Criminal Justice majors (past and present) (1 Viewer)

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

My son is a high school senior and plans to pursue this major, so just thought I would tap the collective FFA knowledge base for tips, insights, etc...

Question 1 is importance of school the degree is coming from.  He has been waitlisted from his top choices (Maryland, South Carolina, Delaware...Rutgers still pending) but has been accepted to Castelton (small school in Vermont; he will also be able to run track there).  He has applied to other schools which appear to have a stronger CJ program, but he may not have as much interest in attending them (they were the safety schools), so just looking to understand if I am correct in my thinking on the value of the "door opening" ability of a name school vs. simply receiving the education and getting involved in what the school of choice has to offer. 

Sure there will be more questions, but let's start here.

 

[Apple Jack]

I think question 1 should be how do I talk my kid out of this.

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

We have debated the pros and cons.  And, part of the school selection process was to ensure that there were alternative majors of interest available if there is a change in direction (as likely a good chunk of us did not wind up pursuing what we initially went away to school for initially).  That being said, all insights are welcome.  His initial thoughts are the agencies (FBI, NSA, Homeland) rather than general police work.

 

[KCitons]

I'd suggest talking to people in the fields he is interested in. There are a lot of people in the LE field that do not have degrees I'd CJ. Psychology is one that comes to mind. The only reason I mention it, is that there may be better options that would help him, should he pursue something other than a LE career.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

The FBI wants agents with backgrounds in accounting and finance and they want lawyers. Secret Service, ATF, DEA, and the US Marshals still do traditional police work and want those with criminal justice backgrounds. But they also want those good at other things, sciences and accounting in particular. 

To get into those places you need a 4 year degree and a squeaky clean record. 

 

[SoBeDad]

The FBI wants agents with backgrounds in accounting and finance and they want lawyers. Secret Service, ATF, DEA, and the US Marshals still do traditional police work and want those with criminal justice backgrounds. But they also want those good at other things, sciences and accounting in particular. 

To get into those places you need a 4 year degree and a squeaky clean record. 

What about foreign languages? And can an 18 year old learn one well enough?

 

[James Daulton]

My son is a high school senior and plans to pursue this major, so just thought I would tap the collective FFA knowledge base for tips, insights, etc...

Question 1 is importance of school the degree is coming from.  He has been waitlisted from his top choices (Maryland, South Carolina, Delaware...Rutgers still pending) but has been accepted to Castelton (small school in Vermont; he will also be able to run track there).  He has applied to other schools which appear to have a stronger CJ program, but he may not have as much interest in attending them (they were the safety schools), so just looking to understand if I am correct in my thinking on the value of the "door opening" ability of a name school vs. simply receiving the education and getting involved in what the school of choice has to offer. 

Sure there will be more questions, but let's start here.

He's heard from all those school already?  My kid applied to Maryland and hasn't heard yet.

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

He's heard from all those school already?  My kid applied to Maryland and hasn't heard yet.

South Carolina and Delaware.  As Maryland is even more of a "challenge" school for him, I am assuming that is best case scenario for him.  He did apply early action at all three (plus Rutgers).

 

[James Daulton]

South Carolina and Delaware.  As Maryland is even more of a "challenge" school for him, I am assuming that is best case scenario for him.  He did apply early action at all three (plus Rutgers).

Based on what @Doctor Detroit posted, why not have him major in accounting and see if he can minor in criminal justice.  Or even double major if possible. 

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

Based on what @Doctor Detroit posted, why not have him major in accounting and see if he can minor in criminal justice.  Or even double major if possible. 

Despite excelling in math, he has no interest in accounting, even when presented with these facts (even by others than dear old Dad).  So, another path will need to emerge (or FBI will have to go by the wayside, I suppose).

 

[Doctor Detroit]

It's hard to become a federal agent right out of college. A good path is either via the military, or serving at a local or state level for a few years. 

 

[FUBAR]

It's hard to become a federal agent right out of college. A good path is either via the military, or serving at a local or state level for a few years. 

think of it as needing to provide something in demand that others don't.  They need accountants because many people don't like accounting.  They need people with experience in other fields because they're harder to find, they need lawyers because although law school is fairly common, lawyers usually have options.  They need certain foreign languages because they're not common.