Educational & Career Advice: Criminal Justice vs. Forensic Science

Which master’s degree would the forum would recommend: Masters in Forensic Science from National University or a Masters in Criminal Justice from Capella University.

I’m interested in input in regards to which on would have more utility. The Forensic Science degree has some interesting areas but after further investigations in employment opportunities, I should have done a bachelors in a physical science. This seems to be a requirement to get in almost all the crime labs across the country.

I hold a bachelors in Information Technology. I’m a 10 year Navy veteran with 4 ½ years of military law enforcement and 4 years of IT experience with the law enforcement experience being more current. I am more interested in doing something in the criminal justice field but due to a service-connected disability, I can not pursue a career as a police officer. I would also like to teach part time and am looking to get my credential. I would love to teach college one day and feel the adult and vocational education experience in the public school system will provide the best experience.

Now that you’ve read my half-baked plan, I need input.

1. Masters in Criminal Justice (Capella) or Forensic Science (National)?

2. What other areas of criminal justice would being interesting that I could pursue (with a service-connected disability)?

I need as much information and opinions as possible to make a sound decision.

Thanks
Nathan

 

With the background in IT, a job as a crime analyst sounds well suited for you. Depending on the extent of your disability, a career in crime scene investigations might be an option as well. In California, we tend to use non-sworn employees in both capacities. Neither requires a master's degree, although one would be useful for advancement. At least in CA, the laboratory jobs are extremely competitive.

 

The problem that I see is that police departments generally employ very few non-sworn (civilian) people for crime scene processing. There are exceptions, of course, but generally police departments like to have police officers involved in every aspect of an investigation for crime scene integrity, chain of custody, etc.

That being said, there are many available positions for civilians within a police department in communications, records, etc. In that case, a Master's in Criminal Justice would probably better serve you.

I listed a bunch of DL Master's programs in this thread.

 

Thanks DG1 for the information. I did a Google on Crime Analyst and found that they are pretty important. I have mild hearing loss and a pretty irritating back strain that flair up every so often. I'm pretty sure that I will complete a Masters in Criminal Justice. The choice now is at which school. I am attracted to Capella because of the discount I can get because I was in the military and give a sense of importance to that.