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College Degree Advice for becoming an agent

P

PhoenixMac

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Mar 7, 2010
1,009
1
So I am in the process of applying for an agent position in the military thats comparable to FBI agents. Whether I get picked up or not I am working towards my B.S. to be able to join the FBI, CIA, NSA etc.. when I am done with my military career. I have done a lot of research and know they accept a variety of different degrees.

Which is your opinion would be a better degree for my goals?

A Psychology degree with a minor in Cybercrime essentials.

Or a Criminal Justice degree with minor in Psychology?

My overall endgame ideally would be in a 3 letter agency doing cyber crime type of work.
 
From NSA's website...

Degree types sought for most of these programs are technical and usually focus on electrical or computer engineering, computer science, mathematics, or physics. The Intelligence Analysis program emphasizes majors in International Studies (e.g., studies in Asian-Pacific, Middle East, or Far-East) and Computer Science.
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Something to consider if you really want to go into cybercrime.

If you want to do field work, then psychology and criminal justice are good.
 
I know the cybercrime essentials will allow me to get the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) certification which is all I would need to do cybercrimes for the military special agent and I was hoping that experience would allow me to switch to cybercrimes in other agencies.
 
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The best thing to do is ask someone that is doing the job currently what they recommend. People love to talk about themselves and you'll get not only a contact in the industry but also great advice.
 
leftywamumonkey said:
I don't know if a bachelors in psychology is ever a good idea, especially now.
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A bachelors with a MAJOR in Psych is useless except to get you into grad school, where you need a Ph.D. or Psy.D. to to anything in psych.

But, a psych MINOR, with a MAJOR in Criminal Justice could be quite useful.
 
PhoenixMac said:
So I am in the process of applying for an agent position in the military thats comparable to FBI agents. Whether I get picked up or not I am working towards my B.S. to be able to join the FBI, CIA, NSA etc.. when I am done with my military career. I have done a lot of research and know they accept a variety of different degrees.

Which is your opinion would be a better degree for my goals?

A Psychology degree with a minor in Cybercrime essentials.

Or a Criminal Justice degree with minor in Psychology?

My overall endgame ideally would be in a 3 letter agency doing cyber crime type of work.
Click to expand...

After reading your post I emailed a long time friend who's got twelve years as a high ranking official in the FBI. Here's a list he endorses.

Top PhD & Doctorate Criminal Justice / Criminology Schools for 2011

1. University of Maryland – (College Park): College Park, MD

2. SUNY – (Albany): Albany, NY

3. University of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, OH

4. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey – (Newark): Newark, NJ

4. University of California – (Irvine): Irvine, CA

4. University of Missouri – (St. Louis): St. Louis, MO

7. Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI

7. Pennsylvania State University – (University Park): PA

9. University of Nebraska – (Omaha): Omaha, NE

9. University of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, PA

11. CUNY, John Jay College: New York, NY

11. Florida State University: Tallahassee, FL

11. University of Florida: Gainesville, FL

14. Northeastern University: Boston, MA

14. University of Delaware: Newark, DE

16. American University: DC

16. Arizona State University: AZ

18. Temple University: Philadelphia, PA

18. Washington State University: WA

20. Indiana University: Bloomington, IN

20. University of Illinois – (Chicago): Chicago, IL

22. Sam Houston State University: Huntsville, TX
 
iJohnHenry said:
Would you like a do-over? ;)
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After all those miserable ******k*****g years in school, to even consider it was a mistake would cause cognitive dissonance so monstrous my head would explode.:eek:

Of course, with all the years between that misery and now, and having had the fulfilling work I have had - I don't regret it. Of course, I still have anxiety dreams about screwing up my dissertation defense - but what's a little permanent emotional damage among friends.:rolleyes:
 
vitzr said:
After reading your post I emailed a long time friend who's got twelve years as a high ranking official in the FBI. Here's a list he endorses.

Top PhD & Doctorate Criminal Justice / Criminology Schools for 2011

1. University of Maryland – (College Park): College Park, MD

2. SUNY – (Albany): Albany, NY

3. University of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, OH

4. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey – (Newark): Newark, NJ

4. University of California – (Irvine): Irvine, CA

4. University of Missouri – (St. Louis): St. Louis, MO

7. Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI

7. Pennsylvania State University – (University Park): PA

9. University of Nebraska – (Omaha): Omaha, NE

9. University of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, PA

11. CUNY, John Jay College: New York, NY

11. Florida State University: Tallahassee, FL

11. University of Florida: Gainesville, FL

14. Northeastern University: Boston, MA

14. University of Delaware: Newark, DE

16. American University: DC

16. Arizona State University: AZ

18. Temple University: Philadelphia, PA

18. Washington State University: WA

20. Indiana University: Bloomington, IN

20. University of Illinois – (Chicago): Chicago, IL

22. Sam Houston State University: Huntsville, TX
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I have a couple of questions I'd like to ask you but I can't PM you, any other way to contact you?
 
iJohnHenry said:
Would you like a do-over? ;)
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I graduated Pre-Law majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology which would have been good if I actually went to law or grad school. I ended up in the business/IT world and wouldn't mind a do-over. :D

I had a friend who wanted to join the FBI and she did Criminal Justice for her undergrad and then off to grad school.
 
