<p>What's your opinion on this major? I'm considering this among others and want some feedback.</p>
<p>It’s harder than chemistry and less marketable. Just do chemistry or chemical engineering. There’s chemistry in criminology, because analytical labs frequently do drug analysis, DNA fingerprinting or toxin analysis of biosamples. A chemistry or chemical engineering major can do criminology and law enforcement. a criminology major cannot run an HPLC or a GC-MS.</p>
<p>Criminology is largely a subfield of sociology. Neither field is easily marketable, but it seems to me that criminology is overspecialized at the UG level, whereas sociology has the advantage of being broader. So, I would focus on sociology instead, or do criminology as a minor or a double major with another field, e.g., politics, econ, psych. Though you will get some basic quantitative skills in these fields (basic statistics, basic social research methods), I would opt for more coursework in analytic or quantitative tools. GIS might be one to consider. </p>
<p>Also, you didn’t mention what you might hope to do with it. If applying to grad school in that area or a related, my comments above would still apply. If you have law school in mind, just take a single course in it if it interests you, and opt for a broader background.</p>
<p>(I think the previous poster had criminalistics in mind, rather than criminology.)</p>
<h2>It’s harder than chemistry and less marketable. Just do chemistry or chemical engineering. There’s chemistry in criminology, because analytical labs frequently do drug analysis, DNA fingerprinting or toxin analysis of biosamples. A chemistry or chemical engineering major can do criminology and law enforcement. a criminology major cannot run an HPLC or a GC-MS. ~ LAstthreeyears</h2>
<p>I think you are confused. Criminology is basically the same as Criminal Justice, but with a focus on Psychology or Sociology.</p>
<p>What you ae describing is Forensic Science, specifically Forensic Toxicology and some other sub-groups.</p>
<p>I would not recommend Criminology as a major. It doesn’t provide any marketable skills and you don’t need it to work in LE. In fact, LE agencies prefer applicants with other degrees such as Accounting, Computer Science, Finance, Business, IT, Bio, Chem.</p>
<p>I want to work on the federal level of law enforcement. I’m considering FBI or Border Patrol.</p>
<p>Yeah, you and every other criminology/ criminal justice major wants to work for the FBI. Good luck getting hired, you will need it.</p>
<p>I’d stay away from CJ/Criminology if you want to work in Fed. LE.</p>
<p>Typically, FLE agencies don’t really care about what you major in, however entry into FLE is a long process which few people complete. You’d be much better off majoring in something practical that can provide you skills that are marketable outside of LE.</p>
<p>Plus, LE agencies prefer applicants who have degrees in other fields, not CJ. CJ ranks the lowest when it comes to hiring preference.</p>
<p>As Homer28 mentioned, you and every CJ major in the country wants to work for the FBI (because they think it’s cool and don’t know squat about it). </p>
<p>You’d be best served to major in Accounting or Computer Science.</p>
<p>Think outside of the box when it come to federal LE. Like Homer & BIGeast said, everyone wants to do FBI. Look into other agencies, Border Patrol is a decent idea, also consider ICE, ATF, Air Marshal, Secret Service, etc. There’s a lot of jobs inside of those agencies also.
It really doesn’t matter what you major in when it comes to federal LE like BIGeast pointed out.Make sure that what ever you go for, you do internships!! They’re sooo important. Also, check into your college’s alumni network and try to get a mentor that majored in Criminology so that they can give you an idea of where they’ve ended up with their degree, and also make you aware of any internships/volunteer opportunities/ job openings in their field.</p>
<p>Why accounting or computer science? Those seem like a popular answer to people wanting to be FBI</p>
<p>^ Because accounting and computer science are the basis for most investigations.</p>
<p>The best agency to work at is the Park Police. They don’t give a rat’s butt what your degree is in and the process is somewhat quick. I think all you need is an associates degree. Plus you will make the exact same salary as all of the more prestigious agencies like the FBI.</p>