Since this blog has been in existence, I received countless emails and comments asking whether a criminal justice degree is a waste of time. The questions were usually similar, but came with slew of different meanings:

• Is a criminal justice degree worthless?
• Is a criminal justice degree really worthwhile?
• Is a criminal justice degree a good degree? a bad degree?
• Is a criminal justice degree a waste of time?
• Should I take a criminal justice degree in college?

I even tackled a question on whether a criminal justice degree is good for law school candidacy – and probably the most common one: is a criminal justice degree program hard or easy? But, we’re here to find out if it’s worth it.

Is a Criminal Justice Degree Worthless or Worth It?

Answer: Yes, it’s worth it!

There seems to be a perception out there that those pursuing a criminal justice degree are spending their hard earned money on a degree that’s going to be worthless. The truth is that it’s a desirable degree when coupled with a quality program at a reputable college or university.

So why all the negativity out there? Simply put, many not so reputable schools, and especially those with deep advertising budgets, are giving the industry a bad name. The drive-thru effect of graduating students ill-equipped for the real world job market leaves much to be desired.

The reality is that most popular degree programs – not only criminal justice – fall under this presumption and the advent of online learning has its many critics.

Suggestion: Aim higher. Don’t just apply to the first school you saw on TV or in your search results – look deeper for the best fit. Even if your grades sucked in high school or college, aim higher and apply to at least several schools. And probably the biggest thing of all, pick a reputable school that is properly accredited. Yes, reputable online colleges and universities, like some of the ones listed in Best Criminal Justice Schools in America are just fine.

Just like when you were a kid, when you wanted that sweet cherry or extra sprinkles on top of your ice cream, the recruiters are looking for the best and often with “a cherry on top.” Who really wants a person with a questionable academic record, a shady character, or a total slacker-like attitude working in the criminal justice system; enforcing laws and protecting people, of all things? No one.

But is it worth it financially? Will I make big $$$?

It can be fairly lucrative when used in conjunction with your education, size of the organization you want to work for, and overall time on the job. For example, in terms of law enforcement job opportunities, like those of a police officer, a Sheriff’s deputy, a detective, or a FBI Special Agent, those applying in mid to large municipal, county, state or federal agencies are often required to have a college degree at the time of application.

These mid to large-size agencies usually pay much better than smaller ones and can pay significantly for each level of education above the standard requirement. There’s a big push for four-year college grads, so, those taking an Associate’s degree, may want to think about upgrading to a Bachelor program.

Keep in mind that entry level salaries may seem low, but they are ENTRY LEVEL. After you go through your probationary period, thus increasing your seniority, your salary should go up (oftentimes significantly) and advancement opportunities should become more available (keeping in line with the law enforcement example above). Small departments, like those located in villages and townships may require as little as a high school diploma or a GED, but you get pay that is commensurate with that minimum educational requirement.

It’s not uncommon to see law enforcement officers making high five-figure salaries when performing duties at larger agencies.

I’m not done, yet. Read on… You probably want to know if it’s good or bad for your purposes.

Is a Criminal Justice Degree Good or Bad?

Answer: It’s definitely bad if you are planning on becoming a Marine Biologist, or a Chemist, or a Pre-school Teacher… Or, you know, one of those people who is taking a degree just to have one, but has no TRUE intent of working in the field the degree mostly applies to.

If you are interested in working within the criminal justice system; for example, in correctional or law enforcement fields, then you picked the right degree, but be mindful that even when a college degree is a requirement in order to apply or obtain the job, you don’t have to take criminal justice – degrees in business, accounting, and law are very desirable, too (amongst others). My rule of thumb, if a degree has substance / real world application to the criminal justice system (even if just a little), and YOU LOVE that field, then I think you should pursue what you love. It’s much easier going to work when you like what you do rather than when you despise each day you clock out.

