Pursue a masters degree or get a second bachelors?

2015-10-22T08:49:16-04:00

I obtained my BS/CJ last summer and have enrolled in the masters program. Is this a good decision or should I look into another degree program.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 22 at 2015 8:52 AM

2015-10-22T08:52:21-04:00

It really depends on what your career goals are.
If to get promoted to the upper realm of your field a Master's is required/expected go for it.

What are your goals if you don't mind my asking?

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Oct 22 at 2015 8:52 AM

2015-10-22T08:52:44-04:00

Unless you want to go in a completely different direction than Criminal Justice, I recommend going for the graduate degree. Go up, not lateral.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 8:53 AM

2015-10-22T08:53:35-04:00

It all depends on what you want to do. I went after a masters in criminal justice administration rather than get a second bachelors in criminal justice. I am, however, now considering a second bachelors now that I have my masters - in another field, though.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Oct 22 at 2015 9:03 AM

2015-10-22T09:03:52-04:00

I think it's always more beneficial to go up in education versus staying parallel in degrees. I am even considering going for my Master's but I can also pursue a Doctrine degree as well. So my challenge is which degree would be most beneficial for me, that would also be the question you need to ask yourself as well Robert.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 22 at 2015 9:16 AM

2015-10-22T09:16:58-04:00

I actually debated this recently. I was a "few" classes from a second BS (like 5~). But I decided that working towards the MS would likely benefit me more in the long run. It's not that the additional BS would hurt, but why burn limited resources unless it would give me a VERY clear advantage. The MS is a solid step up. The BS is a lateral.

My wife however decided to pursue a second (&3rd) MS degree however rather than a doctorate. The two programs she was looking at had significant overlap, and were in line with opportunities she was already pursuing so although it was a lateral move, it was still a clear advantage, and doubling up on resources (time & money).

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 11:35 AM

2015-10-22T11:35:45-04:00

Zuniga, only you can answer your question. You're climbing a ladder when you make progress in a career field, and earning a Masters is progress. It will make you more competitive for jobs, and hone your skills. However, only you can decide if your ladder rests against something you actually want to climb. Getting a bachelor's in another field is a little like moving the ladder. Is there another career field you'd rather put your time and effort into?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 6:55 PM

2015-10-22T18:55:44-04:00

Masters will always bring you more reward. It's a more specific study than a broad undergrad.

Response by 1SG Joseph Yorski, MHS made Oct 22 at 2015 6:58 PM

2015-10-22T18:58:40-04:00

Honestly, the CJ BS, hard as it seemed to achieve, is not worth squat in my experience. A master's, preferably in another field entirely, would be more advantageous and frankly, easier. If you plan on staying in LE, emergency management or government administration will help you more so than a master's in CJ.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-10-22T19:08:13-04:00

Master's.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 7:10 PM

2015-10-22T19:10:16-04:00

I wouldn't waste your time with a second bachelors degree unless it is in a significantly different area. Even then, in most cases, your masters does not have to be in a field even closely related to bachelors so it doesn't matter. Also, doctorates are of less value outside of teaching and research than you might think so multiple masters degrees are probably more valuable to the average person. Just my two cents based on my experience.

Response by MSgt April Monthie made Oct 22 at 2015 7:28 PM

2015-10-22T19:28:54-04:00

I would continue to go up to a Masters Program unless you are going to change career fields. If you decided to do a second BS program make sure that it isn't closely related to the current degree program you already completed if your using your GI Bill benefits to pay for the program. The VA compliance officer that inspects your college records (if your name randomly selected) during the annual visit to the school will actually look at your past education and training to determine if the two BS are too closely relate (ie. BS Criminal Justice and BS in Criminology) The VA can actually take back the benefits paid to you and the school if the compliance offers determines that the VA is paying for basically the same program twice. A lot of Schools don't do a good job of counseling the veterans about GI Bill benefits and they don't do prior credit evaluations like they are required to do before enrolling you into a college program. The can leave Veterans with a big debit to the VA for the housing allowance even up to 3 three after you've finish school. I used to work for the VA in Education benefits for 7 years inspecting the records.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 7:30 PM

2015-10-22T19:30:18-04:00

Depends on who is paying for your second bachelors degree. I would pursue your masters.

