Best MA Degree?

[JJKESSEL]

Piggy-backing off the other thread about the BS in CJ... (I will have mine this fall) and yes, I hear you all loud and clear... It's worthless (sort of.) But now my question is this...

What is the best MA?

Considering:
Public Administration
International Relations
Sociology
Psychology
(Others?)

Thanks

Thought I would mention... In case it isn't obvious, I would like a career in Law Enforcement.

[Jonathan Doe]

I would like to say Business, Public Administration or Management type degrees are good. I think most of my brass have degree in one of those areas.

[mixicus]

Since LE can be a diverse field with multiple paths and goals, be more specific about your goals and in what type of agency. Generally, any masters level degree is good for the pay bumps. Public admin, management, leadership and MBA's are good all around from a promotions stand point at most agencies. If your goal is more specific, tailor your education. Examples, an agency with overseas responsibility/postings may like agents with international relations or business degrees. Economics, acounting or comparative religions may have benefits in certain federal agencies. Want to be an academy instructor or teach after hours/in retirement; education. If traffic is your thing and you have the background an engineering degree is a nice touch on your resume for accident re-con (some serious money after retirement too).

Basically, advancing your education in an area of interest can be spun into a benefit in the career. I would strongly recommend getting your degree from a regionally accredited school and not a diploma mill. There is starting to be push back or at least viewing certain degree programs as second tier.

[JJKESSEL]

Since LE can be a diverse field with multiple paths and goals, be more specific about your goals and in what type of agency. Generally, any masters level degree is good for the pay bumps. Public admin, management, leadership and MBA's are good all around from a promotions stand point at most agencies. If your goal is more specific, tailor your education. Examples, an agency with overseas responsibility/postings may like agents with international relations or business degrees. Economics, acounting or comparative religions may have benefits in certain federal agencies. Want to be an academy instructor or teach after hours/in retirement; education. If traffic is your thing and you have the background an engineering degree is a nice touch on your resume for accident re-con (some serious money after retirement too).

Basically, advancing your education in an area of interest can be spun into a benefit in the career. I would strongly recommend getting your degree from a regionally accredited school and not a diploma mill. There is starting to be push back or at least viewing certain degree programs as second tier.

Could you give me an example of a "diploma mill?"

[9mmepiphany]

I don't know which ones mixicus might be referring to, but I've usually taken it to mean University of Phoenix and National University. That isn't to say you can't get a good education there, just that a degree from there would not have the same positive effect...not to say negative...as other more established schools.

I got my degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco...the classes are by Arden Fair, behind the Elephant Bar....and their MA degrees don't require a thesis paper, at least they didn't

[JJKESSEL]

I don't know which ones mixicus might be referring to, but I've usually taken it to mean University of Phoenix and National University. That isn't to say you can't get a good education there, just that a degree from there would not have the same positive effect...not to say negative...as other more established schools.

I got my degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco...the classes are by Arden Fair, behind the Elephant Bar....and their MA degrees don't require a thesis paper, at least they didn't

Has your degree in O.B. helped you in LE? I'm struggling with this because I don't want the degree for the paper, I want it to help me become a better cop. Looking over the options available the MS in CJ seems like it has the most applicable to LE but I can see why MPA or MPP would be a good well rounded approach, however less fun.

[mixicus]

Diploma mills are those schools that don't required much in the way of work i.e. thesis, comp exams, cap stone projects and are usually advertised in trade magazines. You probably have never heard of the schools outside of ads and they lack regional acreditation. If you want to know what repsected organization accreditions programs in your area, check the accreditation of the program at the state school by you (CSUx or UCx). Regional accrreditation is key to portability and repsect of the degree.

Consider your reasonings about a degree making you a better cop. Outside of field specifc education (i.e. comp sci to get into computer forensics, accounting or financial analysis for white collar crime) I'm not sure how much an advanced degree will help you be a better street cop or even sgt. MPA, MBA and such will help you be a better "administrator" and come into play at the LT, Capt, Commander, etc ranks. Generally, that's the level budget and planning come into play. If you don't have experience in supervision and leadership, course work(psychology of management/supervision, human resources) in those types of fields may give you a leg up in your learning curve at a sgt level.