Also, USE YOUR COMMON SENSE: if the NSA needs a computer specialist, it probably wants someone with a computer programming or information technology (IT) educational background – OR – if the State Police wants to solve crimes through bullet trajectory analysis, lift latent prints, get a definite photo or video enhancement, or DNA test materials you should probably look closer into the field of Forensic Science; where, degrees like Physics, Chemistry, Digital Photography, and Biochemistry will play a huge role.

So, besides the common sense thinking and my wholehearted optimism, a degree in criminal justice has its limitations… It’s for those that want to pursue one of the many careers in criminal justice. I covered the possible speed bumps in my What Jobs Can I Get with a Criminal Justice Degree article. Check it out.

Last one… for all the marbles.

Is a Criminal Justice Degree a Waste of Time?

Answer: No, especially if you have aspirations to work within the criminal justice field, have a good credit history and a clean criminal record.

You may find taking a criminal justice program imprudent:

• if you have a criminal record that’s filled to the brim with domestic violence and felony convictions
• if you have DUIs that are recent or repetitive. I covered law enforcement employment and DUIs already.
• if your credit sucks (collections, judgements, bankruptcies). Still, those with recovering credit, showing significant improvement may still be considered.
• if you’re nearing the national average cut off age of 36
• if you have little interest in the field
• if you only want a desk job / office job – other degrees are more suitable
• if you don’t want to carry a fire arm

Saying that, a graduate degree in Criminal Justice or Criminology may be of some help for those interested in research and teaching opportunities; where restrictions on age, work environment and lethal accessories are a non-issue. Remember, that even if you get your shiny Master’s or a PhD degree, real-world experience is often preferred as an accompaniment to your education.

Should you take criminal justice in college?

Radek, I’m wondering what jobs can I get with a criminal justice degree? Specifically, Associate’s or Bachelor’s criminal justice degree jobs.

What Can You Do with a Criminal Justice Degree?

There are quite a few jobs available for those with a criminal justice degree. Careers in criminal justice, ranging from local Police Officers to Sheriff’s Deputies to State Police Officers to FBI Special Agents and DEA Special Agents can be obtained with the help of a criminal justice degree.

There are also great opportunities in the correction system, like jails and prisons.

For the sake of this article, “criminal justice field” encompasses sub-fields, like: law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Also, check out this resource with a slew of Criminal Justice Careers.

If you think that criminal justice is the only degree that will get you hired, you might be surprised to find it’s not. Many people are not aware that law enforcement agencies – small, medium, and large – look for a diverse workforce. Can you imagine working somewhere where everyone has only one type of a degree? How innovative and diverse would that be? Right?

Some popular majors sought after in the law enforcement community are: Criminal Justice, Business, Finance, Law (law school graduates), Accounting, Sociology, Forensic Science, Information Technology and Engineering… and that’s just scratching the surface.

A degree in criminal justice will less likely secure a position outside of law enforcement and corrections (sub-fields of the criminal justice field). When compared with law enforcement jobs, one would have to pursue graduate studies in Criminal Justice / Criminology in order to pursue these rarer opportunities:

• Research Assistant
• Teacher
• College Instructor (minimum of a Master’s degree)
• Professor (PhD preferred)

If you’re looking for Forensic, CSI, and medical careers in the criminal justice system you should check out the Criminal Justice Careers page, but be forewarned that a CJ degree will not be the path to salvation when looking for work in these sub-fields.

I hope you’ve noticed that I mentioned the compatibility of a criminal justice degree with law enforcement so much throughout this blog post, as opposed to the whole criminal justice field. The reason is that a graduate with a criminal justice degree will only have a limited potential of obtaining work after graduation; that’s usually in Law Enforcement and Corrections, with limited opportunities across academia and other criminal justice career paths. Unless you have graduate coursework under your belt, the marketability of this degree outside of the criminal justice field is nearly nonexistent.

Bonus: A Criminal Justice Degree May Not Be Needed At All! — I know that got your attention… And, don’t forget to share your thoughts below.

University of California, Irvine is offering an online Master’s degree in Criminology, Law and Society.

I received the news recently from Adrianna Lopez, Assistant Director of the MAS Program at UC’s Irvine Campus.

