I've Decided To Pursue A Degree In Criminal Justice

fm2176 · August 17, 2010

A couple of weeks ago my boss mentioned a new program Post University offers for Army Recruiters. I was a bit skeptical until Recruiter Journal published an article this month. In both the article and the paperwork my boss had it states that one can earn a Bachelor's in as little as 18 months or a Master's in 14 months. Anyway, I sent off my AARTS transcript (ACE recommendations for college credits based on military training and experience) off yesterday and got had it evaluated. The result? 54 credits towards a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. I just sent off my intent to enroll and by the end of October should be officially halfway to a degree. Not too bad for a Infantryman turned reluctant detailed Recruiter.

Anyway, if there are any other Recruiters out there, check Post out. I'm not sure how they work with former Recruiters but it can't hurt to have them evaluate your AARTS transcript. All of the social sciences, humanities and general education electives were covered, not to mention a few other courses. I'm sure a Military Policeman turned Recruiter would have far more credits for this degree. For non-Recruiter servicemembers Post still seems like a great opportunity, with textbooks being covered under tuition and fully online courses that would allow even deployed Soldiers (at least those with nice cushy jobs in the rear) to continue their education.

Mckenzie · August 18, 2010

a masters degree in 14 months... i think not!

our local tech college can get you an ASSOCIATES degree in criminal justice in two years, so i call bull shit on getting a masters in 14 months

cerbomark · August 18, 2010

No I think he is saving they ll give him 54 credits due to his experience. This means he will almost be at an associates degree to start.

ShimanoFisherman · August 18, 2010

a masters degree in 14 months... i think not!

That could be assuming you have the Bachelor Degree already. That's how I read it.

Mckenzie · August 19, 2010

Last week I wasn't even considering it

And once you see how little money a cop makes you won't be considering it again. You will starve on 50k a year.

border patrol agents are almost guaranteed 70K after 2-3 years on the job, i'm still torn between going after a degree in Ag Mech and Business, or criminal justice, but at least i know that there are some good jobs in criminal justice

Mcguinness · August 19, 2010

I am finishing my degree in networking systems administration and there is a lot of jobs in the IT field especially for networking security and just running and maintaining a network other jobs available in my degree but not my specialty,structured cabling ,database,programming.

I see a lot of people coming through my school seeking criminal justice degrees thinking they are going strait into a job like CSI or forensics but this is not the case,At any rate i wish you the best of luck and getting more education is always a plus!!!!

I must say going back to school at 40 was weird but also fun,after 20 yrs working for coca cola and various grocery management places i decided it was time to rest the body and flex the mind and work from the neck up.

I say if it's your passion go for and enjoy it!!!!

Mckenzie · August 19, 2010

I am finishing my degree in networking systems administration and there is a lot of jobs in the IT field especially for networking security and just running and maintaining a network other jobs available in my degree but not my specialty,structured cabling ,database,programming.
I see a lot of people coming through my school seeking criminal justice degrees thinking they are going strait into a job like CSI or forensics but this is not the case,At any rate i wish you the best of luck and getting more education is always a plus!!!!

I must say going back to school at 40 was weird but also fun,after 20 yrs working for coca cola and various grocery management places i decided it was time to rest the body and flex the mind and work from the neck up.

I say if it's your passion go for and enjoy it!!!!

hey are you going to a tech school in the upstate?

Jennabear · August 19, 2010

Criminal Justice degrees aren't doing too much for folks at the moment. I would recommend it, if you are planning on getting a dual major, or getting it as a minor.

Mcguinness · August 20, 2010

I am finishing my degree in networking systems administration and there is a lot of jobs in the IT field especially for networking security and just running and maintaining a network other jobs available in my degree but not my specialty,structured cabling ,database,programming.
I see a lot of people coming through my school seeking criminal justice degrees thinking they are going strait into a job like CSI or forensics but this is not the case,At any rate i wish you the best of luck and getting more education is always a plus!!!!

