What Degree Should A Police Officer Get

Requirements For Becoming A Police Officer

Becoming a police officer requires completing the necessary formal training and education as well as demonstrating mental aptitude and physical fitness. Again, some of the specific requirements may vary according to location or organization. Generally speaking, however, aspiring officers should be prepared to prove themselves in the following ways.

You Will Need High Levels Of Resilience

To be a successful police officer, you will need high levels of personal resilience.

There is no doubt that the job is demanding. There are long, unsociable hours that are often physically demanding.

Moreover, unfortunately, you will take a lot of abuse from the public. Even when people have called for your help, they wont necessarily want to see you there.

Also, you will see a lot of harrowing sights, dead bodies, child neglect, and animal cruelty, all of this can take its toll on you, so you need high levels of personal resilience.

How To Become A Homicide Detective

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19,141 individuals lost their lives due to homicide in 2019. In investigating those deaths, homicide detectives fulfill some of the most critical roles in law enforcement. Tasked with determining the circumstances that lead to the loss of life, these highly skilled, well-trained professionals are experts in human behavior. Homicide detectives attempt to solve the worst crimes with logic, reason, organization, efficiency, and high ethical standards.

Police officers who aspire to become homicide detectives can work toward their goal by following a few key steps. These include pursuing a bachelors degree in criminal justice, completing required police training, and gaining an understanding of the job through casework experience. Promotion from police officer to detective may bring opportunities to earn a higher salary and set out on a path to further advancement. Anyone interested in how to become a homicide detective who is considering an online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree can benefit from learning more about the job and what it entails.

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What The Police Academy Is Like

At a police training academy, you can acquire the knowledge, skills, and physical ability to become a police officer.

A typical day begins with physical training to develop the strength and stamina that a police officer needs. This training can include running, lifting weights, climbing, and agility exercises.

Then, youll move on to the classroom, where you will learn about laws and the criminal justice system. Your classes may be taught by active duty or retired police officers, college professors, or experts within their field, Webb explains. For a course about law, your teacher may be a lawyer, for example.

Classroom studies also focus on communication skills and report writing.

Training in police techniques covers skills such as defense tactics, firearms handling, and pursuit driving. You will also learn the proper way to use tools such as a breathalyzer.

Once you pass all tests and meet all standards, youll graduate from the academy, but in most cases, you will still not be prepared for a job as a police officer. Its common for law enforcement agencies to require candidates to spend a certain number of weeks riding along with a police training officer on the job.

The length and timing of police academy training varies from location to the next. Some agencies have their own academies, Webb explains. Some form co-ops or regional academies.

It all depends on where you want to go and where you want to work, Webb states.

Police Officer Preparation Beyond The Degree

Before an officer officially joins the police force and regardless of their college major and level of education they go through intense training at one of the many police academies. Police academy training programs can take anywhere from 12 to 24 weeks, so new officers should plan to spend months training for their role in law enforcement. Training in a police academy typically involves learning about local ordinances, constitutional law and civil rights, as well as the skills to investigate accidents and crimes. Everything aspect of police work, from traffic control to self-defense, is taught in the training academy to make sure that new officers are prepared for work on the job. Being a cop is tough, so for training to be valuable, it must be comprehensive and challenging, too.

If you have a good education, earn great grades and pass the police academy training program, you will likely find success in getting hired as a police officer, no matter what major you choose. Being familiar with the law and the criminal justice system prior to applying to work as a police officer can certainly hold value, but choosing a specific major isnt a prerequisite to the academy training program where you will learn the fundamentals of police work.

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Homeland Security And Emergency Management

Studies in homeland security and emergency management often combined are ideal for preparing students for careers protecting the nation and handling emergency situations. Typically, homeland security and emergency management majors complete courses in domestic security management, international and domestic terrorism, crisis management, disaster management, network defense, information security and border-transportation security. While some of the coursework in this major pertain to police officer roles, such as classes in conflict negotiation and interviewing and interrogation, many of these courses prepare students to work in other government agencies, like the FBA, the Secret Service, FEMA and the TSA.

Police Officer Salaries And Job Outlook

The BLS projects a 5% growth rate in employment for law enforcement officers between 2018 and 2028, which is consistent with the average job growth rate. Job turnover rates are low for this occupation, which means job seekers may initially face some competition. However, job security is reasonably high for police officers and other law enforcement workers.