I was pleasantly surprised, but perplexed why I haven’t found out sooner. Haven’t you heard? UC Irvine’s Criminology Program ranks as one of the best in the nation and has made my Best Criminal Justice Schools in California list.

About The Criminology Program at UCI

Despite the differences between Criminology and Criminal Justice, the program offers a healthy serving of theory and application in both disciplines, and then some.

Courses:

• Introduction to Criminology, Law and Society (One-week class on the UC Irvine campus)
• Legal Institutions and Society
• Police, Courts and Corrections
• Crime and Social Deviance
• Applied Statistics
• Research Methods
• Public Policy, Crime and Criminal Justice
• Organizational Perspectives on the Legal System
• Leadership
• Social Problems, Law and Policy
• Hate Crimes
• White-Collar Crime
• Sentencing and Corrections

Notice: that the first course requires you to come to the UC Irvine campus. Consider this a golden opportunity to meet your peers, professors, and have a feel for what the school is about. Then, you’ll have 99% of your time to study in your pajamas, if you choose to, of course.

Thirteen courses later, you’ll be able to attend the commencement ceremony at the UC Campus, if you want to. Oh, and you’ll have Summers off, too!

The Master’s degree in CLS is designed for working professionals seeking an advanced degree while continuing their full-time jobs.

Tuition

For $10,836 per year, or a total of $21,672 for this 2-year program you’ll be getting a Master’s of Advanced Study (MAS) in Criminology, Law and Society. I think the price for a program of this caliber is more than fair.

In case you’re wondering, the diploma and any transcripts will be the same as the on-campus students get. All you have to worry about is graduating.

Did you know the prestigious Criminology degree program at UC Irvine is, and has been, an online degree program for the past 8 years? I sure didn’t!


That means that UCI doesn’t have an on-campus clone and it has been consistently ranked as one of the best graduate programs in Criminology by US News & World Report, a very respected college ranking guide.

How Do You Benefit?

• Increase your competitive edge for advancement into managerial or supervisory positions.
• Interact with internationally recognized faculty known for their expertise and applied research in CLS.
• Earn a prestigious degree from a top-ranked research university and a nationally ranked department.
• Save time with online learning designed to fit your busy schedule.

*straight from the UCI Criminology, Law and Society MAS Program brochure

How to get in?

Simple, shell out the $70 for the application fee and apply… OK, maybe it’s not that easy.

First you’ll need to have your GRE scores ready. Adrianna informed me there’s no waiver, but don’t worry, the scores are not the only factor considered. Here’s what you need:

• Yes, get your Graduate Record Exam out of the way
• GPA of 3.0 or above
• Experience in the field or similar fields, or at least true intent
• Your letters of recommendation and the personal statement may help you if you aren’t on par with any of the last three items
• For more requirements, see the program website or request a brochure

Program & Contact Info

Official Program page: http://clsmas.soceco.uci.edu/
You can also contact Adrianna directly:
email: masinfo@uci.edu
phone: 949-824-5462

If you’re truly interested in the Criminology program from University of California (Irvine), make sure to request a brochure that explains everything you need to know about the program in more detail. However, I wouldn’t wait too long, as the first class starts in September.

Students are admitted only once a year.

Prepare for career advancement into top leadership positions in the criminal justice, legal, and social service systems

I get this question a lot: how long does it take to get a Criminology degree? Truthfully, that depends on which degree level you want to pursue. Is it an Associates, a Bachelors, a Masters, or a PhD in Criminology? Are you taking Criminology at a traditional campus university or college? Or, is the Criminology degree from an online school?

