Posted: 2/16/2009 5:04:27 PM EDT
| I have a question for all LEOS. Would you have more career opporunities if you had a masters degree? I'm wondering because I want to be a LEO and might be able to get the army to pay for my bachelors and masters degrees. Would that be beneficial for career advancement at a later date or not worth it? |
| I went back to school to get my BS degree in business, not because it was going to help me on the job, but as insurance in case I got hurt on the job and needed to leave police work. Then I went back and got my masters in criminal justice so I can teach at a local community college. So now I work as a full time LEO and part time teaching. I would not hesitate to get your masters simply because it's for your personal enrichment and can create future opportunities for you. |
| More education is never a bad thing, especially when someone else is going to pay for it. It will help with the job search once you get out, but more importantly, it will set up your earning potential for the rest of your life. Choose your majors wisely and accordingly. |
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As far as majors I was thinking a bachelors in History, with a minor in military science. Masters major in History of some form and minor in criminology, if one needs a minor? Any suggestions for major/minor?
More education is never a bad thing, especially when someone else is going to pay for it. It will help with the job search once you get out, but more importantly, it will set up your earning potential for the rest of your life. Choose your majors wisely and accordingly. |
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In Texas you can advance your license much faster with any/all accredited educational degrees.
ETA: Doesn't matter what you're degree is in for it to count toward license advancement. However, a lot of "face value" is placed on applicable degrees if you want to advance into the upper echelons, esp. Chief, Asst. Chief, and such. Accounting, Education, HR, etc. may help. Call an LE association and ask them for their opinions. |
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As far as majors I was thinking a bachelors in History, with a minor in military science. Masters major in History of some form and minor in criminology, if one needs a minor? Any suggestions for major/minor?
More education is never a bad thing, especially when someone else is going to pay for it. It will help with the job search once you get out, but more importantly, it will set up your earning potential for the rest of your life. Choose your majors wisely and accordingly. If you're considering LE as a career, do you have any idea where you want that to lead? Do you fancy yourself ending up as some sort of detective/investigator type, or more of a training guru, or maybe a SWAT/tactics guy? And what would you like to do after LE? The majors you indicated don't seem to have a lot of application in LE or most of the rest of the working world, unless maybe you're considering teaching at some point. My bachelor's degree is in CJ, and I'll be starting a master's within the year. I'm leaning towards a Counseling Psychology program, but an Education Master's is still on the table because I'd like to teach when I retire. |
| You don't need it, but it won't hurt to have it. The bachelors will be fine for now. I would suggest a masters in something else. You may be better of if you have a more diverse background. The B.S. in CJ served me fine when I was a cop, but I got my masters and doctorate in counseling and work with LEOs and military now. So think about what you want to do after you retire. Think about what would happen if you ever lost the LE job. How would a masters in CJ serve you in 10 0r 20 years. |
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As far as majors I was thinking a bachelors in History, with a minor in military science. Masters major in History of some form and minor in criminology, if one needs a minor? Any suggestions for major/minor?
More education is never a bad thing, especially when someone else is going to pay for it. It will help with the job search once you get out, but more importantly, it will set up your earning potential for the rest of your life. Choose your majors wisely and accordingly. If you're considering LE as a career, do you have any idea where you want that to lead? Do you fancy yourself ending up as some sort of detective/investigator type, or more of a training guru, or maybe a SWAT/tactics guy? And what would you like to do after LE? The majors you indicated don't seem to have a lot of application in LE or most of the rest of the working world, unless maybe you're considering teaching at some point. My bachelor's degree is in CJ, and I'll be starting a master's within the year. I'm leaning towards a Counseling Psychology program, but an Education Master's is still on the table because I'd like to teach when I retire. The counseling psych program sounds like a great idea. Good luck. |
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Quoted:
You don't need it, but it won't hurt to have it. The bachelors will be fine for now. I would suggest a masters in something else. You may be better of if you have a more diverse background. The B.S. in CJ served me fine when I was a cop, but I got my masters and doctorate in counseling and work with LEOs and military now. So think about what you want to do after you retire. Think about what would happen if you ever lost the LE job. How would a masters in CJ serve you in 10 0r 20 years. Huge +1. Also take this into account when you are doing your undergrad degree. |