Police officer salaries and benefits can vary widely from state to state. Law enforcement positions may have different salaries, depending on each positions job duties and police force. For example, in 2019, the BLS reported the following median annual earnings of different law enforcement officers:

Police and sheriffs patrol officers: $63,150 Detectives and criminal investigators: $83,170 Transit and railroad police: $71,820 Fish and game wardens: $57,500

The approximate entry-level salaries for these positions in 2019:

Police and sheriffs patrol officers: $36,960 Detectives and criminal investigators: $44,860 Transit and railroad police: $43,220 Fish and game wardens: $33,930

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You Can Improve Overall Conditions In Your Community

Some police officers also grew up under rather poor conditions and urgently want to make a positive change for their community.

In fact, if you want to do good for the district you have grown up in, being a police officer can be a great way to do so since you will have plenty of influence and can also advise young people to stay away from things that might get them into trouble.

License And Certification Requirements For Criminal Investigators

While not required by most agencies, professional certifications demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills to potential employers, making candidates more competitive in the job market. Criminal investigators can earn a professional certified investigator credential, which requires at least five years of investigation experience.

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Graduate Degrees Help Build A Career That Lasts

Climbing the career ladder in law enforcement, as in many professions, sometimes requires education or training beyond a bachelors degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates an almost 18% bump in salary for employees with a masters degree versus a bachelors degree in some cases, although it does note that in certain professions, the difference is not substantial. If youve decided to further your studies to advance your law enforcement career, which programs are best?

Master of Criminal Justice: Devote 12 months to earning a Master of Criminal Justice degree and prepare yourself for a wide array of career possibilities, such as local, state, and federal law enforcement management correctional administration security administration criminal justice research and teaching. Positions you may pursue also include criminal profiler, federal marshal, and fraud investigator.

According to US News & World Report, a masters can also fast-track your existing law enforcement career. For example, it could position you for a promotion or give you a leg up in landing an especially competitive job, like a federal agent.

Nationals program blends theory with actual practice, giving you a solid background in case analysis and research that will allow you to come up with practical solutions. Its offered both online and on campus.

Once completed, your degree could lead you to positions like crime scene investigator, crime laboratory analyst or forensic science technician.

What Will I Learn In A Police Officer Degree Program

While we cant speak for every program in Canada, Lauriers policing degree students can expect to learn the following:

• How to recognize and deal with trauma. Youll be able to identify the signs of trauma in yourself, your colleagues, and the community. You will also learn how to process and react to trauma
• Criminological and psychological theories. Youll learn to apply the foundations of good police and detective work
• The major debates in policing and justice today. Understanding different perspectives on these issues will help you become a better police officer
• Leadership, critical thinking, research, and conflict resolution skills and
• How to understand and appreciate the justice system of Canadas Indigenous people, and what your role as a law enforcement officer in their communities entails.

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What Degree Do Police Officers Need

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A police officer must have rigorous training, a solid education, and the will to uphold the law. For many high school students who wish to become police officers in the future, the road to this profession is quite obscure.

Should aspiring police officers pursue further education? If so, what level of education would they need to become a police officer, and what subject should they study to prepare for this profession?

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Other Helpful Skills And Experience

Additional skills, such as physical strength and stamina, can help candidates meet police officer requirements. To keep up with daily job requirements, apprehend suspects, and pass required physical tests for entry into the field, officers and detectives must maintain good physical shape and demonstrate strength. Employers see prior military or security experience as a plus, since these candidates undergo previous physical and firearm training.

Moreover, police officers must possess good written and oral communication skills to effectively give detailed incident reports and speak with the public during fact-gathering. Law enforcement agents may also speak with suspects who communicate in other languages. To help diverse communities, officers should understand many different perspectives and display empathy. Law enforcement agents must also practice good judgment by determining the most effective way to solve problems.

Officers holding higher positions, such as detectives and fish and game wardens, may need critical thinking skills and perception to determine in advance why suspects act in certain ways. Since the public looks to officers for assistance in emergency situations, these professionals become highly visible community members. In their public roles, officers often serve as role models and must possess leadership skills.

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Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer

In certain states, towns, and organizations, the lack of a college degree might prevent you from pursuing a career as a police officer. However, a college degree is not a required necessity for becoming a police officer. Various police departments and law enforcement agencies have different criteria, so this may sound confusing. Whether a degree is required to become a police officer depends on the jurisdiction in which you seek employment.