Answer based on an average of the expected completion time:

Associates Degree in Criminology

• Traditional
  • 1 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: at or above 16 credits
  • 2 years is the norm – usually full time: 12 credits or more
  • 2 and 1/2 years, or more – usually part time: below 12 credits
• Online
  • 1 to 2 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule

Bachelors Degree in Criminology

• Traditional
  • 3 to 3 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: at or above 16 credits
  • 4 years is the norm – usually full time: 12 credits or more
  • 4 and 1/2 to 5 and 1/2 years, or more – usually part time: below 12 credits
• Online
  • 2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule

Masters Degree in Criminology

• Traditional
  • 1 and 1/2 to 2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: may depend on the school, prior permission may be required
  • 2 to 3 years is the norm – usually full time: may depend on the school
    
  • 3 and 1/2 to 5 years , or more – usually part time: may depend on the school, prior permission may be required
    
• Online
  • 1 to 2 and 1/2 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule

PhD / Doctorate Degree in Criminology

• Traditional
  • 2 and 1/2 to 3 and 1/2 – with a Masters degree in Criminal Justice/Criminology or prior permission to take on higher class load, usually the former expedites the doctorate.
  • 4 to 5 years is the norm – usually full time: the length of the degree may depend on the school
    
  • 5 to 6 years, or more – usually part time or a class a time: colleges and universities often cap their PhD program at 5 years, prior permission may be required
    
• Online
  • 2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – usually one cannot manipulate the program to go faster or slower -but, there are exceptions to this general rule

I hope this helps. Be aware that you can shorten or lengthen the journey to your degree. Usually it takes a little initiative, but it pays dividends down the road. Good luck!

What are the top criminal justice schools in America? It’s a question I get in my mailbox at least once a week. The truth is, it’s not University of Phoenix, Everest College, or Westwood College as you probably found other sites claiming a list of “10 Best Criminal Justice Schools” to be. Come on! Here’s the real deal.

In my opinion, some of the best criminal justice colleges in the US include:

• CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Michigan State University
• Northeastern University
• Pennsylvania State University at University Park
• University of Albany (SUNY)
• University of California at Irvine
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Maryland at College Park Campus

These are just my recommendations, and rightfully so, as USNews.com has it’s own list of Top Criminal Justice Schools in America. Many of the schools I had in mind they listed, too.

Best Criminal Justice Schools in America for 2012

• American University
• Arizona State University
• CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Florida State University
• George Mason University
• Indiana University
• Michigan State University
• Northeastern University
• Pennsylvania State University (University Park)
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Newark campus)
• Temple University
• Sam Houston State University
• Washington State University
• University of Albany – SUNY
• University of California (Irvine campus)
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Delaware
• University of Florida
• University of Illinois (Chicago campus)
• University of Maryland (College Park campus)
• University of Missouri (St. Louis campus)
• University of Nebraska (Omaha campus)
• University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League School)

sources: US News and Criminal Justice Degree, College, and Career Blog

This is a list of the Top Criminal Justice Schools in America without the fluff.

More than half of these best Criminal Justice universities have online Criminal Justice degree programs – a great alternative to on-campus education.

No matter what you’ve heard before, be aware that the name of the school and/or program ranking matters; it can make a big difference between being accepted for a career position or getting promoted. We, as society, have preconceived notions, expectations for high standards, and the understanding of what’s real and what’s not – the people and organizations that will be hiring you or looking over your grad school application will look at the program and the school your graduated from.

And one more thing… your college grades and GPA matter, especially when applying for highly sought after career positions, and of course, graduate study. Just thought you should know.

Wait… When picking schools that have multiple locations be aware that a program from one campus location – for example – may be OR may not be better than the program from the other campuses. Take University of California (a.k.a. UC). This educational system has quite a few university campuses, but UC Irvine reigns supreme in Criminal Justice/Criminology over UC Davis (example).

Even if you can’t get into a great college or university, which doesn’t hurt to apply, remember that when researching your criminal justice schools make sure to take the accreditation, tuition, and time investment into consideration. Now, go share this great resource with someone! Thanks for reading.

Do you think there are criminal justice schools that should make the list, but didn’t? Share them with us and tell us why your picks should belong among the best criminal justice schools in the United States.

Is a Criminal Justice Degree a requirement if you want to work in law enforcement?

Several years ago, when I first started researching law enforcement careers, I was under the impression that a criminal justice degree is a mandatory requirement. Heck, I thought any 4-year degree had to be a mandatory accomplishment. After countless hours of research, interviews, and reading emails I learned more about how a lot of police departments in the country work when it comes to applicants with or without a degree.

