Another USMS question

[TheWahls]

Sorry for another thread, but I figure this is different than anything I have read on here thus far.

I am 20 and I am currently going to school pursuing my BSE in Social Sciences which I will eventually become a certified teacher. I read the super long 40+ page thread over the course of a day and a half and I have found out that it really doesn't matter what degree you have, however I went over to the Marshals website and saw that right under qualifications it says:

Law enforcement

* Work involving the correctional treatment and supervision of criminal offenders in correctional institutions

* Classroom teaching or instruction

Lets say I go straight into teaching after I graduate here. I teach for two years then I try and get into the Marshals. Would this be considered as valuable as law enforcement experience in the interview process?

I've got a 3.3 right now and a 4.0 in the Social Sciences, and my teachers are trying to get me to go to graduate school. What about if I went and got my masters? Would it be worth it, or would the work history of teaching be more important? I really don't like the idea of teaching long term, but I worked as a jailer in the past and I would much rather go into law enforcement.

Thanks.

[nyctrainer8]

TheWahls,

Let me preface this response by saying that our hiring process right now is in flux. A lot of people on this forum will be able to give you good advice, but nobody really knows how the hiring process will be conducted (beyond saying that we are going back to a test) with any certainty once it opens up again.


As far as the type of degree you get, you are correct, it is not the be-all end-all to say you have a CJ degree. Some think it doesn't matter at all. WITH a degree, teaching experience is good. It demonstrates some real-world problem solving skills and leadership that are always valuable. One of the guys in my academy class was a teacher before he came on (but he was hired under FCIP, which no longer exists and is a longer story than we have time for here).


The MA can never hurt. I got mine, and it probably helped me quite a bit in the hiring process. Keep in mind that many people applying will have military, LE or both (I've heard rumors of both now being required without a 4 year degree). Many people will have a 4 year degree. Ask yourself if the MA can set you apart from the rest of the field. I think it definitely can.


In any event, you have a fair amount of time before the hiring process reopens, so just focus on making yourself a more attractive candidate. It sounds like you are on the right track with a 4 year degree, so adding a masters or teaching experience can only help.


Good Luck

[TheWahls]

Thank you for your response!