<p>Hello! I'm looking to go into law enforcement as a career, specifically the FBI (yes it's terribly ambitious I know), and I'm currently a junior in high school. I was planning on majoring in Criminology but I've gotten insight from a police officer and a retired FBI agent that I shouldn't major in that or Criminal Justice because the academy will teach you everything you need to know about being an officer of the law, etc. I totally agree with this.</p>
<p>So I'm going to probably major in Public Administration, or at least apply to schools with that degree. The problem is, most schools have Public Admin as a MPA, or a Master's degree, and I'd rather not attend school for another few years to get another degree (also I don't want to have to pay the tuition for the extra years!). So if you know, could you please tell me any schools that have a Bachelor's (four year) degree in Public Administration? That'd be amazingly helpful. I've tried researching it, but a lot of sites tell me certain colleges have it but when I look at that college's website, it's really a Master's program. thank you in advance!</p>
<p>I think you need to investigate what the FBI is looking for now. Go out to their website and look around. You don’t want a degree in PA if you want to work for the FBI.</p>
<p>From the FBI website…
After qualifying for one of the five Entry Programs, applicants will be prioritized in the hiring process based upon certain Critical Skills for which the FBI is recruiting. The FBI is currently recruiting for Special Agent candidates with one or more of the following Critical Skills:</p>
<p>Accounting
Finance
Computer Science/Information Technology Expertise
Engineering Expertise
Foreign Language(s) Proficiency
Intelligence Experience
Law Experience
Law Enforcement/Investigative Experience
Military Experience
Physical Sciences (e.g., physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) Expertise
Diversified Experience</p>
<p>Yes I actually have looked at the FBI page,very extensively (I spent hours last summer on the FBI’s website). I’m actually semi fluent in Chinese as I’m American born Chinese, so I’m planning on becoming fluent in Chinese to become with linguist for the FBI. The reason I’m planning on getting a degree in PA because I do want something that would be helpful in a career of law enforcement.</p>
<p>I have an MPA, an undergraduate degree in PA is of no value for anyone, including the FBI. Get a degree in Econ, history, political science, public policy analysis, computer science, sociology, etc. Learn critical thinking skills at the undergrad level, not some watered down curriculum like PA. </p>
<p>Wow thank you so much! That’s extremely helpful. I will definitely take your advice!</p>
<p>Also what is your opinion on earning a Criminology degree, and then going into a field like the FBI? Do you think it would be beneficial? Or do you think it would be a waste?</p>
<p>The University of Michigan offers an undergraduate degree from the Ford School of Public Policy.</p>
<p><a href=“http://fordschool.umich.edu/ba/index.php”>http://fordschool.umich.edu/ba/index.php</a></p>
<p>Duke University also has an excellent program.</p>
<p><a href=“http://undergraduate.sanford.duke.edu/”>http://undergraduate.sanford.duke.edu/</a></p>
<p>I am sure more universities offer undergraduate programs in Public Policy, but those are two of the better ones.</p>
<p>The FBI is recruiting for Special Agents with one or more of the following Critical Skills and in this order of importance/need:</p>
<p>Accounting - need a CPA and experience
Finance - need work experience
Computer Science/Information Technology Expertise- need work experience
Engineering Expertise
Foreign Language(s) Proficiency
Intelligence Experience
Law Experience - need several years work experience
Law Enforcement/Investigative Experience - need several years work experience</p>
<p>If I had a kid interested in the FBI, I would recommend Accounting or Computer Science. That is what they need the most of. You probably won’t get a job with the FBI coming out of college anyway. You certainly won’t get on with the FBI out of college with a degree in criminology. Note that the Law Enforcement track/skill is way down on the list of importance but accounting and CS are at the top.</p>
<p>Yes as I already said, I plan to become totally fluent in Chinese and then apply as a linguist for the FBI. I’ve briefly considered the other options of things the FBI is looking for, but I’m not interested in Accounting or Computer Science; also the retired FBI agent I met with told me NOT to study something I’m not interested in simply because it will get me into the FBI.</p>