First of all, contrary to the popular belief, a degree in criminal justice is not a requirement to be a police officer. In most departments, which require a degree to be completed prior to the application process, the applicants can have a degree in any discipline they got it in. Plain and simple. If you have a degree in Business, or a degree in History, you are a successful college graduate and you are past the educational hurdle, at least for now. This is for those “hard-to-get-into” police departments and Federal law enforcement agencies, like: FBI, DEA, or ICE.

Secondly, did you know that a criminal justice degree is not always a requirement? Better yet, did you know that any degree from an accredited academic institution in not always required? Yes, it’s true. Many police departments across the country will hire a high school graduate or a person who’s completing their college. However, within X number of years, the completion of at least 60 semester credit hours, or a full 4-year degree, is mandatory to keep your job. So, for example, the state of Wisconsin is trying to implement a 5-year term from hire to the time the educational requirement has to be completed – I think it’s 60 regular semester credits / 90 quarterly credits, or an equivalent of an Associates degree in 5 years. Each state has its own rules and time frames, some don’t have any at all – at least not yet.

Some departments, like the Chicago Police Department, requires that the applicant has 60 college credits at the time of application.

So, keep in mind that although you may need no education, some education, or a full 4-year degree at the time of application, you are still going to see those that have their degrees completed get the better pay and perhaps faster/better promotions. In my opinion, no matter if you work for a small/rural police department or a large/metropolitan police department, education is key.

Now, about Criminal Justice Degree as the absolute requirement. Despite what I said about a degree in Criminal Justice not being required, it is wise to take such a degree if you know that you would like to become a LEO. Think of a degree in Criminal Justice as a strong background for law enforcement and administrative duties while working for a Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, State Patrol, of Federal Government.

In any case, consider that there are many incentives for those completing college, with completed Bachelor degree, or an advanced degree, like: Master’s or Doctorate. Many medium and large law enforcement organizations give a percentage of salary increase per educational level completed. That can be substantial if you have a Bachelor’s degree or above. Also, certain positions within the organization require certain educational requirements, which can mean a move to a better position and a salary increase as well.

To recap:

1. In many cases, you don’t need a degree to start, but you may need one after X number of years
2. A degree in Criminal Justice is not the only degree accepted, but is often preferred in law enforcement agencies (see agency’s website / brochure for more info as there are some agencies that may prefer a Business or a Law Degree)
3. Usually, smaller departments start you off with a high school degree, medium departments with high school or 60 credit hours or Associate’s, big departments 60 credits / Associate’s or Bachelor’s
4. In the long run, a Bachelor degree is better than no degree
5. Education pays more and positions you for better promotions
6. Bonus: there’s a growing trend amongst law enforcement agencies to reward those who embark on a quest towards a degree, or advanced courses, with tuition assistance. Often the assistance can cover your college costs 100% and will most likely be based on the grades you get.

I always recommend to see more details about hiring information and application requirements from the agency in question. Most law enforcement agencies have websites or an information hotline for interested candidates.

Three common questions from many blog readers: Is a criminal justice degree hard? Is criminal justice a hard major? Is criminal justice hard? These 3 questions lead to a compounded one: is a criminal justice degree major hard to complete? The answer…

I personally think that a criminal justice degree is a fairly straight-forward major. It is not an easy major? I don’t think any major is, but for me it was a very rewarding educational experience. I was drawn to the field of Criminal Justice from the start and found it to be challenging, yet attainable.

But is the Criminal Justice Degree Major Hard for You?

This answer depends entirely on your own abilities, life goals, and true intentions. There is no “one shoe fits all” kind of answer for this.

Where do your interests lie? Are you planning on a criminal justice major because everyone else is doing it? it’s advertised on TV? or, because you’re out of options? These probably are not good reasons to take criminal justice in college. But these can be:

• You like issues that are related to society
• You find TV shows like COPS, 48 Hours, and Forensic Files fascinating
• You like to think critically and dig deeper to find the answers you seek
• You don’t have a problem working with other people
• You want to know more about issues pertaining to all that is “criminal justice”

BUT Wait… There’s More!