I would do criminal justice and minor in psychology at a reputable University.

Are you looking to be a field agent? I haven't looked it up in a bit but you have to be a police officer for at last 3 years (I believe) to apply to CIA or FBI training programs.

In other words if you want a gun on you then you have to go the police department route first.
 
renewed said:
I would do criminal justice and minor in psychology at a reputable University.

Are you looking to be a field agent? I haven't looked it up in a bit but you have to be a police officer for at last 3 years (I believe) to apply to CIA or FBI training programs.

In other words if you want a gun on you then you have to go the police department route first.
Click to expand...

As far as the requirements it was being 23years old with 3 years work experience and a 4 year degree.

For being an agent, the military has federal agents Navy- NCIS, Air Force- OSI, Army- CID

So it is not that hard of a transition from military to other 3 letter agencies but still have to apply but it usually ranks you above civilians with no experience.
 
PhoenixMac said:
As far as the requirements it was being 23years old with 3 years work experience and a 4 year degree.

For being an agent, the military has federal agents Navy- NCIS, Air Force- OSI, Army- CID

So it is not that hard of a transition from military to other 3 letter agencies but still have to apply but it usually ranks you above civilians with no experience.
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Gotcha. I think I missed your military experience and for that I apologize.
 
einmusiker said:
My best advice is that advice fom the internetz probably isnt the most reliable.
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That advice I treat like wiki, if I find something interesting I try and find the source.

----------
renewed said:
Gotcha. I think I missed your military experience and for that I apologize.
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I am not a military special agent yet, I just submitted my application, waiting for them to finish interviewing everyone in my chain of command to see if I am agent material.
 
vitzr said:
After reading your post I emailed a long time friend who's got twelve years as a high ranking official in the FBI. Here's a list he endorses.

Top PhD & Doctorate Criminal Justice / Criminology Schools for 2011

1. University of Maryland – (College Park): College Park, MD

2. SUNY – (Albany): Albany, NY

3. University of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, OH

4. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey – (Newark): Newark, NJ

4. University of California – (Irvine): Irvine, CA

4. University of Missouri – (St. Louis): St. Louis, MO

7. Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI

7. Pennsylvania State University – (University Park): PA

9. University of Nebraska – (Omaha): Omaha, NE

9. University of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, PA

11. CUNY, John Jay College: New York, NY

11. Florida State University: Tallahassee, FL

11. University of Florida: Gainesville, FL

14. Northeastern University: Boston, MA

14. University of Delaware: Newark, DE

16. American University: DC

16. Arizona State University: AZ

18. Temple University: Philadelphia, PA

18. Washington State University: WA

20. Indiana University: Bloomington, IN

20. University of Illinois – (Chicago): Chicago, IL

22. Sam Houston State University: Huntsville, TX
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Wow my university is 4th! lol I have taken all gangs classes at UC Irvine, the professor has come out in many gang documentaries in National Geographic Channel
 
How about Computer Science with an emphasis on Cybercrime? Truth is, I don't think there is a right or wrong choice for you. However I do have something for you to think about. What will you do if you get out of the military and don't make 1811?

If you have any inkling of doing something other then Federal/State/Local law enforcement in the future (accounting, languages, law, medicine, computer science, engineering, hard sciences) I would skip the Criminal Justice degree. The Feds are always looking for the specialists and your military training is a trump card.

A strong bit of advice. Do a search on a forum that deals with such things. This question has been asked a 1000 times over there and answered 1000 different ways!
 
Shrink said:
A bachelors with a MAJOR in Psych is useless except to get you into grad school, where you need a Ph.D. or Psy.D. to to anything in psych.

But, a psych MINOR, with a MAJOR in Criminal Justice could be quite useful.
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Totally agree but the other way around, honestly do you think any of those places respect law, plus you'll need it they spy on each other
 
ejb190 said:
How about Computer Science with an emphasis on Cybercrime? Truth is, I don't think there is a right or wrong choice for you. However I do have something for you to think about. What will you do if you get out of the military and don't make 1811?

If you have any inkling of doing something other then Federal/State/Local law enforcement in the future (accounting, languages, law, medicine, computer science, engineering, hard sciences) I would skip the Criminal Justice degree. The Feds are always looking for the specialists and your military training is a trump card.

A strong bit of advice. Do a search on a forum that deals with such things. This question has been asked a 1000 times over there and answered 1000 different ways!
Click to expand...

lol I don't really venture out of my home forums much (macrumors, fredmiranda, and physicsforums) didn't know that forum existed thanks for the heads up.
 
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