How difficult would Criminal Justice....

courses at the graduate level (online obviously) be for a person with an extensive social science/history background? I am looking at different areas where I might could add courses I could teach at the community college level. Looking at the topics of many of the courses I have seen, it appears to me that they would be topics familiar to me in the course of my previous studies. Opinions are appreciated.

 

I can only speak from my personal experience, but I did notice that some of my classmates who didn't have any CJ undergrad experience had a more difficult time than those of us who did. Most of my graduate courses were more expansive treatments of what I did in my undergrad program.

I will say that many schools, especially community colleges, prefer practitioner faculty for CJ subjects.

 

I'm teaching Criminal Justice and I'm surprised at how much material I have to cover, to include:

• Death investigations
• Nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological attacks against the U.S.
• Search & seizure issues
• Interviewing & Interrogations
• Miranda
• etc.

I don't see how a non-CJ practitioner could teach some of this stuff. As one example, if you've never conducted an interrogation, then how can you impart tips on how to effectively interrogate someone?

To teach nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological responce plans, I had to draw on my graduate studies. Word to the wise: Save all your graduate-level papers because you can draw upon them when you start teaching this stuff. I'm so glad I saved all that stuff!!!!

 

Before there were the online student & faculty resources there are now (plagiarism checkers, APA tutorials, grammar checkers, etc.), I once sent one of my undergrad papers to a student who was struggling with APA as an example of what a properly formatted paper looked like.

I'm sure you know where this is headed.....about a year later, a different student submitted my own paper back to me for a different course.

I've submitted all my old papers to the plagiarism database, because I know more copies are floating out there somewhere......

 

If someone gave me my paper as their own, then I'd be stunned! And then pissed! I'm not sure exactly what I'd do though.

 

My first reaction was to laugh. Then I got pissed.

 

I would like to offer two comments.

First, I have an MS in chemistry. I took some online graduate level CJ courses. I found them quite easy.

Second, for the teaching part. I also have experience in a forensic lab analyzing fire debris. I am certified by the state to teach fire chemistry. One can get this certification by simply taking a few courses.

An earlier post pointed out that most programs prefer experience in the field. I have experience in fire chemistry even if focused in my specific area. (fire chemistry is a broad field). I think my experience makes me a better teacher for this subject than someone who only took the courses. I am not saying there aren't good teachers out there who only took courses, only that I bring something extra to the table.

 

Imitation is often called the sincerest form of flattery, or so it is said.
But plagiarism wreaks of laziness and possibly incompetence; nothing flattering there.

 

CJ fits into the social sciences which, IMO, makes it easier, at least for some people, particularly if you like to "read and write." However, if you have to delve into 40 or 50 or more professional journals, just to write a 12-15 page paper, then it can be extremely time consuming.

I'm also finding out that not all online CJ programs are created equal. Some are very easy, while others are extremely rigorous. There doesn't seem to be an equality in the level of rigor amongst various schools.

 

Well I am intrigued by CJ and I thought my social science/history background might be appropriate. I appreciate everyone's responses and I will continue to investigate options.

 

My background is not in CJ except for about 8 years of private security experience in several different fields. I have an MS in another field and have been teaching a long time. Last year I got a grad certificate in CJ from APUS. I took 7 courses in 8 months. Every course I took was new information beyond what I had done on the job and I loved the classes, learned A LOT, but it was not hard at all. I am now teaching CJ courses in community college and I love it!!

Go for it! I highly recommend APUS.