A law enforcement bachelor's degree
program can prepare you for many careers in the criminal justice field,
including policing, administration or investigation. While programs may go by
the name criminal justice or police science, much of the coursework is the
same. If you'd like to earn your degree from home, there are some online
options as well.
You can find programs that prepare
you for licensure as a police officer, and you may be able to attend a police
academy as part of your bachelor's degree program. Other law enforcement
programs are intended to be a foundation for your career, and you may need to
undergo further training if you want to work as an FBI agent.
What
Will I Learn?
The courses you take in a law
enforcement bachelor's degree program cover police work, criminal psychology
and deductive reasoning. You learn the history and sociology of crime in the
U.S. and gain a thorough understanding of the laws and codes enforced and
upheld by professionals. These courses give you the ability to evaluate crisis
situations, preserve individuals' rights, collect and investigate evidence,
resolve crises and apprehend suspects.
If your law enforcement bachelor's
degree program qualifies you for licensure as a police officer or other agent
of the law, you also take courses that meet the requirements set by your state.
While some programs give you the option of attending a police academy, others
offer an internship that lets you experience first-hand what it's like to work
in law enforcement.
What
Kind of Career Can I Have?
A criminal justice or law
enforcement bachelor's degree gives you many career options. People who have a
criminal justice bachelor's degree had careers as FBI agents, crime analysts,
detectives, police officers, probation officers and loss prevention agents.
Other career options include security guards, legal secretaries, fraud
investigators and intelligence analysts.
The training you need to pursue some
law enforcement careers goes beyond your bachelor's degree program. According
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), you need a bachelor's degree,
experience and rigorous additional training to become an FBI agent. A
bachelor's degree is typically required to work as a probation officer, the BLS
reported.
Earning a Bachelor of Science in Law
Enforcement can prepare an individual for a career in the local, state or
federal justice system. These programs may prepare students to qualify for law
enforcement work in that particular state; others offer a broader curriculum,
not tied to one state's requirements for a law enforcement professional.
Students may take advantage of internships to gain field experience while
working with established law enforcement professionals. To enter these 4-year
programs, students must typically have completed a high school diploma or GED.
Course
Topics
In most law enforcement degree
programs, students take classes in psychology and sociology, as well as general
education courses and courses specific to the law enforcement major. Common
courses include:
- Criminology
- Criminal law
- Tactical communications
- Law enforcement research methods
- Conflict resolution
- Community relations
- Law enforcement and professional responsibility
Popular
Career Options
Upon completing the program,
students can be prepared to assume various positions in law enforcement.
Professional opportunities could exist in police or sheriff departments, drug
enforcement work, homeland security or in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Popular entry-level careers can include:
- Police officer
- Private investigator
- Sheriff's deputy
- Corrections officer
Continuing
Education and Training Information
In many law enforcement agencies,
new graduates are required to complete 12-14 weeks of training before they are
allowed to work on their own. For graduates seeking further education, a
master's degree in criminal justice is also an option. These 2-year programs
require a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution for admission and
often include courses like administration of criminal justice, statistics in
criminal justice and legal issues in criminal justice. Students may have the
option to choose from specialties like child protection, community planning or
substance abuse.