[9mmepiphany]

Has your degree in O.B. helped you in LE? I'm struggling with this because I don't want the degree for the paper, I want it to help me become a better cop.

Besides it's obvious upside when moving up the promotional ladder or getting projects or training ideas funded, an OB degree is extremely useful. OB is very real world based as opposed to theory based

It is about managing/influencing people, understanding how/why they behave and getting them to want to change their behavior...I found it very helpful when dealing with gangs or working intell units. It makes it much easier to get the community behind you when working impact programs.

On a more practical level, it makes it easier to deal with supervisors, by understanding their underlying motivations, and co-workers who just aren't getting it. Plus there is a lot of writing involved in the field and better writing skills will always serve you well in LE

[Notorious]

MPA and such degrees are worthless as well. Do you need a Master's to tell you that you can be an administrator? Take a few management courses. You don't learn management by sitting in a class, you have to do it.

BTW, Bernie Parks had a MPA and he was no great administrator.

You want a real Master's Degree, get one that will be useful somewhere, like Accounting, Computer Science, Engineering, etc.

Always figure on having a fallback position. People don't always get to finish their 25 in LE and retire. Even if you retire, what are you going to do? Be a security guard for the next 10? Figure on having a flexible second career if needed.

Also, having any education is good to help in LE. There is no direct relationship of any particular major to LE. There are some that are close and help, but any degree is fine.

I have a graduate degree which is as close as it gets to our job but it also lets me have access to an entirely different professional field of work.

I have an advantage in that my degree helps in part of my LE job, but then again, I also have an entirely different job to go into if I needed to. Everyone knows it, and I have my fallback job if needed.

That helps you a bit in that you don't get messed with so much too since there is nothing to hold over your head because you are not 100% dependent on LE so you won't have that one crappy supervisor making you a personal project.

PM me for details. I'll tell you more.

[HiveDR.]

Keep in mind most degrees will be basically worthless during your rookie years the first five or so. If you want a degree that will really do you some good from day one look into a degree in interpersonal communication. 90% of police work is TALKING to people. The ability to communicate effectively with people on the street and fellow officers will make you more effective in your job and thus shine above your contemporaries.

[Foriegn power]

People who say getting a degree in the L.E field is worthless because sometimes they themselves do not have one. For a fact having a AA, BS, or Master will get you hired faster and get you promoted faster it's almost a fact. So when I read threads like this it makes me cringe. I'm in the same boat I have less than two months left JJKESSEL! You stay focus, Fall 2011 is really around the block, for me it's in March!

[Notorious]

People who say getting a degree in the L.E field is worthless because sometimes they themselves do not have one. For a fact having a AA, BS, or Master will get you hired faster and get you promoted faster it's almost a fact. So when I read threads like this it makes me cringe. I'm in the same boat I have less than two months left JJKESSEL! You stay focus, Fall 2011 is really around the block, for me it's in March!

Nobody said a degree is worthless. However, there are different degrees which may help more than others. The whole key is what flexibility does it offer you?

[HiveDR.]

drider,

I do not know what department you work for but when your on the bottom of the "Totem Pole" no one cares about your degree. It's only after you have proven yourself that it begins to matter and for most departments thats five years on.

I retired as a Sergent and yes I started out with just an AA, which 20+ years ago was better than most. I was able to earn my MBA during my career. The fact that someone has a degree does not guaranty they will be a competent officer.

JJKESSEL, remember YOUR not being hire as a future Sgt, Lt, Capt. or Chief YOUR being hire as a basic patrol officer. So yes stay focused get your degree and work at being the best patrol officer you can be. The rest will fall into place in time.

Good Luck.

[JJKESSEL]

I just want to say thank you guys. I truly appreciate your service and your advice. I can read about programs all day but the advice from those before me holds such a greater value.

If all goes to plan I will get hired after the academy and then I can start working on the degree after I get some experience. But, if hiring stays down, then I will probably look for a program right away.

Jeff

[luvtolean]

Another idea for you, law (JD)...