I must say going back to school at 40 was weird but also fun,after 20 yrs working for coca cola and various grocery management places i decided it was time to rest the body and flex the mind and work from the neck up.

I say if it's your passion go for and enjoy it!!!!

hey are you going to a tech school in the upstate?

I am going to ITT TECH in columbia but yes there is a campus in the upstate,where are you from ?

Do you go to ITT?

Mckenzie · August 21, 2010

I am finishing my degree in networking systems administration and there is a lot of jobs in the IT field especially for networking security and just running and maintaining a network other jobs available in my degree but not my specialty,structured cabling ,database,programming.
I see a lot of people coming through my school seeking criminal justice degrees thinking they are going strait into a job like CSI or forensics but this is not the case,At any rate i wish you the best of luck and getting more education is always a plus!!!!

I must say going back to school at 40 was weird but also fun,after 20 yrs working for coca cola and various grocery management places i decided it was time to rest the body and flex the mind and work from the neck up.

I say if it's your passion go for and enjoy it!!!!

hey are you going to a tech school in the upstate?

I am going to ITT TECH in columbia but yes there is a campus in the upstate,where are you from ?

Do you go to ITT?

im at a tech school in seneca,but i've been by the itt tech school a good many times,it is right off the interstate isnt it?

blackout07 · August 23, 2010

And once you see how little money a cop makes you won't be considering it again. You will starve on 50k a year.

I've yet to starve. See Sig. 50K is starting salary for most and that is just base pay. However, you don't need a CJ degree to do it.

fm2176 · September 19, 2010

Last week I wasn't even considering it

And once you see how little money a cop makes you won't be considering it again. You will starve on 50k a year.

Not necessarily; my current compensation (read: pay, allowances and tax advantage) is only about $63k a year, I actually make about $58k not counting the tax advantage. If I decide to get into law enforcement it will be after I retire from the Army. By that time, the house will hopefully be nearly paid off, the minor children will be reduced by half, leaving me with a 13 and 14 year old, and hopefully the wife will have a job (which she doesn't currently). By that time my military pay should be a bit higher and my retirement pay will supplement my income.

Criminal Justice degrees aren't doing too much for folks at the moment. I would recommend it, if you are planning on getting a dual major, or getting it as a minor.

If I get this degree in the next couple of years it can have two immediate benefits: 1) if they open up time in service waivers I can ask my commanding officer about Officer Candidate School (an over $500 a month pay raise upon commissioning) or 2) it can help me get promoted to senior Non-commissioned Officer ranks (another way to get a pay raise, albeit not as large of one).

One thing I've learned in the past nine years is that I love serving in uniform. Eventually, I'll have to take off the uniform I currently wear and transition into something else. The degree will help me not only if I wish to become a law enforcement officer or get into private security, but also if I decide to seek other employment. I don't view this degree as a means to an end itself, but rather a chance to make me more viable when I leave the service. By the time I retire I will be in my early forties, have managed from 120 (E-7/E-8/O-3) to well over 800 (E-9/O-4 or higher) other people at one time and be able to bring to the table leadership experience and a strong work ethic. For better or worse, I don't see jobs in law enforcement suddenly drying up and as a veteran I already have certain advantages over civilians in obtaining a job locally or federally. In fact, the Secret Service recruiter I was speaking to this past week told me that there is no longer an age restriction on veterans for any federal law enforcement job (it is 37 for non-veterans).

Lastly, I still have over 11 years before I am eligible for retirement. Ideally, the experience of earning this degree will encourage me to continue seeking further education. It would not be out of the question to earn a another degree or two prior to retiring from the Army. A lot can happen in those 11 years, both good and bad, though. Just think, ten years ago we were watching Bush and Gore go at it, the twin towers still stood and the USS Cole had not yet stopped at the port of Aden.

glacked · September 20, 2010

You don't pick being a cop. It picks you. I've seen numerous former military with CJ degrees run off the property because they couldn't hack it. In fact, the majority of those we fire are former military. It seems much harder to take the army out of a cop than put the cop into a kid off the street. Just my $0.02. I'm former military with CJ/Russian undergrad. I got lucky. My wife used her CJ degree to help prep for law school. She's never used it since. We both joke about how it's the most expensive toilet paper in the house.