The biggest and really the only reason anyone would want to undertake a criminal justice major is that they would like to do meaningful work in this evolving field. Is that what you want to do: pursue a career in criminal justice? If so, keep reading…

Having a criminal justice degree allows one to pursue some of the most interesting criminal justice careers, which aren’t only limited to a police officer or a FBI Special Agent career path:

The reasons that create the interest in a criminal justice degree should be big enough for you to proceed further. They should be more than a path towards just a “job” – if you think of the degree as a means to a job, you’ll most likely find that the degree isn’t as easy to you. It may even be hard.

My 2 Cents:

1. Be true to your abilities. If you’re not strong in a certain subject or subjects, then a degree in criminal justice may be harder to accomplish. Check out the criminal justice courses you may be exposed to. Also, be aware that you’ll be taking English, Math, and certain Science classes while pursuing your college degree, no matter what major you pick.
2. Is your life goal to be a police officer or something entirely different? Think about what you really would like to do in the span of your life. Not sure yet? Then, you should be happy to know that most law enforcement career options for police officers, sheriff deputies, state troopers, or FBI agents do not specifically require a criminal justice degree. A Bachelor degree in Business, Computer Science, Chemistry, or something entirely different can be as good. It’s always wise to contact the agency you plan to work for in the future to find out if they have a certain educational preference. Did you know that many law enforcement agencies require only some college credits and not a full degree? And they don’t have to be derived from criminal justice classes. Aaahhhh… Now you know : )
3. Read, research, ask, and repeat… I mean if you’re really serious about pursuing a degree in criminal justice and following that up with a career in CJ I highly recommend reading and researching more about anything and everything that interests you. Don’t take criminal justice courses on a whim, hoping that they are going to solve your troubles. It’s always good to ask your teacher, professor, or someone you can trust to give you an honest answer about your educational and career goals. A criminal justice degree doesn’t have to be hard to accomplish. There are other great sites and bounty of information on the Internet; specifically on Government funded websites. If a police officer career is something you’re interested in then you should ask a police officer about how his or her career is, what it is all about, and how you can get your foot in the door. Hint… there are police officer forums on the Internet that may be full of interesting information. Interested in a different criminal justice career? Same model applies… go straight to the source!

I hope this helps some of you in answering this seemingly easy, but complicated, question. What have been your experiences with taking criminal justice courses? Are they easy or hard, or totally something different? Let us know by leaving your comment below.

I recently had a great e-mail conversation with one of my blog readers and I thought this can be helpful for some of you. Just remember, it is a personal e-mail so nothing is scripted. Take it for what it’s worth. Hope it helps some of you.

The Story – The Questions

Hey Radek, I left a couple comments on the blog, but I wanted to say hi and shoot you an email — I’m in a graduate program for Criminal Justice right now at SUNY Albany, and I’m thinking about applying for a PhD (but I have a lot of interests so I’m not sure what my focus would be at all whatsoever!) but I was just wondering if you had encountered doctorate types in the field or knew much about where they fit in?

I’m not really interested in academia yet at my age (and generally it seems like universities and CCs [Community Colleges] prefer people with both credentials AND CJ system experience), I figure I’d be in my mid-late 20s by the time I finish a doctorate, but I would like to work for either my state or the national government in investigation or analysis, is there a danger of over-qualification though? Would it be overburdening myself to get a doctorate instead of just applying away with a master’s degree? I really sorely lack experience, all I have under my belt is a year of non-profit work and a year as an intern/glorified clerk at the local attorney general’s office so I don’t really feel confident that I could get a position at this point.

Anyways, though, thanks for maintaining the blog, I really enjoy checking it out and it was a big confidence boost for me to read your posts about jobs with the alphabet soup of Fed. agencies that like CJ grads!

- Mystery Reader

The Response

Consider yourself a blessed entity in the criminal justice realm. SUNY Albany is one of the best. Kudos!