In general, the need for a college degree is higher in law enforcement positions with greater competition. In a remote location of a state where law enforcement employment is less strictly controlled, youre least likely to require a degree to serve as an entry-level police officer. If you want to work in a prominent precinct in an area with significant competition for positions, youll likely need a bachelors degree, especially in states like New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota, and Illinois where state law requires officers to possess a bachelors degree.

Additionally, if you wish to rise to a higher-level position, such as police chief or police captain, you will likely require a degree. Typically, a bachelors degree is necessary for federal police positions, regardless of the state in which the applicant would want to work.

According to USA TODAY, in 2020 a measure was drafted in California that, if enacted, would require police officers to have a bachelors degree or be at least 25 years old in order to be recruited.

Salary And Career Outlook

Police officer salaries vary depending on many factors, including job type, location, and additional compensation and benefits. Some police departments even offer higher pay for officers with college degrees and who speak multiple languages.

According to the BLS, the lowest-paid police officers earned less than $37,710, while the highest-paid officers earned an annual salary exceeding $109,620 as of 2019. Police officers often earn additional pay through overtime and special assignments.

In this field, individuals can increase their salaries through education and job experience. According to the BLS, detectives and federal agents earn the most of all police officers, taking home a median annual salary of $83,170 as of 2019. Aspiring federal police officers and detectives typically must possess a college degree and prior job experience.

As the need for public safety continues, the BLS projects employment for police to grow on pace with other occupations. Demand for police officers varies by location and depending on state and local budgets. Due to low job turnover, police candidates may face competition. Candidates with college degrees, law enforcement or military experience, and knowledge of other languages may stand out among job applicants.

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Youll Need To Be Responsible For Yourself And Others

Police officers are expected to take care of themselves while working long hours and being exposed to dangerous situations.

However, they will also be expected to be responsible for others.

At times, those others may not want to support the police or even recognise that they need the help.

Officers are also held accountable for their actions, so they must be trustworthy, reliable, and honest. See the Code OF Ethics.

Police Officer Salary And Career Outlook

Interested in a career as a police officer? Use this guide to learn how to become a police officer and explore career and salary outlook data.

Police officers work to enforce laws. Often the first to respond to emergency situations, they also conduct routine patrols, issue traffic citations, and submit reports about situations they handled.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for police officers and detectives will increase by 7% from 2020-2030, indicating a strong outlook for the field. Individuals considering police officer careers should have strong communication skills, an interest in leadership, and a desire to help other people. A police officer must hold a high school diploma at minimum, though many police departments require some college coursework.

Most police officers work for local, state, and federal government employers. According to the BLS, local government employs 77% of the police officers and detectives in the country.

Read the Specifics:Specializations | Salary | Requirements | FAQs | Organizations

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Preparing For A Police Officer Career: Find The Right Environment

When an aspiring police officer chooses to go to school to obtain formal education, a world of possibilities opens up. Here are some of the potential places where the certificate or degree can be earned.

Vocational/Trade School

Some vocational or trade schools have certificate programs that may count towards college credit, such as for a future associate or bachelor’s degree. Some might offer associate degrees. Vocational or trade schools can provide a way to save money on college costs while receiving necessary college course instruction.

Military

Military experience is well regarded by law enforcement agencies and police departments. Familiarity with firearms, mental toughness, physical conditioning, discipline and an understanding of command structure and culture are all benefits that come with hiring a recruit with military experience.

Community College

Community colleges provide multiple options for students who want to become police officers. Students can complete their associate degree in two years or a certificate in a few months. As an added bonus, many community colleges allow credits earned in a certificate program to go towards an associate degree.

Law Enforcement School

4-year schools

Departments that require a bachelor’s degree are often found at the federal level. However, even if a four-year degree isn’t required, getting a bachelor’s degree can be a prudent decision: it can increase the chances of getting hired and promoted.

Bachelor Of Science In Criminal Justice

The bachelors degree in criminal justice is similar to the associate degree, but youll take more courses, and after finishing your core classes, you may be able to choose electives in a specialized concentration. These vary widely from one university to the next, but some common concentrations other than law enforcement include crime scene investigation, homeland security, juvenile justice, corrections, police administration.

Jobs You Can Get

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