (specifically) because they have a specific degree in a specific field. Yes, they generally prefer a degree in some field, but let me assure you that it's rarely about which academic program you completed in school.

What's most important is that you HAVE a degree. It shows a prospective employer that you can set a long term goal, work at it without giving up, and attain that long term goal. It proves that you have personal characteristic traits that an employer is looking for: committment, dedication, loyalty, execution, and achievement.

In short, it proves that you're not a quitter.

Most of the skills an employer is going to hire you for are skills that you learned on the job while working for OTHER employers. Post-secondary education teaches you theory and understanding, but until you spend some time applying that theory to real world situations, you're not as valuable to an employer as a seasoned veteran.

Sure, if you're interested in working as a Forensic Chemist for the ATF, a degree in a science field will better serve you than, say, a CJ or Business degree. But these types of career fields are the exception rather than the rule.

Sure, a 2 year degree is good, and a 4 year degree is better than a 2 year degree.
Sure, a degree in the field you want to work in is better than one outside that field.

But the bottom line is: ANY degree is better than NO degree, and there's no such thing as a BAD degree.

[Dan208]

Thanks for all the quick responses. The reason that I'm trying to figure out what to study is because as Creeker stated, I want something to fall back on if I can't do physical work any more. There are some things on ROS's list that I've thought would make an interesting career (I've also seen some of the large surrounding cities that want a CJ degree for animal control, which I would love to do). What I'm thinking is maybe an Associates Degree in CJ (the nearest community college to me offers this), then major in something else. Hopefully by then I'd decide what I want to do.

[RO56]

What I'm thinking is maybe an Associates Degree in CJ (the nearest community college to me offers this), then major in something else. Hopefully by then I'd decide what I want to do.

Check with the community college that you plan to attend. In many cases, they have articulation agreements in place with various senior colleges (4 year colleges and universities) that allow you to earn your Associates while maximizing the actual credit hours you will be transferring to the next school.

What I mean is, the articulation agreements are specific between that particular CC and a specific university - they tell you NOW which exact credits/classes from a specific Associates program will transfer to which exact credits/classes at the university for a specific Bachelor's program.

Essentially, you are seeing and starting on an existing roadmap for your 4-year degree - while earning an Associates half-way through - and the CC/University articulation agreement assures you that you won't be taking classes NOW that are worthless LATER.

In fact, we have a few community colleges here in MI that, as part of earning your Associates in CJ *and* being part of the articulation agreement, you attend the police academy. Which means you (a) get an Associates degree, (b) attend the academy (earning college credit towards your Associates while doing so) and are MCOLES certifiable and (c) are 50% done with your Bachelors without losing much, if any, credit hours. You may have some CC's like that near you.

[BP348]

Beyond this, I can honestly say that, other than a small number of very specific fields of work, it doesn't matter WHAT your degree is in. What matters is that you HAVE a degree.

As such, let me be the first to tell you that, outside of LE, most businesses hire people for their skills and knowledge, not (specifically) because they have a specific degree in a specific field. Yes, they generally prefer a degree in some field, but let me assure you that it's rarely about which academic program you completed in school.

Most of the skills an employer is going to hire you for are skills that you learned on the job while working for OTHER employers. Post-secondary education teaches you theory and understanding, but until you spend some time applying that theory to real world situations, you're not as valuable to an employer as a seasoned veteran.

Sure, a 2 year degree is good, and a 4 year degree is better than a 2 year degree.
Sure, a degree in the field you want to work in is better than one outside that field.

But the bottom line is: ANY degree is better than NO degree, and there's no such thing as a BAD degree.

Very well said.

I read before that something like 60+% of people have a job in something other than what their degree is in.

[renli3d]

ROS56 is right on that employers care about your skills more than what field your degree is in. Another truth is how do you get specialized skills without education in that field? If you take a serious look at the jobs listed on Monster.com, hotjobs.com or other job sites you will see a pattern- almost all the employers are very specific in the skillset they desire. Think you can learn software development, law, accounting, science, engineering or writing on your own without education in those fields? All those jobs require expertise knowledge that one can only get through extensive study via a degree in that field. Many times even if you do happen to have the skills you'll still be deemed uncompetitive. I have firsthand experience of this. I have applied to numerous software and web development positions though having a CJ degree and have gotten nowhere even though I have the skills obtained through self-study. I've applied to writing jobs, network administration jobs, sql database dev jobs, welding/machining jobs, admin jobs, fraud/investigation jobs, analyst medical jobs without a single call back. They all require certifications or study that would require further education if you didn't major in that field. It's also not possible to learn these skills on the job, they expect you to have prior experience.


