American Military University Question

[SR-25]

Im looking at starting some on-line courses through AMU and am torn between going after my BA in Criminal Justice or Homeland Security. Im planning on applying to most of the 3 letter agencies when I get out of the Marine Corps, however im most interested in the DEA, FBI, USSS, and ICE. How do these agencies view on-line degrees? I know the FBI has a history of having a problem with applicants who have CJ degree's. Has anyone heard of them trying to stay away from applicants with Homeland Security degree's? Heres a link to AMU's Homeland Security Degree page.

http://www.amu.apus.edu/Catalog/08/u...d/homeland.htm

[Piggy]

I'm not the expert on this by any means, but from what I've heard about the FBI, they are looking for accountants and lawyers for their agents. I know someone in the academy right now and he had a CJ degree if I remember right, so there may not be any truth to that.

As to the online degree, I don't think you'll find any problem with it. Especially from that University as it's used quite frequently by military personnel. With the Homeland Security Degree, it may not be a bad idea, but it'll be hard to tell. Most colleges have only offered that as a degree within the last 4 or 5 years so I'm sure the jury's still out on that one.

I think with any of those, a foreign language would help quite a bit.

[Joeyd6]

Online is pretty much accepted as long as it is accredited! AMU is accredited.

[Grift]

http://fbijobs.gov/

[SR-25]

I'm not an expert either, but accredited is accredited. While I have been told by a Bureau recruiter that the name of your school is a factor, I don't believe it's a deal breaker. In addition, unless your degree is in Accounting, Computer Science, some sort of hard science, or a language, it's not really going to matter to them what you do. At least from what I have read about the Bureau. I know next to nothing about the other agencies.

In addition, with your FAST experience, you could look at the FBI's HRT recruiting program. In that case it seems your degree would be more of a check-in-the-box to fulfill the requirement, and what would really get looked at is your combat arms experience.

Thats what I was thinking too, the recruiter that I talked too said that since Ive already been through a SWAT / CQB type school. I should look at applying through the TRP.

[England]

I looked into AMU also but I was too leary about it for my masters. They didn't require a GMAT or GRE exam which made me suspect. I hope everything goes well with them and please let us all know.

Regarding your degree. I got a CJ degree from a traditional school in 2001 and I absolutely wish I would have gotten one in another discipline. Always have a contingency plan. Think about what you will do if none of the agencies are hiring or it takes a while or you just change your mind about your career. My advice? Get a general business type degree or Nursing. Why those? Look in the sunday paper for any city and see what employers are looking for. Busness and Nurses.

Hell even the FBI values a nursing degree over a CJ.

Just my .02