I understand your questions and confusion that is related to picking out the best PhD program for you. It is the contention that you would go into Criminology after your Master’s. Unfortunately there is no cornucopia of PhD kinds to choose from. One piece of advice is to look for PhD programs that are NOT within the criminal justice direct line of sight (aka PhD in Criminal Justice, Justice Administration, and Criminology).

For example, I am very interested in the studies that are related to terrorism. I love the Criminal Justice and Criminology side of terrorism related issues, but I found that to get my proper fix of healthy education and terrorism information I had to look into the field of Political Science with an emphasis on International Security (check out MIT’s program to see more). Or, search “Australia” on my blog – one of the best transnational crime programs is in AU.

Very often a PhD degree will suffice with higher learning institutions (experience won’t hurt). Academia may be an option, if you would like.

I know that there’s always a risk of over-qualification, but that’s usually on an individual level, not an organizational one. Thus, if you get passed up based on your Doctorate credentials, it is usually the judgment of one, or a few, individuals who are mostly worried about their careers and you passing them by.

Another issue that may present itself is budget. It is not uncommon to hire Master level grads over PhDs, based on salary offers. However, yet again, a professional organization will always offer the position to a PhD grad with the lower salary clause. Most municipalities and government agencies are looking for more qualified individuals, and even if you had to take a pay cut in the beginning, your status as a doctoral grad will propel you further, and surely, will increase your bottom line over time.

Experience is something you are gaining by sitting in on those seminars, and even though you don’t have the proverbial “street cred” you will get it with time. Most government agencies will hire a demonstrated and professional Master level grad. Considering that you’re looking into the government sector, you should have no problem – despite your concerns.

I am sitting on the fence right now, because I would like to get into your school (LOL), Penn State, or MIT (I have a few more I like). My take on it – a PhD by your mid or late 20′s is great, and if you have the will, you should go for it.

Thank you for the kind words and your input.

- Radek

The Response To The Response

Hey, thanks for getting back to me!

That’s a lot of food for thought, I really appreciate your reflections on this for sure!

Interestingly what you said about not getting the direct line-of-sight programs in the criminal justice field in specific interest areas like studying terrorism from the perspective of CJ orgs like Interpol actually kind of reassures me that getting the PhD in Criminal Justice MIGHT actually be appropriate for me… I don’t have any interest in sociology approaches (Criminology, or well except for comparative because it’s really cool to read about the way things are done in Japan and other countries of course…), but Criminal Justice — the system, institutions, and the players — are all very interesting to me.

One nice thing in Albany’s program too might be that I could take the IT concentration to show the “credentials” in GIS, SPSS, and all that sort of buzz-word kinda tech stuff employers like to know about! And I actually wouldn’t mind teaching as much as I mentioned earlier, it would be something I’d prefer doing after some professional experience, but if life thrusts me towards that I wouldn’t complain at all.

You know and it’s funny because — as far as I’m aware — I’m the only person in the program who comes from a humanities background rather than a social science or bio/hard science background, so I feel like a little bit of an anomaly (but in a good way) in the program and feel like I bring and take away completely different things to/from the program as a result. I guess an example would be my more crafted presentation of research, pushing for emotional as well as logical appeals for academic arguments.

And I mean like I said, my interests are pretty wide and I don’t seem to have any specific thing I can point to and say “aha!” I have interest in crime analysis and strategy planning, law enforcement intelligence, white collar crime (it seems like that’s more of a law school thing though?), historical research, field observation (did it once in an adjudication system class — observing court and the like, had a blast doing it), survey design maybe (though I haven’t tried it), legal research, using technology/crime mapping/stat analysis… I honestly haven’t taken a single course in this program that didn’t completely engage me, and that’s really saying something since I was an English major and loved reading and writing, yet hated 70% of my courses as an undergrad!