I'll say this: if you don't make it in LE, finding a decent salaried job (over $50,000/year) with a CJ degree and no specialized skills will be very difficult unless you have a hook. You'll be stuck in sales or retail and will have to go back to school to get a professional job in any other field.

This is what I've experienced personally, and I actually have multiple degrees in multiple fields but all gov related so it's a gov job or bust for me, unfortunately. If I had to choose again, I would have picked computer science, engineering, medicine or accounting since they would open doors to high salary, entry level positions that are in high demand.

Everyone is correct that it doesn't matter what kind of degree you have if you want to be in LE, but it does matter if you want to be in anything else.

[Dan208]

Check with the community college that you plan to attend. In many cases, they have articulation agreements in place with various senior colleges (4 year colleges and universities) that allow you to earn your Associates while maximizing the actual credit hours you will be transferring to the next school.

What I mean is, the articulation agreements are specific between that particular CC and a specific university - they tell you NOW which exact credits/classes from a specific Associates program will transfer to which exact credits/classes at the university for a specific Bachelor's program.

Essentially, you are seeing and starting on an existing roadmap for your 4-year degree - while earning an Associates half-way through - and the CC/University articulation agreement assures you that you won't be taking classes NOW that are worthless LATER.

In fact, we have a few community colleges here in MI that, as part of earning your Associates in CJ *and* being part of the articulation agreement, you attend the police academy. Which means you (a) get an Associates degree, (b) attend the academy (earning college credit towards your Associates while doing so) and are MCOLES certifiable and (c) are 50% done with your Bachelors without losing much, if any, credit hours. You may have some CC's like that near you.

Actually, the community college I'm looking at does have a plan with Washburn University (Topeka, KS) called the 2+2 Plan. It's exactly what you described. I got to looking at their CJ program and they have three different focuses: Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Loss Prevention. After much thinking at work over the weekend, here's what I've come up with (however flawed it may be ).

I work for Wal-Mart Distribution in an area called Breakpack. Basically, we deal with a lot of health and beauty items (shampoo, makeup, etc.) and other small items that the stores don't need a full case of. We break them out and put the individual picks into larger boxes to ship to the stores. While my job is fairly easy, and I make good money and only work three days a week, it's not something I consider a career. However, I wouldn't mind staying there if I could get off the warehouse floor. There are a handfull of jobs that are not floor jobs, but they are pretty hard to come by. One area that I'd like to work is Assett Protection (loss prevention). Any floor associate can apply for an AP position when it comes open, but unlike the floor jobs it is an interview position.

I was thinking of getting started with school and focusing on the Loss Prevention aspect of the CJ degree. It will be a few years until I can put in for a transfer (got to get my wife through school first and wait for my daughter to get a little older) but my thought is that since I'd have to interview for the AP position it would look good if I'm working on a degree with an emphasis in loss prevention. Then, if I ever decide to leave the company, I could look for another type of Loss Prevention job.

So, what's wrong with my plan? ;) Even if someone wanted to work in some type of loss prevention field, would it be wise to get a degree in something else (for flexibilitys sake)? Thanks for all the help so far.

Dan

[1depd]

Recently I was looking at the job market in the private sector when a job I had lined up fell through. I applied for several loss prevention type jobs. I applied for everything from the entry level floor guy to loss prevention manager at the store. My background is 15 years LE experience including 6 years supervisory experience. I also have a BS degree in CJ. With all of that experience I received not one call back. When I called the companies about the jobs all of the entry level work I was overqualified, but all of the mangament positions I was underqualified.

What really irked me was when I called one company I had applied for managment position, I was told I was under qualified. I had gone on thier web site and learned they have an "intern" loss prevention manger position. They would hire people straight out of college provide training and put them to work at a different store. Unfortunately the job at the location I had applied was not a training center and did not want anybody new to the company (why they put the announcement out for the public I have no idea). Several years ago I was in the Reserves with a person who was a loss prevention manager with the same company. I asked what the qualifications were for the position. His answer was two years LE or loss prevention experience.

If that is the way you are interested in going you sound like you are in a good position to start.

[Police2Be08]

i am currently majoring in CJ and I think that you should do what you want to do. I mean i used to be a business major and it was so boring, so thats why i switched.