I'd advise something you could use elsewhere as a backstop to a career in LE. I'll wish you luck in reaching your goals, for sure. I'll also throw in a word of caution. This job isn't for most who want it. Have a secondary plan just in case. I'd wager just about anywhere who offers incentives for degrees doesn't cap it for CJ only. Hell, an English degree would serve you better for what we do. For every 10-15min of fun, there's an hour or two's paperwork behind it. Oh, and for every 10-15min of s*** time there's an hour or two's paperwork behind it. Being able to write well sets you apart in judge, attorney and juror's eyes. It also makes for much better testimony months after the initial contact.

Again, good luck. I'd damn sure shy away from CJ as a major.

stefman722 · September 21, 2010

And once you see how little money a cop makes you won't be considering it again. You will starve on 50k a year.

I've yet to starve. See Sig. 50K is starting salary for most and that is just base pay. However, you don't need a CJ degree to do it.

Yeah no kidding! haha. I'm a cop too. I've been doing it for only over 2 years now. I haven't reached max pay yet and have already made over $65k this year. I guess the pay depends on where and who you work for.

fm2176 · September 21, 2010

You don't pick being a cop. It picks you. I've seen numerous former military with CJ degrees run off the property because they couldn't hack it. In fact, the majority of those we fire are former military. It seems much harder to take the army out of a cop than put the cop into a kid off the street. Just my $0.02. I'm former military with CJ/Russian undergrad. I got lucky. My wife used her CJ degree to help prep for law school. She's never used it since. We both joke about how it's the most expensive toilet paper in the house.

I'd advise something you could use elsewhere as a backstop to a career in LE. I'll wish you luck in reaching your goals, for sure. I'll also throw in a word of caution. This job isn't for most who want it. Have a secondary plan just in case. I'd wager just about anywhere who offers incentives for degrees doesn't cap it for CJ only. Hell, an English degree would serve you better for what we do. For every 10-15min of fun, there's an hour or two's paperwork behind it. Oh, and for every 10-15min of s*** time there's an hour or two's paperwork behind it. Being able to write well sets you apart in judge, attorney and juror's eyes. It also makes for much better testimony months after the initial contact.

Again, good luck. I'd damn sure shy away from CJ as a major.

Thank you for the advice. My plan is not set in stone; as I stated, a lot can happen in 11 years. I'll be honest, I've never been too keen on furthering my formal education (getting a "piece of paper") and have only taken a couple of history courses before now (a favorite subject but possibly a less useful degree than CJ). The administrative and other less-than-exciting work is one thing I think of every time I pass a cop running radar or talk to those at the station while running background checks. I'll also grant that it would be very hard for me to take an entry-level LEO position after seventeen-plus years as an Infantry leader. I'm using my time on recruiting to network with my communities and their leaders, though, and hope to have more options should I retire back down this way. If I decide to pursue a career in law enforcement I'm not limiting my goals to deputy or officer; there are private companies, police infrastructure (armorers and the like), public offices (such as Sheriff, Constable or Marshal) and down this way degrees of any kind are unseen at all levels of the force in some smaller towns.

I was a mechanic in civilian life and plan to get some education in locksmithing or gunsmithing prior to retiring as well. If it feels "right" I may even stay in the Army well past twenty years; why take a good leader from my men if it is unnecessary? They are always first and should they be in need of an excellent platoon-level or higher NCO (and I am able to evolve into that leader) why put my own self-interests first?

In the end, this entire thread is based on speculation. I could have a bad experience and decide to leave the Army in three years, get injured or worse in Afghanistan, begin failing my classes and withdraw from the degree plan, or make a mistake and get to take an entry-level position in the criminal justice system as an inmate. Or make the best use of my resources, get squared away financially and retire at thirty years of service without the need to begin another career. I don't know, but it's fun to talk about...