Changing my major?

[Dunit35]

I've been thinking about changing my major for the past couple weeks now. I've been in college for two years and came in wanting to be a history teacher, but I've really been thinking about changing it to Criminal Justice. I've always wanted to be a police officer. I've got some questions about all of it though. I feel like I'd enjoy being a police officer more then a teacher.

I've been wondering if it's even a smart to change your major two years into your schooling? Basically I've gotten just about all my gen eds out of the way with a couple of my history classes done too. So those history classes would be a waste of money. I go to a four year school right now and plan on transfering to another four year program in Oklahoma City. I've also wondered if it would be better for me to attend a two year program to get my Criminal Justice degree? I am wondering if I can actually switch from a four year school to a two year program? I know that a CC could be a lot cheaper for me too. Does anyone know how long it takes to get your police officer stuff done?

Thanks

Dunit35

[greg63]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

I've been thinking about changing my major for the past couple weeks now. I've been in college for two years and came in wanting to be a history teacher, but I've really been thinking about changing it to Criminal Justice. I've always wanted to be a police officer. I've got some questions about all of it though. I feel like I'd enjoy being a police officer more then a teacher.

I've been wondering if it's even a smart to change your major two years into your schooling? Basically I've gotten just about all my gen eds out of the way with a couple of my history classes done too. So those history classes would be a waste of money. I go to a four year school right now and plan on transfering to another four year program in Oklahoma City. I've also wondered if it would be better for me to attend a two year program to get my Criminal Justice degree? I am wondering if I can actually switch from a four year school to a two year program? I know that a CC could be a lot cheaper for me too. Does anyone know how long it takes to get your police officer stuff done?

Thanks

Dunit35

Good luck man; long time no see. Where ya been young man??

[Dunit35]

Originally Posted by greg63

Good luck man; long time no see. Where ya been young man??

School and working...should be in bed right now ( 8 a.m. class) but I have stuff to do still. I'm never home on the weekends anymore either.

[greg63]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

School and working...should be in bed right now ( 8 a.m. class) but I have stuff to do still. I'm never home on the weekends anymore either.

Ouch; this is gonna make for a real short night. I wish I could help ysa with your delima bud, but I simply don't have any answers for ya.

[DenverChief]

Well here ya go ..I 'm speaking as someone who got my B.S. in Criminal Justice and am currently pursuing my masters in CJ . I am also a Deputy Sheriff.....First off if you want to change you major now is the time to do it, if you have enough credits go ahead and get the History Minor. As far as the CJ thing goes...it only really benefits you if you work for larger departments that actually require college credits or a degree...My degree hasn't earned me anything extra in the field although even though my department doesn't require it I'd like to think it helped in the hiring process....anywho if you go to a full time academy it generally takes 6 months to complete M-F 8-6 or part time 9 months M-F 6-10 pm Sat 8-6 this is of course at an academy in colorado....You will find that larger departments like LAPD or Denver will require you attend their own academy so sending yourself is pointless but if you would rather work for a department that is smaller like a Lawrence, KS or Boulder, CO and smaller departments they will want you to be certified (attended an academy already) before applying....it just really depends on what you want to do and where you want to work...I'm sure you have more questions...let me know

[Jenson71]

Change it and be a History minor if your school offers that. You're probably .5 there or closer if you've been in school 2 years now.

[Dunit35]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Change it and be a History minor if your school offers that. You're probably .5 there or closer if you've been in school 2 years now.

That sounds like a good idea. I've actually probably only finished three or four classes that would go to my history degree. Just about everything I've taken has been gen eds.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

That sounds like a good idea. I've actually probably only finished three or four classes that would go to my history degree. Just about everything I've taken has been gen eds.

Yeah, that's still about 9-12 hours. The minor is probably anywhere between 15-21, so seems it's just a matter of 2 - 4 more classes. I'm not sure how marketable that would make someone in the criminalogy field, but it can never hurt, and if you do decide to try something for a job history related, you've always got that minor.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Change it and be a History minor if your school offers that. You're probably .5 there or closer if you've been in school 2 years now.

I'm not a police officer so take my advice with a grain of salt. I like Jenson's idea here except that I wouldn't change majors to CJ. If you don't like history, change it to psycology or business or something else that will either be generally useful in your field or provide you with something to fall back on and go ahead and get a history minor if you can.

Definitely finish your degree. It won't hurt you in the police business (on the contrary, as others have indicated, it will probably help you land some jobs or some promotions) and it will give you something to fall back on if police work ends up not working out for you.

One thing that I didn't see mentioned is that you could join the military after finishing college and use that as a stepping stone into the law enforcement field. I know a lot of police officers who are former military so I'd imagine that that experience would help you find work too.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I'm not a police officer so take my advice with a grain of salt. I like Jenson's idea here except that I wouldn't change majors to CJ. If you don't like history, change it to psycology or business or something else that will either be generally useful in your field or provide you with something to fall back on and go ahead and get a history minor if you can.

Definitely finish your degree. It won't hurt you in the police business (on the contrary, as others have indicated, it will probably help you land some jobs or some promotions) and it will give you something to fall back on if police work ends up not working out for you.

