Is a degree in criminal justice important if you just want to be a police officer?

Question

I have just been accepted into a nice 4 year university. When I was a little kid until now, I've always wanted to become a police officer. But now looking at the situation, most police agencies just require a high school diploma to be an officer. Is going to a 4 year school and getting your BA in criminal justice worth it? Any advantages I may have? It seems like jop opening isn't scarce, the major cities around my area are hiring new officers like hot-cakes. I don't want to say that education is a waste of time, certainly not, but just wondering if I'm putting my time into good use putting into consideration of my ambition which requires so little.

Answer 1

No, you don't need a criminal justice degree. I'd suggest one of them if you want to enter law or the Justice Department, but otherwise your local Police Department will offer all the training you need. They're in real need of policemen now.

Answer 2

Yes, definitely. Most criminal justice jobs require some sort of either college education or prior military experience. While some require only an associates, many jobs (especially federal) require at least a bachelor's degree. I believe that what they are mainly looking for is a degree, regardless of what it's in. However, criminal justice will help you to become MUCH more prepared since you will have prior knowledge of the career, and will probably give you a few extra brownie points if it came down to you and another applicant. Good luck!

Answer 3

I have a Criminal Justice BS degree and contrary to popular belief, a CJ degree is more than just being a police officer, there are so many more occupations that it can be used for. Although you don't need to have a CJ degree to be a PO, it helps you on pay when just getting in the door, depending upon the agency. I have done work as a prison counselor, which I liked, and my degree helped me to get there, instead of being just a CO. I was then promoted there. I am now working in the technical private sector, even making more money!

Answer 4

I'm not sure where you are, but no agencies in CA have been hiring without at LEAST a 2-year degree for at least 10 years. Basic Police Academy will get you close to the Associates degree, and most of our cadets take the prerequisites and then when they finish the academy, they have their associates degree.



However, if you EVER want to promote out of patrol, you're really going to need the Bachelor's degree. It's really just that simple. Police Officers are a huge liability issue with their departments... the opportunities that exist for them to put their department on the front page for really bad reasons, to involve their departments in law suits, etc... well, it's just too much to risk, to not demand at least an Associates degree.

Answer 5

Really it depends on where you want to go in your career. Any degree will improve your chances of getting hired over applicants with just a high school diploma.



If you would like to become a detective or even get into federal law enforcement later in your career you would need a bachelors degree.

Answer 6

i have an associates in cj and i do not believe you can become a police officer without an associates of some sort not in Texas anyway. and i believe that a degree in cj is very important for a police officer to have, you study the code of criminal procedures, legal aspects, crime scene investigations, court systems, juvenile systems, community corrections and i believe that all of this would be very beneficial to an officer good luck

Answer 7

if you want a promotion, you usually need a degree.................

any 4 year degree,,,,,,,,,,,,,,