I want to go into police work: what should I major in?

Question

I would like to eventually work for the FBI, but I don't want to be restricted to just Criminal Justice. Are there any other majors that would fulfill the same things that Criminal Justice does, but leave my career options a little more open?

Answer 1

If you want to work for the FBI, get a degree in Accounting, Science, Computer Science, Business, Biology or such things. They will teach you all the 'criminology' that you need.

The FBI wants people with with these types of educations. They do not do traditional police work like a street or city cop. And degree in Criminal Justice is a waste and they really do not care about those degrees. The only law degree they would want is if you were a Lawyer... That they would like. But, a CJ degree... they could care less.

It also would help to learn a second language, especially a middle eastern dialect.

Answer 2

After looking at the answers previously given I believe all (for the most part) have merit. My cousin is a Supervisory Special Agent with the FBI currently working out of D.C. with the counter terrorism unit. He also testified in the first World Trade Center trial. He started off as a dog officer with the Charleston, SC police force while attending the Citadel but I am not sure of his major. He, like many, FBI agents served in the Army as a military policeman. He was actually Provost Marshal (Top Cop) at an Army base 60 miles away from where I served in the USAF. Both his educational background at the Citadel (a military college in S.C,) and his time in the Army is what got him into the FBI more than his major in college. The FBI looks for highly diciplined, self motivated individuals so I highly recommend the military (law enforcement, in any branch I am partial to the USAF). To mapout a good career path go to a college/university with a ROTC program and major in perhaps Computer Science, Criminal Justice, or pre law and then active duty in Law Enforcement- Army has MP's (Military Police) the Navy has SP's (Shore Patrol) and the Air Force offers SP (Security Police... but they guard airplanes and such) so in the USAF you would want to be an L.E. (Law Enforcement). If you do well in the military then your odds of getting in the FBI grow exponentially. If time is a major factor you can go to college while on active duty (the government pays for it) and if you do well you could be "drafted" (so to speak) into the FBI right out of the military. If you choose that route than I strongly suggest the Air Force as not many USAF people come back in body bags from Iraq/Afghanistan fighting Dubya's war. Plus the upside of being in the military it gives you the inside track for all government jobs and even civilian employers prefer veterans as they have demonstrated discipline and the ability to get things done. Best of luck no matter what route you take.

Answer 3

Criminal Justice is the "stock answer" sort of like pre-law is often political science, but police forces look for graduates of many different academic backgrounds in order to broaden perspectives and round out a force.

You may want to consider a major in human behavior or motivational theory. Sociology is the study of group behaviors, norms, mores, etc. Either of these areas of study provide insight into the criminal mind--and why people choose to violate the law.

Here's the real good news though: You're on the right track thinking about higher education! Study on.

Teachme

Answer 4

I was in law enforcement until my late 20s. Nearly all police departments don't care what your major was.
I do suggest learning another language.
I do suggest you maintain your ultra clean background.
No tattoos is an asset.
You need to dig deep in your family tree.
If you are 0.0000001% minority, you need to put it on your application. In the ten biggest cities in the USA, a minority with a C average, only 2 years of community college, physically ordinary, and a questionable background will get hired before a white guy with a 4.0 GPA, four year degree, bilingual, exmilitary, and spotless background.
Even if you do manage to get hired, you'll have to put up with Affirmative Action again when you go for promotion. Then there's the issue of your supervisors who were promoted because of AA.
Good Luck!!

Answer 5

If you want to eventually work for the FBI get a degree in a foreign language or accounting.

Answer 6

Try calling up your local branch of the FBI and ask what positions they are having trouble filling. One fact is worth a thousand suppositions.

Answer 7

if you have a law degree you get hired at a much higher level (special agent) as opposed to starting at the bottom. I know bc i applied (I took the test and got a good score, but then pulled my application and decided against it). I was a sociology major.

Answer 8

The FBI hires more accountants and physiologist then CRJ majors

Answer 9

Unarmed combat would be a good training. Or, you could come to the UK and practice shooting ordinary citizens in the head for no reason, or stabbing passers-by to death. Car chases are fun, especially when they crash into twelve people at a bus stop queue.
At an advanced level, framing innocent men for others' crimes will be a laugh.
Enjoy!

Answer 10

criminal justice and then you can choose an area of concentration such as criminology