One thing that I didn't see mentioned is that you could join the military after finishing college and use that as a stepping stone into the law enforcement field. I know a lot of police officers who are former military so I'd imagine that that experience would help you find work too.

yep, military is a good route too, plus they will pay some of your college loans and pay pretty good to be an officer.

But again, don't change it to a CJ degree unless you plan on working in the FBI labs (not as dramatic as seen on tv, ala CSI types) or teach college level classes in CJ. You can be a cop or join the military with ANY degree, even underwater basket weaving.

I am going to school now and finally finishing a degree after 7 years of night school, I wish I would have done it sooner. I am a police officer and I don't know anyone at any department that had to have a CJ major on their degree, IF the department demands a degree. Many only demand some college and some will also wave credit hours for military experience. I know these statements to be true in Texas and Missouri and reckon I am still close to being true in other states. CJ is a throw away degree, don't do it. Get the teaching degree, become a cop, enjoy the job as long as you want then teach.

[Dunit35]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Well here ya go ..I 'm speaking as someone who got my B.S. in Criminal Justice and am currently pursuing my masters in CJ . I am also a Deputy Sheriff.....First off if you want to change you major now is the time to do it, if you have enough credits go ahead and get the History Minor. As far as the CJ thing goes...it only really benefits you if you work for larger departments that actually require college credits or a degree...My degree hasn't earned me anything extra in the field although even though my department doesn't require it I'd like to think it helped in the hiring process....anywho if you go to a full time academy it generally takes 6 months to complete M-F 8-6 or part time 9 months M-F 6-10 pm Sat 8-6 this is of course at an academy in colorado....You will find that larger departments like LAPD or Denver will require you attend their own academy so sending yourself is pointless but if you would rather work for a department that is smaller like a Lawrence, KS or Boulder, CO and smaller departments they will want you to be certified (attended an academy already) before applying....it just really depends on what you want to do and where you want to work...I'm sure you have more questions...let me know

Just who I was looking for. I am wanting to work in a smaller town around OKC, pretty much as close to my girlfriends job as possible. That academy process, how could I work and pay rent and other bills? I'd like to go to a CC and get that degree, I feel like it would make me more comfortable when I actually start the process of becoming a police officer. Was the academy process pretty hard to go through?

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

Just who I was looking for. I am wanting to work in a smaller town around OKC, pretty much as close to my girlfriends job as possible. That academy process, how could I work and pay rent and other bills? I'd like to go to a CC and get that degree, I feel like it would make me more comfortable when I actually start the process of becoming a police officer. Was the academy process pretty hard to go through?

The part time academy is geared towards people who still have to work but want to attend the academy ...I would suggest if you can to move back in with your parents and go to the full time academy ...just get it over with quickly...the degree will help you with the "books" part of the class but there will be a whole new world of other things to learn too....Don't limit yourself to one jurisdiction...I just started filling out applications ...getting a job in law enforcement is difficult and one jurisdiction will not hire you for the same reason another will...

EDIT:

Go to the website of the department (almost all have them now) ad find out if they require a degree or credit hours or none at all and also if they want you to be certified before you apply, some departments will send you to an academy and pay you a reduced salary to complete

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

Just who I was looking for. I am wanting to work in a smaller town around OKC, pretty much as close to my girlfriends job as possible. That academy process, how could I work and pay rent and other bills? I'd like to go to a CC and get that degree, I feel like it would make me more comfortable when I actually start the process of becoming a police officer. Was the academy process pretty hard to go through?

We already have too many cops in Oklahoma. Go away.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

Just who I was looking for. I am wanting to work in a smaller town around OKC, pretty much as close to my girlfriends job as possible. That academy process, how could I work and pay rent and other bills? I'd like to go to a CC and get that degree, I feel like it would make me more comfortable when I actually start the process of becoming a police officer. Was the academy process pretty hard to go through?

He's pretty dead on, but I want to add, I was a police officer in a dallas suburb and now got my license in MO, looking for work (just moved up here a couple months ago for wife's job)

anyway, most departments, IMO that want a degree it doesn't matter what the degree is in. CJ degree doesn't give any edge in police work and you will learn more applicable information in the acadamy and in-service training from your department.

This is true for federal jobs as well, FBI, ATF, etc that require degees care less about the degree major than the fact you have a degree.

If you want to change now is better than later, but consider this. If you get injured as a police officer you can fall back on teaching. Also if you retire from Police work you can start working as a teacher, trust me it will still seem like a retirement (I am substituting some now too)

My advice is continue getting your degree because of the more options it presents than a CJ degree.

By the way, I have yet to hear of a Police officer that really needed the CJ major. It is better for stepping stones for a masters or doctrine in CJ to teach or work in a lab. Not as a street or agent doing the actual hands on police duties.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

You will find that larger departments like LAPD or Denver will require you attend their own academy so sending yourself is pointless but if you would rather work for a department that is smaller like a Lawrence, KS or Boulder, CO and smaller departments they will want you to be certified (attended an academy already) before applying....it just really depends on what you want to do and where you want to work...I'm sure you have more questions...let me know

Just FYI, Lawrence doesn't want you to have attended an academy before. It won't hurt you, but they prefer, almost require, that you have a degree in CJ. They have their own 6 month class and it is required that you take it before becoming an officer in Lawrence, even if you were an officer in another city before.