That’s great to hear you’re looking into the PhD thing too, I really like going to Albany (I didn’t like it at first, but it was a big under-renovation mess and I had a crazy ex-gf trying to kill me on the uptown campus) but it’s grown on me. Albany, NY has got a lot of government agencies to work/intern with, and is a close hop away from NYC and Boston, so it’s also a great place for opportunities, like the internship I had. MIT would be great though since it has your specific interest there, plus Boston is like the nicest city in the east by far if you ask me…

But really, thanks for your response. I feel a lot more encouraged now and I think applying to this thing might be for real even this very week!

- Mystery Reader

How long does it take to get a Forensic Science degree? A great question! The answer depends on which degree level one is seeking to accomplish. Is it an Associate’s, a Bachelor’s, a Master’s, a PhD, or perhaps an MD in Forensic Sciences or similar disciplines? Are you taking this specialized degree program at a traditional campus or is the Forensic degree from an online college or university?

Here’s the answer based on an average of the expected completion time frame:

Associates Degree in Forensic Science

• Traditional
  • 1 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: at or above 16 credits
  • 2 years is the norm – usually full time: 12 credits or more
  • 2 and 1/2 years, or more – usually part time: below 12 credits
• Online
  • 1 to 2 years depending on the school – usually you can’t manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this rule

Bachelors Degree in Forensic Science

• Traditional
  • 3 and 1/2 to 4 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: at or above 16 credits
  • 4  to 4 and 1/2 years is the norm – usually full time: 12 credits or more
  • 5 and 1/2  years, or more – usually part time: below 12 credits
• Online
  • 2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – usually you can’t manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this general rule

Masters Degree in Forensic Science

• Traditional
  • 1 and 1/2 to 2 and 1/2 years with a maxed-out class load – super-full-time: this may depend on the school, prior permission may be required
  • 2 to 3 and 1/2 years is the norm – usually full time: may depend on the school
    
  • 4 to 5 years , or more – usually part time: this may depend on the school, prior permission may be required
    
• Online
  • 1 and 1/2 to 3 years depending on the school – usually you can’t manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are exceptions to this rule

PhD / Doctorate Degree in Forensic Science

• Traditional
  • 2 and 1/2 to 3 and 1/2 – with a Masters degree in certain desirable science based programs and/or Forensic Science degree: prior permission to take on higher class load may be required, usually having an advanced degree (ie. MS in Forensic Science) expedites the fast track – not all schools work this way, so it’s always wise to make sure before you start.
  • 4 to 6 years is the norm – usually full time: the length of the degree may depend on the school
    
  • 6 to 7 years, or more – usually part time or a class at a time: colleges and universities often cap their PhD program at 5-6 year mark, prior permission may be required
    
• Online
  • 2 and 1/2 to 4 years depending on the school – usually you won’t be able to manipulate the program to go faster or slower – but, there are may be exceptions
    

Just remember that a Forensic Science degree is not a “walk in the park” – it is a science based degree for which not everyone is “cut out” for. This degree track will require more initiative than others, but the rewards are vast and if you like to solve crimes through the use of brains, rather than brawn, this is a great route to go. I hope this helps you. Good luck!

Duquesne University is offering an online Bachelors in Criminal Justice degree. This Spiritan academic institution has a Tier 1 ranking amongst the best colleges and universities in the nation. It’s a University of honor and tradition that offers robust criminal justice courses for an accelerated Bachelor’s degree program in the School of Leadership.

Take care to remember that Duquesne University is regionally accredited by the the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and has both online and traditional programming based out of Pittsburgh, PA.

Some of the online criminal justice courses that you can expect at DU are not from a pure Criminal Justice core curriculum, but rather, as an added concentration to The Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (BSPS) degree program. The noteworthy criminal justice related concentrations include:

• criminal justice and forensic science
• behavioral science
• security administration

Hands down, the Criminal Justice and Forensic Science concentration is the “meat and potatoes” of what you should be looking for in a leadership program that pertains to criminal justice. The others should also be considered, as you will be picking two concentrations in your BSPS degree.

Check out Duquesne University for more information on the online criminal justice course offerings. It’s definitely a school that’s worth considering for your academic needs.