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Non-Traditional Degrees for Law Enforcement
PoliceLink
Degrees such as Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, and Forensic Science seem like the logical choice for a planned career in law enforcement, but they’re not the only choice, and sometimes may not even be the best option.
Many law enforcement agencies, federal investigative agencies in particular, are involved in very complex investigations every day of the year -investigations that cannot be solved without a specific expertise. Agencies such as the FBI and Secret Service have identified the following disciplines as providing job applicants with critical skills:
Finance / Accounting
Most white collar crimes that federal agencies investigate involve financial transactions. Agents with degrees and backgrounds in finance are relied upon to follow money trails that can identify additional suspects and organizations in crimes, and to gather evidence to help prosecutors build cases.
Foreign Languages
Agents from the biggest federal agencies are now stationed in over 100 countries around the world full time. Coupled with the fact that there are millions of citizens and non-citizens in America who speak foreign languages, knowledge of a foreign language is extremely desirable.
Information Technology
Today’s criminals rely on computers and the Internet for everything – including committing very serious crimes. Rogue hackers and organized crime, not to mention sexual predators, all pose a very real and serious threat to American citizens every day. Special agents with knowledge of computer science, computer engineering, and Internet technologies are becoming as critical today as agents who specialize in solving murders.
ssu459
6 months ago
153698 Comments
Huge bump to my good friend uncledennis.Public Administration is a fantastic degree for leos.In many major police depts. I know of ,including mine,a bachelors(in anything) and a Masters in Public Administration are REQUIRED if one wishes to attain the rank of Capt, or above.I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice and one in Theology and can assure you that a c.j. degree is nowhere near as vital as it was years ago cause simply stated the supply is much greater than the demand.In essence,everybody has one.
uncledennis1
6 months ago
22366 Comments
Actually any degree is fine. I choose Public Administration. I am considering seeking a career in politics. While a police officer I worked with officers who had degrees in history, art and music. The major thing is the college is accredited
Ghostwriter2012
6 months ago
70 Comments
Homeland Security and Public Administration is the wave of the future for Federal and local law enforcement. If you have a taste for economic crimes, try looking at business administration degree.
ronnann
almost 2 years ago
32 Comments
Sure we need well trained people to handle this kind of jobs but we can't expect each of them to spend time in schools to get those extra degrees, the education system has to figure this out. In fact we had a task assigned to us on this specific issue when I had my online masters degrees in education, we were supposed to come up with solutions. My solution was a multilevel education system that focuses on important and practical insights.
Hawk9877
over 2 years ago
3916 Comments
I agree with the advise you have been given Cwilliams911. I am currently finishing my degree after way too long. I received an Associates degree in CJ about three years ago. I found a non-traditional online degree program from a state university. The fastest way I could get done was to continue in CJ studies. I wish I had majored in Busines. You can do anything with a business degree. CJ keeps you within a certain category. Agencies don't care what kind of degree you have, as long as you have one it's a positive. The outside world can't do much with a CJ degree.
Cwilliams911
over 2 years ago
42 Comments
Question to you education buffs out there...I want to finish my degree to have a career in law enforcement. I have a pull towards Homeland Security and FBI career for the future. I have been told by many people civilian and within my department that Criminal Justice degrees really aren't the way to go. They say it (lack of better words) boxes you in with no future. Advice given to me from them was to obtain a Business degree with emphasis on CJ or something like that. What do you think? What is your experience?
HannahJo
over 2 years ago
6 Comments
If you want to become a good federal agent or something like this you must have knowledge from many fields.Also technical skills and at least two foreign languages are important.Jennifer Howell fake high school diploma
88malo
about 3 years ago
134 Comments
good point marcy_eliza
marcy_eliza
over 3 years ago
2 Comments
I have to go with devile33, would a phsychology degree be good?
Bulldog528
over 3 years ago
92 Comments
Try Thomas University in south Georgia. Completly online and you get credit for academy training. Follow the link... http://www.thomasu.edu/
MrPriestley
about 4 years ago
8 Comments
To Superman47: Depending on which college you attend, it may happen. With Baker College in Michigan, actual work experience is needed before one can earn there degree. Head over to www.baker.edu just see the college.
superman47
about 4 years ago
92 Comments
Has anyone been able to roll over any of their training hours into a criminal justice degree as life experience or prior knowledge degree?
devile33
over 4 years ago
2 Comments
Would a phsycology degree be good for becoming a cop??
COLLINS1968
over 4 years ago
48 Comments
Both SOUTHWEST University and COLUMBIA SOUTHERN have distance education degrees B.Sc. and M.Sc. in CJ as well as OHS.
Hope that information is helpful to someone. All the best!!
Gene Collins
Ceec902
over 4 years ago
290 Comments
I wish I would have done something different then criminal justice. Makes one more marketable.