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

[boogblaster]

Its your life do as you want..just don't turn on your friends..keep the human-factor envolved...

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Redrum_69]

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

A cop??? Talk with ROYC75 about that subject...

[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.

[htismaqe]

If you want to be a front-line street cop, Criminal Justice - hell COLLEGE - might make you overqualified.

If you want to be a detective or go into the FBI or something, definitely consider changing your major.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

If you want to be a front-line street cop, Criminal Justice - hell COLLEGE - might make you overqualified.

If you want to be a detective or go into the FBI or something, definitely consider changing your major.

again, to be an agent you need a degree, not a degree in CJ. keep the major for teaching and when you retire with a nice gov retirement check in 20 years and still in your fourties you can teach.

With the CJ degree you will only be able to consult with books, movies, big corporations, good bank, but that's what every other fed agent that retires is doing to.

Be smart get stay on course.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by crazycoffey

again, to be an agent you need a degree, not a degree in CJ. keep the major for teaching and when you retire with a nice gov retirement check in 20 years and still in your fourties you can teach.

With the CJ degree you will only be able to consult with books, movies, big corporations, good bank, but that's what every other fed agent that retires is doing to.

Be smart get stay on course.

I have a history degree. It won't get him anything.

If he's majoring in education, fine. But if he's majoring in history, I recommend changing his major.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by crazycoffey

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.

HEY!!! WTF OVER?!?! BTW that is why I am getting my masters in CJ so I can start teaching undergraduate CJ courses in my spare time make some extra $$

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

HEY!!! WTF OVER?!?! BTW that is why I am getting my masters in CJ so I can start teaching undergraduate CJ courses in my spare time make some extra $$

If you read any of my other posts, you would have seen that I said the only reason to get a CJ four year degree is if you wanted to work in the lab, or get a masters or PHD in CJ to teach.

He clearly stated he was thinking about changing degees to be a cop. I am a cop too and I know more people that said they wish they would have gotten thier degree in something other than CJ, than those that had degrees wishing they would have studied criminal justice other than what they had studied.

I was responding more to the other poster (not a cop) saying to change his degree to CJ because it could open more doors for the thread poster's law enforcement career.

Sorry if I offended you, you are doing what you want and what I was explaining as the reason to to get a CJ degree. However with a four year degree in teaching history, he has something to fall back on. He didnt' mention anything about a desire to teach college level courses or even to pursue a Master's degree.

Even with a four year degree in history, switching his master pursuit to CJ to teach CJ to college kids makes more sense long term to me, than changing now just for his four year degree.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by crazycoffey

If you read any of my other posts, you would have seen that I said the only reason to get a CJ four year degree is if you wanted to work in the lab, or get a masters or PHD in CJ to teach.

He clearly stated he was thinking about changing degees to be a cop. I am a cop too and I know more people that said they wish they would have gotten thier degree in something other than CJ, than those that had degrees wishing they would have studied criminal justice other than what they had studied.

I was responding more to the other poster (not a cop) saying to change his degree to CJ because it could open more doors for the thread poster's law enforcement career.

Sorry if I offended you, you are doing what you want and what I was explaining as the reason to to get a CJ degree. However with a four year degree in teaching history, he has something to fall back on. He didnt' mention anything about a desire to teach college level courses or even to pursue a Master's degree.

Even with a four year degree in history, switching his master pursuit to CJ to teach CJ to college kids makes more sense long term to me, than changing now just for his four year degree.

I was just messin...but it is much harder to get a masters outside of your undergrad discipline if y ou don't have the basics first....very few exceptions to that rule.....CJ, Sociology with Criminalistics emphasis, and Poly Sci are about all you can do and still do good in a CJ Masters program....

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

I was just messin...but it is much harder to get a masters outside of your undergrad discipline if y ou don't have the basics first....very few exceptions to that rule.....CJ, Sociology with Criminalistics emphasis, and Poly Sci are about all you can do and still do good in a CJ Masters program....

I am finishing a B.S. in business and planning to go for my Masters in Art education, there's another one to add to the list.

I think I'm getting too old to stay in Law Enforcement. 34 and starting at a new department? Not going to be fun.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by crazycoffey

I am finishing a B.S. in business and planning to go for my Masters in Art education, there's another one to add to the list.

I think I'm getting too old to stay in Law Enforcement. 34 and starting at a new department? Not going to be fun.

GAH! Don't say that! I just started my LE career at 29 (been in 2 years) Why did you leave your last department?

I think that saying a CJ degree is "worth nothing" is akin to saying military experience is "worth nothing" but that is just my opinion I also served 5 years in the Army 3 Active, 2 Guard

[El Jefe]

Denver Chief, good advice. It is the same in Ohio I am doing a police academy starting in June that runs 22-25 weeks and is mon-fri 5-9pm. Now if I want to work in the COPD (Columbus) which is the biggest in Ohio you have to attend their academy even if you are already an officer. So I am going to do my Academy then try to get on at Columbus it has something like 1900 police officers.