MS Degree in Criminal Justice

¶ … MS degree in Criminal Justice help you achieve your personal, vocational, and/Or education goals?

As an officer in the U.S. Navy, I already have served in a demanding career, protecting U.S. interests at home and abroad. Studying criminal justice seems like a natural extension of my first occupation. There is already a great deal of overlap between the Department of Homeland Security functions and the U.S. Navy. This degree would build upon my current framework of reference. It would expand my vocational opportunities and ground my lived experiences in the history and philosophy of the enforcement of justice.

Ultimately, I would like to become a criminal justice professional, specializing in homeland security, perhaps working within the Department of Homeland Security itself to improve the security of the nation's borders. Naval security is often a neglected part of homeland security. It is just as essential to ensure that no threats encroach upon the U.S. from the sea; furthermore there is the issue of drugs funneled through the nation's ports used to fund terrorism. The need to understand the role of protecting U.S. waters with a specific focus on terrorism prevention and detection, merging both homeland security and naval philosophies, is yet another reason why I am seeking out this degree.

Making the world a safer place requires an understanding of both criminological theory and practical issues that influence the detection and prevention of crime. I have a sound understanding of how to guard against assaults, deter, and counterattack against threats. Graduate study would give me a better understanding of how and why crimes occur, and why people commit crimes and acts of terror.

Q2. What is your preparedness for, and understanding of graduate-level study in Criminal Justice?

Operating within a military context has grounded me in concepts such as Just War theory, which attempts to balance ethics with the need for security. The need to balance the duty of a military officer to protect the safety of citizens, military codes of honor, and domestic and international law is a constant challenge of the modern military. Within the field of criminal justice as within the military, the law and the rights even of the enemy must be respected, and if they are not the consequences can be grave -- evidence can be thrown out of court, or the military may lose the support of the population it is trying to aid. The same is true of a law enforcement officer, regardless of the agency for which he or she works. Communities will not respect law enforcement officials who are unnecessarily harsh or who ignore civil liberties. Profiling is always an issue of concern, both in domestic and international law enforcement. Individual rights must be balanced against the public's need for security.

Additionally, in terms of my preparation, because fighting in the modern military requires an awareness of different cultural orientations -- of friends as well as foes, I believe that my understanding of diversity and tolerance would make me a strong candidate as an enforcer of the law, either in the service the Department of Homeland Security or any other office in which I will serve in over the course of my lifespan. I have gained an understanding of how culture can influence a suspect's or an informant's worldview; I comprehend how the perceptions of the United States may vary from community to community, even within the same nation. While defending my nation, I had had to see the world from alternative perspectives to become a more effective soldier.

Q3. What concentration are you planning to pursue and why?

My specialty of choice is in homeland security. From my work in the Navy, I have witnessed the need for guarding the nation's borders on a personal basis, day after day. As part of my studies in terrorism and homeland security which were a requirement of my military service, I have come to understand the need for strong intelligence, culturally-astute law enforcement, and effective security protocols when dealing with threats from within as well as from without.

Homeland security remains one of the most vitally necessary components of law enforcement, as seen by the recent alerts raised regarding potential terrorist attacks threatening our nation's major cities. The exciting aspect of this field is that it is constantly changing -- just as America's enemies are always looking for new ways to attack the U.S., law enforcement officials within this specialty must have a flexible and open-minded approach, so they too can change with the needs posed by the environment. I would like to have a substitutive impact in terms of my future career, and I believe that I have the potential to not only do good but hopefully shape the field of criminal justice because of my past experiences and the perspective I will gain after completing this degree.

Q4. What is your experience in, and/or aptitude for completing academic work at a distance?

For most of my education, I have had to learn in a 'distanced' learning format. My duties took me far away from the conventional classroom environment, and I had to study and use materials like CDs, online classrooms, and other mediums that required me to discipline myself. I often had to be my own teacher and taskmaster. To be a soldier and to take classes at the same time requires the individual to be a fearless multi-tasker. I have learned to never waste a moment. Additionally, my experience also taught me to be an independent learner and thinker. I had to find my own sources and research to complete my assignments, and could not rely upon being 'spoon-fed' by a teacher. Just as in the field of combat, a soldier must follow orders and complete his or her mission, but also must be able to show independent, strong judgment when confronted with the unknown. Law enforcement, being in the military, and being a student all require the individual to be able to deviate from the 'script' when the external environment demands it. I have also learned a great deal of discipline and enjoyment of hard work from my service.