I want to be a police officer. Would a degree in criminal justice help in law enforcement? what r benefits?

Question

I'm a senior in high school and I am interested in being a police officer. i am alredy accepted to SF State Univ. with a criminal justice major. I am not really sure what the Criminal Justice program will help me with. What does the criminal justice program really offer and teach and how will it help me with a career in the law enforcement? The details given by schools seem very vague and unspecified. And what other career options would i have with going with this major? I am not interested in pysch, sociology or political science so those wouldn't be another option for a degree. What are the benefits with getting a BA before joining the force? I also want to know what i can do to prepare myself for a career in law enforcement at this stage in time. thanks

Answer 1

Many of the better, higher paying, departments won't even look at you if you don't have at least an Associates Degree in something. Criminal Justice degree is a real big leg up when it comes to being selected by a department.
If you want to move through the ranks, you'd better have that degree.
When we got out of the service my buddy and I joined the local police dept. I went to college at night and got my degree. My buddy did not. I retired about three years ago as the police chief of another department. My buddy retired last year as a "Senior Patrol Officer". Every promotion he lost out on went to an officer with a college degree.

Answer 2

Having a degree in Criminal Justice will look better for you if you are sure you want to be a police officer, however there are many people who get into law enforcement with all types of educational backgrounds. If you have a bachelor's degree it will also help you to advance in rank at the police department, and some departments require applicants to have a Bachelor's degree depending on the area. With a Criminal justice degree, you could be a probation officer, corrections officer, magistrate, etc etc. But I do have to say that if you choose to not get into the field of criminal justice later on you don't have anything to fall back on, except for the fact that you have a degree. There are very few jobs in Criminal Justice that pay very well, so if you are getting into the field for money you better pick another one! As for education in the field helping you to be an officer...I found with my degree most of the education is based on ideas and hypothetical situations that only prepare you so much. Once you get out into the "real world" of law enforcement it is totally different. The criminal justice degree will not teach you how to apply the law as an officer, by using the state codes that govern wherever you live. Police academy is what really teaches people how to apply the law, use of force, etc. I enjoyed my Criminal Justice classes but it is not an absolute must in order to become an officer.

Answer 3

The criminal juctice degree will help you a lot in the long run. You will learn a lot from it. Another way that it will help you out, is that most departments are getting into the trend to hire people with a certain amount of college credit hours. It would be helpful to you to have those number of hours or more when you applied, especially if they are in the criminal justice program. That will show that you have been dedicated to being the the field for a while.

One more benifit, is that if you get into the field of being a police officer, and you realize that that kind of work is not for you, then you can go else where with a degree and get a job. If you still want to stay in the justice system, you can work as a probation officer or something like that, and actually be part of trying to help and rehabilitate people.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Before you go off to college for 4 years studying to do something, why don't you try it first?

Many police department have a Ride-A-Long program. If you are old enough, you can ride with a cop on their shift. Talk to them. Ask questions. Then, do it again. You will earn a lot.

Some offices also have "junior patrol" programs. You might ask if they have one of those.

As society has gotten more technical, so has work in public safety. If you like computers, take courses in that. Cops often check a suspect's computer for emails, photos, spreadsheets - and other useful information. (Hint: Just because you deleted something doesn't mean its gone - and it can be read again.)

Also, if you do enroll in the course - what do you plan on doing during the summer? While having a vacation is FUN, how would that compare to working in a police department? Would that experience make the studying more interesting?

In Richmond, VA a few years ago there was a secretary at the state's crime lab. Heard the cops talking when they brought in evidence. Went with them on Ride-Alongs. Started writing stories. Got published. Quit her job cause as a Best Selling author, Patrica Cornwall was making more money.

You might also check the websites below. I'm more familar with the Corrections website - where you can find info on issues in that sector. But the Dept of Justice, probably has another instutute for police issues.

Answer 5

I've talked to a lot of people in Law Enforcement, and they said it would be a bad idea. I was going to major in it, but then realizes you have nothing to fall back on if you don't want to be a Police Officer. If you don't like being an officer, you won't be able to use that degree for anything else. I would say major in Business, because that's a very broad degree, and can be used for anything. Just my opinion. Good luck!

Answer 6

Having a BA will get you on many police forces a higher starting wage.

Also it is almost required to even get hired on some departments, not in the written requirements, but with 100's of applications for one opening the degree helps.

But in many departments a computer science degree or a management degree is just as good or even better for promotion.

The CJ degree teaches you some on the history of police, the constitutional law issues, history of corrections and some entry classes to tell you the basis.

Answer 7

I have a Certificate in Criminal Justice. It is a Great Course!!!!!! It will teach you everything you will need to know about crimes, penal law, criminal law, warrants, all the legal jargon you'll need to know to become a police officer. I loved the course!
http://careers.cua.edu/handouts/criminaljusticecareers.htm
http://www.dana.edu/careerservices/criminaljustice.html#1
http://www.twu.edu/as/socsw/cj_jobs.htm