Adjunct in Criminal Justice

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by friendorfoe, Jul 26, 2006.

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  1. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Hello all,

    So I think I got a handle on this graduate degree thing, I've got the hard earned support of my wife to go for an MBA, so that's my mission for the next 2 to 3 years.

    However, as you may or may not know, I work in law enforcement, specifically in the federal protective spectrum, which few people ever see (I'm either blessed or cursed)....and would like to adjunct as many of you here do in criminal justice and homeland security.

    Texas ATM (go Aggies) has a bada** post graduate certificate in Homeland Security that is 15 hours and garners a lot of respect in my local digs at the state and federal level. So that's a must for me especially given my specific job.

    However I'm looking at money and time, both of which are running short by the time I get to this point in my degree. I want a degree that will qualify me to adjunct and the least expensive I could find was Troy State University other than Fort Hays State University.

    Now here's the deal, Fort Hays State U. is a Masters of Liberal Studies (15 hours) with an 18 hour concentration and research project in criminal justice. I know this would technically qualify me to teach. But with a 10+ year in a specialized law enforcement profession, an MBA and Cert. and experience in Homeland Security, do you think an MLS in CJ will swing enough to teach or do you think an MS or MA is a bare minimum?

    In other words, is it experience and the uniqueness of it that appeals to online schools or the degree? Do you feel an MLS would do the trick?

    The MLS is cheaper, I like that.
    It’s only 31 hours….I really like that.
    I like the liberal arts approach for a more well rounded body of knowledge kind of thing (how Masonic lodge of me).
    I like the school from what I’ve read on it.

    The downers….it’s not an MS or MA and may cause a second look or be mistaken as a “librarian” degree.
    It doesn’t focus like an MS or MA again this doesn’t bother me but may bother my would be employer.
    It’s a terminal degree….though honestly this bothers me not in the least since a doctorate is NOT in my future.

    So since I’ve never taught, never applied to and never BTDT……I’m willing to listen to the sage advice of my betters on this (well, more so than before).
    :D
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Betters? That certainly isn't me, but........

    Not to give a general answer to a specific question, but it really depends on the school to which you're applying, as well as your professonal experience. Criminal Justice is one of those academic fields where practical (street) experience is valued just as much, if not more, than the traditional academic benchmarks (degrees, publication, research), at least through the undergrad level.

    I'm not going to BS you.....if you applied for an adjunct CJ teaching position with a Fort Hays M.L.S. with a specialization in CJ, and someone else with roughly the same personal/professional experience applied with a M.A. or M.S. in CJ, then the M.A./M.S. person is probably going to get the job, almost every time.

    The good news is that CJ is such a popular academic major, there are usually many online adjunct positions available. Some schools (University of Phoenix being one) don't even require a CJ degree for a teaching position, as long as you have *any* graduate degree, plus extensive experience as a police officer/other CJ professional.

    My advice....while I LOVE Fort Hays' DL offerings, if your goal is to teach CJ as an adjunct/part-timer, I'd go for the M.A./M.S. in Criminal Justice.

    Check my sig file for many options.
     
  3. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Thanks Bruce. While that's not the answer I wanted to hear, I suppose it is true.

    The cheapest RA MSCJ or MACJ is Troy or APUS....which are both twice as expensive as Ft. Hays.
     
  4. parvo

    parvo New Member

    I was told when I started looking for part time teaching gigs that schools are more concerned with where your degree is from than what it is in. I am working on my MA in political science from a very well known school and I had no problem getting a job teaching CJ at a local college part time.

    I've mentioned it before on this board, working in cj with a well rounded education can be more valuable than your job and education both being cj. I think it is important to be well rounded.

    You'd be surprised at the teaching positions available even if your master's isn't done. Find friends at work that teach part time and ask them to help you get your foot in the door.
     
  5. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    You've been told wrong.

    Using your theory, someone who earned a Master's degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Harvard would get a Criminal Justice teaching job over someone who earned a Master's degree in Criminal Justice from <insert generic regionally-accredited school here>, because Harvard trumps all other schools.

    That's simply not true.

    The fact that you got a job teaching CJ, I'd be willing to bet, is the result of one or more of a few different circumstances;

    1) You have significant experience in the CJ system (see above).

    2) Political Science is close enough to CJ that the school considered it a "significantly close" field (although I vehemently disagree).

    3) There weren't enough qualified candidates for the position, so you got the job by default.

    Of course, the fact that you haven't yet even earned a graduate degree makes me very suspect that you do have a teaching position. Call me paranoid.

    BTW.....welcome to the board. :cool:
     
  6. Chsheaf

    Chsheaf New Member

    Please tell me the secret to getting a teaching position w/o a graduate degree. My local community college won't even talk with me until my degree is complete. Same goes for many online schools I have contacted. This even after 34 years experience in criminal justice as a supervisor, detective, and chief deputy.
     
  7. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    It is possible. I've seen faculty at very small community colleges (usually down south) that have just an undergrad (or even a two-year) degree, but it's rare.

    Practical experience is wonderful, but most schools want some assurance that you're capable of passing-on that practical experience in an academically-sound manner.
     

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