I'm a cop, but didn't want to get bachelors in criminal justice, so I got one in business management because it seems more applicable to the real world. In the real world, everything revolves around money and business transactions. Well, now I'm enrolling in a masters program in criminal justice (assuming I pass the GRE this December) and I wanted your professional opinion: Is a masters in criminal justice worth its salt? What is your impression of that particular academic discipline?
Me Again: Depends what you intend to do with the degree. One recommendation would be to go down the middle of the road and hunt down a Master of Public Administration degree program that allows you to earn a concentration/specialization in Criminal Justice Management, Public Policy Studies or any other concentration/specialization that would complement your professional/academic goals. Questions to ask yourself: 1. Is there a specific reason for me to pursue a graduate CJ degree? (Such as teaching as an Adjunct at a local college) 2. Am I trying to set myself up for promotion in the Dept, preparing for my post-retirement 2d career, or both? 3. What was the promotion success rate in my Dept for officers with degrees in CJ v. management? 4. What are my intellectual interests? (Does management bore me to death, or am I sick and tired of CJ and want to dive into something new?) A graduate degree in CJ can be quite inspiring... depends on what school you're looking at: reputation, specialties of the faculty, the curriculum, research opportunities, friendliness to adult part-time students, etc... My BS was in CJ and my graduate degree was an MPA (regrettably the CJ concentration/specialization was not an option at the school that I attended). BruceP
My A.S, B.A., and M.A. are in Criminal Justice. Whether or not the degree is worthwhile is based in large part on what you plan to do with it. Not long ago, there was an article in the Journal of Crime & Criminology about the increased present and future need for CJ instructors at community colleges, and a Master's in CJ from a quality school would fit the ticket perfectly. I'm sure it helps that I work in the field (police officer), but I've received job offers from every community college to which I've applied as an adjunct lecturer in CJ. Also, every doctoral program in CJ or a closely related field that I've looked at either requires a Master's degree, or additional work is required and the Master's is awarded by that school. As far as CJ as an academic discipline, it's totally what you make of it. With the current state of world affairs, I think it's a very interesting time for CJ people. Issues like terrorism or domestic security were once abstract concepts, and they are now on everyone's radar screen. What school are you applying to? Bruce
Folks, thanks for the informative insight. I'm applying to the University of South Florida. I'm jumping onboard this program for a couple of reasons: 1. I figured that CJ might be a little easier for me, since I work in that discipline. 2. Since I'm a cop, why not get a masters in CJ??? 3. The USF is offering an accelerated "cohort program" since about 25 officers from my agency were willing to enroll. This program is extremely attractive because: a) All my friends and associates will be in class with me. b) The classes have been shortened from 20 weeks down to eight!!!! c) Classes meet once a week on Saturdays from 0900-1530 hours. d) My agency is willing to pay 75% of the tuition!!! During my undergraduate work, I would have never considered CJ. But now it seems like the right thing to do.
Me again: Sounds like you have a good plan. Go forth and prosper! WARNING: CJ to the practitioner is different than CJ to the academician! Academicians get into the theory part REAL DEEP... Keep an open mind... If you can get to the point where you can put theory AND practice into perspective then you've GOT it! BruceP
USF has a great Criminology department, a very good choice. Just a word of caution regarding the cohort program - such a program was offered years ago to my police department, and things went well...for about 3 weeks. Once it was apparent that the cohort program was *not* a shortcut or an easy way out, about 75% of the participants bailed, and the college cancelled the program after the first semester. Just make sure your fellow cohort members are in it for the long haul. Bruce
Ouch! This is a terminal degree, meaning that it can't be used towards a doctorate because a thesis isn't required (or that's how it was explained to me). Frankly, I don't know if I'll complete it! Who knows?!?!?! If I get transferred to nights or some other weird shift, I will not be able to finish it (I don't have the intestinal fortitude to work all night, go to school all day on Saturday and then work Saturday night). I'm currently in CID, which provides exceptionally stable hours (except for when we're on call). I'm happy to have a bachelors degree (which I just received this year!!!) and if I complete this masters degree program, then that will be great! and if I don't....(?)
Well, I missed the first course of the cohort program (but I'm jumping onboard this November 3rd). However, I have some scoop on the first midterm exam... The average grade on the midterm was 79!!! Ouch!!!
Not my field. I did concentrate in it somewhat as a sociology major and the professor who gave all of the criminology courses was a critical (Marxist) sociologist. Terrific prof, brilliant and tough. He did criminological research in England and then had the books shipped in for us to purchase for his course. He was a prof who set his undergraduate final exams in such a way that you had to have read every book and attended the lectures. Anyway, back on topic. If the cohort does not work out you can look at other DL programs. I believe that UNISA has one. Even DETC accredited AJU does (of course caution with DETC and utility). My brother in law was a cop and needed the M.A. in Criminology to transition to the civilian job he has (still law related). He said it was very competitive and he got the job with the understanding that he was completing his M.A. North
My city had a big scuttlebutt because we hired someone who claimed to have a degree which he did not have (it was a civilian managerial job). He resigned before he could be terminated. Subsequently, all degrees are now formally investigated and must be regionally accredited to be accepted by our city/county. If the cohort program doesn't work out for me, then I would consider a DL program only if it is RA.
Mine is: A.A. -- General Education B.S. -- Business Management M.A. -- None (CJ some day?) Well, your resume is quite impressive. It's all in CJ. Are you going to pursue a doctorate in CJ (or in whatever) or are you satisified with just a masters?
It's been an ongoing process. I'm in the pre-application stage of a doctoral program right now, just taking care of some housekeeping issues (GRE's, references) first. I'll be sure to let everyone know if I'm accepted. Bruce
