5 Best Majors for Aspiring Officers (It’s Not What You’d Think!)

When I say “College degree for a police officer,” you probably think, “Criminal Law,” and you would be wrong… sort of. Criminal law is incredibly important, but it’s also something that you’ll be learning plenty of during your time at the police academy. So do yourself a favor, instead of repeating tedious courses, consider one of the 5 majors listed below

1. Business Management and Administration

You cannot go wrong with a Business Management degree, trust me. If you have any aspirations to move up in your job someday, then this is the major that will teach you how. And while you may not end up as the Chief of Police, with the stellar people, organizational, and management skills you’ll learn during your Business Management courses, you’ll definitely land yourself at the top of your boss’s promotion list.

This major will also get you thinking about issues such as diversity, ethics, politics, and other dynamics that play a role in every work environment. You’re developed balance between compassion and justice will come in handy daily. Doesn’t get much more practical than this, does it?

2. Foreign Language

¿Se puede hablar y entender español? Muy bueno.

Having trouble understanding what’s written above? Then it’s time for some Spanish courses because get ready for this fact, as of 2010 Hispanic speakers constituted for 16.3 percent of the nation’s total population. There was a time when knowing English was enough to be an officer in the USA, but not today. The Hispanic population is continually on the rise and in order to do your job well, you’ll have to be able to communicate in more than one language.

Any second language that you can speak fluently is a huge bonus for you. It’s a specialty skill that is needed in the police force. So tap into your cultural background and break out the translation dictionaries because it’s time to become bi-lingual.

3. Psychology

“Don’t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin.” Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)

Psychology takes a look at what someone does and then attempts to articulate why they did it. It has everything to do with environment and biology of brains, which if you’re thinking sounds complicated, you’re right. It’s often an abstract and debatable, yet fascinating subject. This major looks into cognition, intelligence, motivation, emotion, perception, personality, mental disorders, and the ways in which our individual preferences are inherited from our parents or shaped by our environment. Psychology majors pursue a field of study that seeks to educate, communicate, and resolve many of the problems surrounding human behavior.  This major is undeniably beneficial to a police officer attempting to deal with the confusing and frustrating behaviors of offenders in society.

4. Computer science/information technology

There is no denying that we live in a technology dependent world. Computers are used for everything, cell phones to … well, police work. And let’s face it, the “computer guy” is always the most popular one in the room when something needs to get done, and you could be that guy. A Computer Science degree gives you the ability to focus on how technology can be applied to all fields of business.  It’s not just something to be used for your job on the police force, it’s something that will be absolutely applicable for the rest of your life.

5. Whatever You’re Interested In!

Truth be told, the major that you choose during your time at college probably isn’t going to make or break your career as a police officer. If you have a passion that can somehow translate into your career as an officer, go for it! Your future employer wants to see that you have the ability to commit to a degree and see it through. Graduating with honors from college shows that you have good work ethic and time-management skills. So pick a major that you’ll be interested in and passionate about. Consider what you may want to do with your life after your retire or if, heaven forbid, you didn’t make it onto the force.  Whatever you choose, do it well and you’ll eventually end up right where you belong.

Best of luck!