Homeland Security BS v. Criminal Justice BS

[robomananthony]

Hello everyone,

Now i am going to be going to college soon and this has come up when I have been deciding a college to go to and I am still in the process. Now here is my question, would a degree in Homeland Security weigh more than a degree in CJ? Or would it be treated the same as a Criminal Justice degree?

Any information would be helpful.

[Ispbear]

Neither, you will find that most of us suggust you get a degree in some unrelated field that also interest you. A degree in criminal justice or homland security is not looked on any more favorably than a degree in English. Depending upon what type of department you have in mind some other degrees will actually make you a better candidate, such as accounting for the FBI. Good grades and a solid work ethic with a clean background is your best bet for being hired. Think of it this way, you get hired on a department and within 5 years you get injured and can no longer work as an officer. What good does that CJ or Homeland degree do you then?

[Kimble]

Now here is my question, would a degree in Homeland Security weigh more than a degree in CJ? Or would it be treated the same as a Criminal Justice degree?

No, a "homeland security" degree would likely not be given any additional weight over a CJ degree, and yes, the two degrees would likely be treated as equal/comparable degrees. Both are also equally limiting as far as use outside of the CJ field.

So, you may ask, why do colleges offer homeland security degrees? It's a marketing strategy (has been since 9/11) to bring in increased interest and tuition dollars. The truth is though that most agencies - while valuing higher education - see degrees as just a check in an application box, and not as valuable or replacing formal academy training or experience in the field.

[robomananthony]

Thanks haven't really though of that for the instance, if you get injured 5 years down the road. Time for a double major i guess.

[Kimble]

Time for a double major i guess.

Or, depending on how far you've progressed in your degree so far, you could always major in a more marketable field (ex: business, accounting, computers, nursing, English, Spanish, or any field that has maintained steady hiring in this economy) and minor in CJ or homeland security.

[robomananthony]

I haven't started college yet but i have the choice of doing do areas, so I would possibly be doing Computer Science and Homeland Security its an extra Winter / Summer Semester at most.

But thanks for the import it really helped.

- Anthony

[robomananthony]

I haven't started college yet but i have the choice of doing do areas, so I would possibly be doing Computer Science and Homeland Security its an extra Winter / Summer Semester at most.

But thanks for the import it really helped.

- Anthony

I meant to say input sorry.

[mpdcjock]

I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Get a degree in what interests you.