What Education Does a Police Officer Need?
If you’re interested in being a police officer, there are lots of options available to you for education. Although a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is not a requirement for most entry-level jobs in the field, earning a degree will not only show how serious you are about your career to the hiring officer, but will also help you out later in your career.
Let’s take a look at what kind of education is available for those who want to be police officers and how it can help them throughout their careers. Remember, being a cop is one step into a field that holds many different positions, some requiring more education than others.
What Kind of Education is Available in the Criminal Justice Field?
Here are just some of the jobs typically filled by those with criminal justice degrees.
- Law Enforcement
- Corrections
- Border Protection
- Homeland Security
- Private and Public Security
- Fraud Investigation
At a college or university, the criminal justice curriculum includes instruction in court structure and the legal system, policies and procedures of law enforcement, fundamentals of security and surveillance, and techniques used in the investigating, tracking, solving, and deterring crime.
When it comes to what you will learn during your degree program, that will vary by institution. Here are some of the areas you may be able to focus or specialize in.
- Homeland Security and Anti-Terrorism
- Law Enforcement
- Security
- Surveillance
- Criminal and Crime Scene Investigation Techniques
- Dealing with Juveniles
- Corrections
Curriculum
In addition to the core curriculum, which most likely includes courses in criminal law, law enforcement operations, ethics, criminology, organized crime, and criminal justice documentation, among others, you will also have credit hours in Arts and Sciences. Some of the topics you might study include principles of communication and English composition, algebra, physics, statistics, culture and diversity, and psychology.
You also have some choices in your degree field when it comes time to pick electives. You could chose to take classes in topics such as juvenile justice, drugs and crime, rules of evidence, media relations, or electronic security devices, among a host of others. It all depends on your personal interests.
Careers in Criminal Justice
At the end of your degree program, when you have earned your Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, you will be ready to take on the role of the beat cop or one of a dozen or more related careers. Among the possibilities are:
- Customs and Border Patrol
- Park Rangers
- Private Security
- Insurance Investigations
- State Troopers
- Federal Police Work
- Corrections
- Probation and Parole
- Fraud Investigations
- Law Firms or Court Systems
Is Criminal Justice Right for Me?
This is a question you have to answer for yourself. But if you have a passion for protecting citizens, solving crimes, and upholding the law with integrity and steadfastness, you might have what it takes to be a police officer. Keep in mind that most law enforcement jobs include background checks, drug tests, physical fitness tests, and other qualifications that a candidate must pass before being able to work in the field. If you are ready to undergo this testing, a career in criminal justice might be for you.
Do you want to get started on your new career today? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, consider ECPI University for the education you’ll need for making a difference in the world. For more information about this exciting degree program, connect with a friendly admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Criminal Justice - Bachelor’s
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