Which degree?

[Kimble]

Hello, I am about to to to college so I can get an Associates degree. One college says its ok to have an A.D. in Corrections officer or in Human Services but another college is telling me that to be a Police officer in Michigan you need Criminal Justice. What should I do??

Lucy, there are many resources already available to you here, so be sure you do your homework and look into the info available: http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=44734

Long story short, the smart person would look into what the hiring requirements are for agencies they are interested in working for, not simply as the college what they think. Good luck.

[seeking]

The pot-making comment made me feel I should respond...I get criticized all the time when people ask what I went to school for and I tell them my degree is a BFA in creative writing. A lot of people think that's a waste of time. A friend's mother even said "so...you basically just wasted four years of your life?" What people don't understand is that it's essentially an English degree with an emphasis on writing/communication, the latter part which is actually pretty essential in a lot of professions.

I can apply what I have learned and my experiences through my classes and extracurriculars to a lot of different fields, including law enforement. An eye for details, the ability to remember those details accurately, and all of the basic written skills of grammar, puntuation, organization and the like are all pretty important, especially in writing reports. Because I spent the entire time I was in school (and am still currently) working in customer service, I have developed good interpersonal skills, and communication on that level as well.

"Useless" as it may appear to some people, my degree was actually one of the things that impressed a potential employer the most. I hadn't even directly applied to them but to a position elsewhere in their company, but a hiring manager came by my resume and cover letter. She was impressed that I've worked so long in customer service and had a degree in writing, so she knew that I could handle talking to people all day, the conflict resolution required of the job she had open, and all of the written corresponsdence that it would require, and asked me to come in for an interview.

I have a friend who is a theater major and was considering switching because of the impractability factor. Then I ran across someone's post to someone else doing the same thing that pointed out a theater major could say in an interview that they can contribute to large group projects, work to hard-wired deadlines, lead a group of others, have excellent presentation and communication skills, etc. There are all kinds of skills that tie in to anything that you choose to do with your life. Whether you are in hands on art, writing, theater, or any number of other things that the general public would deem "useless" or "impractical" you'll learn something. Do what you want to the most, and figure out what you are learning and how to market it toward the career you want.

[ruby0711]

I am sorry, but psych degree or not, getting into people's minds and doing the necessary manipulations is 25% learned and the rest you jsut have or you don't. Reading people is an instinct.

You have to have a gift for reading people, honing that gift by learning about psychology and sociology can only enhance what your gut tells you.

Here is a link to a forensic psychology site. It is a huge but informative website, and filled with things that you can do with an advanced degree in psychology. Keep in mind, a Ph.D is necessary on most levels; but a law enforcement backround is invaluable.



http://www.reidpsychiatry.com/index....havTrouble0307

Go to your library, and go through some APA issues of "Psychology and The Law"....great stuff. There are a lot of LEO's writing and conducting research while arresting people. :D

[England]

I think any of the following degrees would be wise choices

IT: wave of the future baby, I'm getting my MBA with an IT focus right now. I was a CJ major btw.

Accounting: Look in the paper on sunday, how many companies want candidates with this degree? And this would be just as applicable for most LE gigs.

Nursing: See above, (in case you are wondering, nursing qualifies you under the physical sciences entry path in the FBI)

Engineering: see above

Geez I wish someone would have given me this advice when I was 18. I'd be set.

[RAMEDIRK]

I'm curious as to what your guy's opinion will be on this.

I'm in the hiring process right now...

..I have a bachelor's degree in something totally un-police related, but as you probably know that doesn't mean I would have to get my Master's in that subject. I was told I could get my Master's in 18-months, and if I get this job I plan to start that as soon as it's financially possible.

Here's my question: Criminal Justice or Psychology? Personally, I have more of a natural interest in Psychology and the few courses I took in high school and college I aced. I know CJ degrees are more the norm for police work but I would think a psych degree would have it's place, you know for like getting in the heads of bad guys. Also, say for some reason I had to stop police work in the future (injury or something) I would think a psych degree would be more versitile for other career fields.

Just curious what you all think. Thanks.

Million $ question. Get a degree in what you enjoy. My personal opinion....CJs are overplayed. You can get a business or computer degree and be as or more qualified for a lot of Fed jobs. Same w/ psychology. Psychology degrees are not going to help you better understand the criminal mind :D (I had this argument w/ a buddy of mine). Yer it's a cool degree, but the agencies will teach you how they want you to think and investigate.

Get a degree in what you enjoy....but, in something that is critically needed by the agencies you are interested in... so yer, maybe I'm talking from two holes but.....