Printable View
I have a question I am pursing a Bachlors in the field of Crim Justice with a specilization in Homeland Security and Minor in Info Security. I am just trying to figure in what fields or agencys & companies this degree might take me and so I can possibly start to do research as my grad date is next year.
It will take you into debt with nothing to fall back on.
Most agencies dont care what your degree is in, so I suggest you get something you can use as a plan B. Education or accounting go nice with some C.J. backround.
At the risk of being "hooted" off the Forum, I will suggest that with your undergraduate specialization, a law degree would open up many more doors for you.
Ron
If you want to work in upper levels of LE, get the degree. Doesn't matter what you get it in, but it does make a huge difference in pay scale and advancement. If you don't want to walk a beat forever, get the degree.
I'm not sure if things have changed, but as of 1994, you needed a Masters degree in SOMETHING to be considered for Secret Service duty. I've a close relative that got his in Sociology/Psychology, so you can certainly diversify.
Your major is not relevant (I echo those above). A BA/BS will place you ahead when selection time comes for management and upper management positions. A Master's degree in anything would be even better.
Try to find out the kinds of positions recent graduates with your degree have been offered. If they are to your liking, then proceed with your current major. If the recent graduates have nothing to show for their 4 year degree but a deep black hole of student debt, find a different major.
College and graduate school are both overrated, except for the alternative.
I had an acquaintance who insisted that parents would be better off buying their kids a kiosk in the center of a mall than sending them to a 4 year college. While I don't agree with this view, I absolutely understand where it originates. Many degrees are valueless in the job market. Whether or not criminal justice degrees carry any real economic weight, or the diploma will be a worthless decoration on your wall, is something I can not speculate about and I do not know.
But, you can find out. You can ask the profs. You can ask the folks at whatever employment service the school might operate. You can approach places you'd like to work for in th future and ask, or ask for advice-- like, "sir, someday I'd like to have a job with your company or Agency or in this field. Do you think this degree will help or am I going in the wrong direction?" People like to help other people. If you ask nicely, someone will help you out.
All my professors ar LEO's I was considering doing the LSAT in the very near future and going to law school in fact just tossing the idea around for the time being.
great advice so far, just my little .02
what ever you do, try to do it without getting to far in dept. I've heard to many stories of 65K in college dept for a 40K job. And as far as the lawyer thing....lol.... If your going to do that, make sure you make it. I've heard of 100K in college dept and no degree or passing bar. Same with M.D.
Dept free always works.
Get the degree in what you want, as long as it's not Polish sign language.
Well, I guess I may be qualified to answer part of this.
A degree can take you as far as you make it go, or it can take you nowhere.
All the branches of the military require a degree to be an officer, that is something that you can look into. Law School is a good gig if you make it all the way through.
A lot of defense agencies like people with degrees, and you can get a job being an analyst or something.
I turned down all the job offers I got when I graduated to do the unthinkable and enlist in the Marine Corps Infantry, but its what makes me happy.
Go to the dept. of Homeland Defense's website, they have a thing there with job listings, find what will make you happy, and can make sure you get out of debt.
All good advice here already.
Just wanted to wish ya good luck as I'm only a couple years out of undergrad myself.
If you aren't itching to get out into the "real" world are there any graduate/masters programs you'd be interested in? Law school is also an option. My wife went that route. Though, I think that market is pretty saturated at the moment so to get a decent job takes some legwork on your part in doing internships, making contacts, etc...
I dont have any college debt so far been paying for everything out of pocket so.
Education is a changing area that I would recommend you 'run' from...many of today's schools make you a cop 'without' a gun...good luck!Quote:
Originally Posted by SIXTO
I'm not suggesting going into education (although it is a noble profession) I'm just saying that it is a nice degree that can go many different directions and its fairly easy to build on.
The Company I work for will not interview anyone who does not have a Bachelors or is retired (or very near retirement) LE.
Preference is always given to experience in investigations, with general law enforcement or security experience secondary. Your education only gets you the interview, it usually means nothing.
I'm not trying to downplay your education, it's important because you are unlikely to get interviewed without it.
As far as what fields your degree will help you with...
My Director has a BA in Criminal Justice. He worked his way up from Corporate Investigator (entry level Corporate Security Job) after ten years in LE, a good chunk of which was in Detectives.
Which is sad, all the really good LEO's I work with or know dont have degrees. Those who do seem to get caught up in the trivial things and miss the big picture.Quote:
Originally Posted by matiki