<p>I have always had a passion to become a law enforcement officer, however, I also want to go to college. If I go to college I do not know what to major in to help me further my law enforcement career? Of course if I decide to go to UCI I would major in criminology, however, what other majors would work? And would it be worth my trouble to get a bachelors or masters? I was thinking about federal agents, however, I want to stay local, plus the fact that they aren't paid well, and my city's police department gets paid very well, San Bernardino Police Department. Would the military police experience help or a college education?</p>
<p>Thought about joining the FBI, CIA, or other domestic/military intelligence agencies?</p>
<p>Many universities offer a Criminal Justice major. Sociology would be a related major.<br>
A neighbor’s S majored in Geography. After graduating he decided he wasn’t interested in a job inthat field so applied with the Police dept. He got the job. Major really didn’t matter. No matter what you major in, everyone has to go to the Police Academy before they can be a police officer.<br>
Many police officers in our town have two yr. CC degrees. I think the opportunity for advancement and getting into other branches of law enforcement would be enhanced with a college degree.</p>
<p>My BIL worked on a big city police force after getting his BS in Crim. Justice. After gaining experience there, he now works for the State Bureau of Investigation.
S2 is majoring in CJ at one of our state u’s. There are a lot of different pathways in the law enforcement profession.</p>
<p>Well should I go to a lower state college such as the Cal State system, because they all have criminal justice programs? If not should I try really hard to go to UCI and major in criminology, or would a sociology major with an emphasis on criminology, law and society, work as well, because I have been really thinking about LACs but they don’t have criminology.</p>
<p>And for fed. agencies, they don’t get paid that well and I would rather become a police officer and specialize within my department such as gang task force, swat, and etc.</p>
<p>If you do pick a school solely based on the fact that it has a criminology major I would first make sure to talk to a number of different officers (like 5 or 6 in different areas) and make absolute sure it is what you want to do. Otherwise, pick a school that you like for more then just the major, so that if you find something else you like more, you will still be happy.</p>
<p>Yeah but would a sociology degree with an emphasis on criminology be more suitable for me if I were to not to join an police departments?</p>