camerica

You bring up a really good point, criminologist, which is the possibility of working in research, at think-tanks, and NGOs. Have you done this? Or do you know what the prospects are for making a career in that area? I am definitely interested in social justice and human rights, but I've been worried that I couldn't find a job in those areas without a law degree.

Alright, I figured it out... I'm coming to Canada! haha, just kidding. Thank you, surefire! I really appreciate your encouragement! I have to admit I've been guilty of idealizing this perfect job that may or may not exist which involves all of the things I mentioned above. Since I've been out of the country and academia for more than 3 years, and I know that I love CJ and school in general, I figured that I couldn't go wrong getting my Master's degree ASAP (for personal reasons as well as the fact that it's only going to get harder and harder to get it done when I'm married and start having kids). But I have done research into analyst and agent positions. I believe an MA/MS could get me a job as an analyst as some of them require knowledge of statistical evaluations and research in addition to project management experience (which I already have a fairly good amount of even if it's not in law enforcement). A Master's would also mean entering at a higher pay grade. Places like the FBI seem to value diverse experience and education and I believe that the education/work experience I have already plus my language abilities could qualify me to be an agent should I choose to go that route. I have looked into internships such as the FBI Honors Internship program and confirmed with American that students in their program have interned there before (as well as at the DHS and Defense Intelligence Agency). My goal is to complete an internship that will translate into a job upon graduation and I am 100% committed to achieving this... in all seriousness, I won't graduate until I do! Unfortunately,they don't keep statistics on their alumni job placements. However, this is just one more reason I think DC might be the best choice; the networking opportunities (as much as I hate that aspect of this whole process) alone might be worth the cost of living/loan debt.

Hmm... this is disheartening. But I thank you for your insight. This is especially bothersome as I discussed specifically what I wanted to do and where I wanted to work (in addition to having described my background) with various program directors as well as professionals in the field and no one ever mentioned this. What would you recommend I do? I am interested in analyst positions and have considered becoming an agent (FBI, Interpol, ICE, etc...). I speak French fluently and have basic proficiency in Arabic and Fulani. I would also enjoy research and consulting, specifically in the areas of corruption, organized, international, and transnational crime. Is this unrealistic since I've never worked in law enforcement? On a side note, the program at American is Justice, Law and Criminology with several concentrations available (justice and public policy, terrorism, jurisprudence, etc.) so it's not strictly CJ/criminology. (I would send you the link but apparently we can't post them here? It won't copy and paste.)

I have zero work experience in CJ. That's actually something I meant to bring up in my first post. Namely, I've been hearing a lot from program directors that I definitely would have received more aid if I applied in the Fall. My plan for a long time has been to start school in January, but that got me thinking that I could work some first and then apply again. I'm currently serving in the Peace Corps in Sub-Saharan Africa and will be coming back to the US in December. My service actually qualifies me for non-competitive gov't hiring eligibility for one year. So you're saying that these programs who are advertising for "those who wish to enter the criminal justice field" (including jobs in the fed) are.......being misleading? One other thing I should mention is that I will absolutely be pursuing an internship during my studies (for example with one of those organizations) in order to gain more experience in the field. Edit: so the zero work experience in CJ isn't entirely true... I did work eight months in a State Attorney's Office but it was mostly clerical/support services. In addition, I have a significant amount of project management experience, though it's related to health, development, and international exchange.

Hey everyone! I've recently been admitted to several schools for criminal justice-related Master's programs for Spring 2015. I would appreciate any insight (particularly from those in the field) on which program to choose. I have a little research and work experience in the field, but I did my BA in International Affairs and Political Science at Florida State. I want to start working immediately after graduation preferably at the FBI or ICE. Here are the schools to which I've been admitted and the offers I've received: University of South Carolina: in-state tuition scholarship + $500 stipend per semester Suffolk University: Peace Corps Fellowship (30% tuition discount + internship placement) + $4,500 scholarship per semester American University: unknown University of Colorado Denver: unknown Northeastern University: offered a 25% tuition, but I had to turn them down already I'm leaning between American and UC Denver. However, I haven't been notified yet whether I'll be receiving aid at either of those schools (and time is ticking). American seems to be the better choice due to its location, notoriety, and rank. But the price tag, including cost of living, is a lot higher. UC Denver also has internship/job opportunities available and I feel like the city would suit me better (just a feeling; I've never been there). Yet, the program isn't ranked and I'm not sure that it has the same name recognition for future employers. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!