Degree for certain federal LE agencies

[manolito_mp12]

I know there are some federal 1811 agencies that prefer certain degrees from their candidates such as DEA accounting/finance degrees and FBI has certain specific skills they want. What about ATF, ICE, USSS, USMS, USPIS and DSS?

Also what weights more your GPA or what your degree is in?

I'm asking because I'm currently going to college and I'm deciding in between CJ and a different degree but I know if I go for a degree in accounting/finance or such my GPA is going to drop compared to an easier degree such as CJ.

[schoromanski]

manolito_mp12

I will be a senior this year in college. I was first CJ then switched to Computer Science and then now to Accounting and Finance. From the people that I have talked to criminal justice is pretty much a dead degree. I have interned at a police station and a couple of federal agencies.

Internships and extracurricular activities weigh more.

What year are you?

I know there are some federal 1811 agencies that prefer certain degrees from their candidates such as DEA accounting/finance degrees and FBI has certain specific skills they want. What about ATF, ICE, USSS, USMS, USPIS and DSS?

Also what weights more your GPA or what your degree is in?

I'm asking because I'm currently going to college and I'm deciding in between CJ and a different degree but I know if I go for a degree in accounting/finance or such my GPA is going to drop compared to an easier degree such as CJ.

[Switchback]

MOST federal LE agenceis do not require or give preference to specific degrees. The FBI is the only one that really does specific hiring initiatives, based on your degree. I have never heard ot he DEA doing it. Now, many of them may give you a little bump with foreign language proficiency, depending on agency needs.

[Maverick24]

manolito_mp12

I will be a senior this year in college. I was first CJ then switched to Computer Science and then now to Accounting and Finance. From the people that I have talked to criminal justice is pretty much a dead degree. I have interned at a police station and a couple of federal agencies.

Internships and extracurricular activities weigh more.

What year are you?

I disagree that CJ is a "dead degree" I have both a bachelors and masters and they served me just fine as do many others I know. The bottom line is, there is no "magic" degree to get into the FEDS. Like switch said only the bureau really puts out specific hiring initiatives for degrees. In any agency you will see a very large range of diverse degrees and experiences. Ive seen in just my 5 short years in the FEDS everything from CJ, to Accounting, Engineering, Teaching you name it. The education level you have usally gets you through the "door" so to speak and an interview/test etc. After that its how you can show what you can bring to the table with that education, experience, abilites etc. Its all part of the "whole person" concept agencies look at.

[manolito_mp12]

schoromanski,

I just became a junior. I'm like at 67 credits or something like that.

[BP348]

it's pretty simple;

No one cares what your degree is in as long as you can check the box that says you have a 4 year degree. But your GPA may get you hired at a higher rate.

Only agency I've heard that wants a certain type of degree is IRS and maybe FBI.

As an Agent with a BS in Criminology and being one class shy of my Masters in Sociology with a Criminology emphasis I don't agree with the CJ is a dead degree either.

[SemperFiVet]

I had the Bureau of the Public Debt tell me that my MSc (Master of Science in Management) degree was not applicable to an 1811 spot for HUD, and that I would have needed something like a CJ degree to qualify.

They said it was in the OPM manual but I never found a definitive list as to what graduate degrees are applicable for 1811's or not. Other than CJ, there aren't a whole lot of master degrees that would seemingly apply?

[Switchback]

I had the Bureau of the Public Debt tell me that my MSc (Master of Science in Management) degree was not applicable to an 1811 spot for HUD, and that I would have needed something like a CJ degree to qualify.

They said it was in the OPM manual but I never found a definitive list as to what graduate degrees are applicable for 1811's or not. Other than CJ, there aren't a whole lot of master degrees that would seemingly apply?

I find that EXTREMELY hard to believe, as I have regularly worked with a couple HUD agents on out regional fugitive task force and neither has a CJ degree. If you can find an announcement I would be very eager to see it in writing.

[500pearl]

taken my post on officer .com

you do not necessarily need a cj degree in order to get into the le field. i would recommend a major that is considered a skill set, such as accounting, language, or it with the relevant certifications. that way, you can take the skill with you wherever you go, even if you decide not to pursue a job in the le field. also it makes you stand out among the applicants since accounting can be possibly utilized by all le agencies, local, state, and federal. in my opinion a cj degree is very general and provides you with the insight about the cj system but cannot adequately prepare you for the actual street performance of duty. 4th amendment search and seizure, reasonable suspicion, procedures from initial arrest to sentencing can be learned by reading law textbooks, hornbooks, emanuels outlines, and reading published cases.

[Piggy]

I had the Bureau of the Public Debt tell me that my MSc (Master of Science in Management) degree was not applicable to an 1811 spot for HUD, and that I would have needed something like a CJ degree to qualify.

They said it was in the OPM manual but I never found a definitive list as to what graduate degrees are applicable for 1811's or not. Other than CJ, there aren't a whole lot of master degrees that would seemingly apply?

I agree with Switch. I would check with someone directly at HUD. The Bureau of Public Debt falls under Dept of Treasury which isn't even the same agency. Both are under a different cabinet member.

[SemperFiVet]

The vacancy was being "HR'ed" by the Bureau of the Public Debt; an 1811 OIG for the HUD. I still have the emails with his exact language used to answer my obvious questions when I got the thin letter in the mail.

I've got the announcement in Word form, but you're right in that it only states "an applicable degree" when referring to GS-9 and using education to qualify.

The HR rep said they would not give me credit for my MSc towards GS-9 because it was not an applicable degree for an 1811; I've also got an undergrad in sociology and an AA in speech communications. Oh I countered back but after he reiterated, what else could I do?

They even then denied my merit ap for the same vacancy as a veteran (campaign badge/small VA service connected disability rating) because I supposedly failed to submit a performance appraisal - but I'm presently unemployed and not even a prior Fed employee (besides my DOD service, that is) so I only assumed that the absence of my appraisal would be apparent.

I don't know, what else can/should I do? This was just a couple of weeks ago.

[Piggy]

I would call OPM at (202) 606-1800. First I would see if you can find someone that specializes in veterans preference. Maybe they can help find someone on the other issue from there.

[1depd]

IRS also has course requirements. They don't require a degree in accounting, but you must take, I believe, 24 credit hours in accounting to be eligible.

[Switchback]

Yeah, but HUD requiring a CJ degree?

I have NEVER heard of any federal 1811 position requiring a CJ degree, specifically... NEVER, EVER, EVER.

[Piggy]

I found two links.

This one is to the HUD OIG employment site:
OIG Special Agent Employment - HUD

This is to a job posting in Kansas City.
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.as...&rc=2&TabNum=3

Neither have a requirement for the specific degree. I think someone may be BS'ing you. Who knows the motivation. Let us know what you find out.