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Oct 22 at 2015 7:34 PM

2015-10-22T19:34:10-04:00

Go for the Masters degree as it usually carries more professional gravitas, as long as the program is accredited and recognized in your chosen field.

Response by SSG Eddye Royal made Oct 22 at 2015 8:11 PM

2015-10-22T20:11:39-04:00

I am currently enrolled at Univeristy of FairFax to get a MS in Information Technology in Cyber Crime. This is where CSM, LTC, Command Staff goes and companies find their next set of employees after military. I am also on LinkedIn the Professional site for vetting. This is how I teach the new employees at Hewlett Packard what we in the military our standards are.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Oct 22 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-10-22T20:26:57-04:00

Agree with others here, go with the graduate degree.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 8:29 PM

2015-10-22T20:29:22-04:00

Masters, never look back

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 8:50 PM

2015-10-22T20:50:11-04:00

I recommend pursuing your Master's Degree, it will distinguish you from other applicants and will show an expected progression in your civilian education level. I'm halfway through my MA and I definitely would do it again!

Response by SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres made Oct 22 at 2015 9:05 PM

2015-10-22T21:05:09-04:00

Sir, No-brainer. Go big or go home!!!!

Response by SPC Lisa Rudikoff made Oct 22 at 2015 9:13 PM

2015-10-22T21:13:27-04:00

I was in the same boat recently. If you don't want to switch fields, go masters. Always go up. Having two of the same is never looked at the same way...

Response by Sgt Cody Dumont made Oct 22 at 2015 10:00 PM

2015-10-22T22:00:58-04:00

Graduate degree will open more doors and most likely cost less.

Response by BG David Fleming III made Oct 22 at 2015 10:15 PM

2015-10-22T22:15:43-04:00

Get a masters! If you plan on staying in and making this your career, then a masters is the way forward. I can't tell you how much more competitive you are against your peers with a graduate degree in the eyes of any promotion boards!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 22 at 2015 10:30 PM

2015-10-22T22:30:24-04:00

It really depends on your career desires, but you will definitely get higher pay with a graduate degree...

Response by SGT Dillon Townsel made Oct 22 at 2015 10:31 PM

2015-10-22T22:31:33-04:00

Lots of answers here, mostly either branch out or keep specializing. My advice? Do what makes sense for what you WANT to do. I completed a B.S. in Computer Science while I was serving, and now I'm getting a Master's in Integrated Marketing Communications. While this seems like a complete shift to most, I work with cybersecurity firms in a PR/Marketing role, so both degrees align perfectly with my career trajectory. Go for the Master's in whatever you think you'll want to do in 5-10 years, not today.

Response by LTC David Stender made Oct 22 at 2015 10:41 PM

2015-10-22T22:41:51-04:00

When I got my criminology BA, with that and 50 cents I could buy a Coke. Now I'm in the hole for a Coke but I do have a masters degree. Choose wisely for your masters and don't look back.

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 11:02 PM

2015-10-22T23:02:23-04:00

Get your Masters Degree. I would even recommend looking outside of the CJ field. Even if that is what you want to do professionally, many Federal Law enforcement agencies are looking for advanced degrees in other fields like accounting, computer science, maybe even poli-sci. It is good to expand your horizons a little while also getting a more advanced degree.

Response by MAJ Bill Maynard made Oct 22 at 2015 11:59 PM

2015-10-22T23:59:25-04:00

As purely a ticket punch, get they masters. Employers will want it more than a second BS or BA....

Response by SFC Jack Dilbeck made Oct 23 at 2015 12:02 AM

2015-10-23T00:02:05-04:00

In your case the masters is the right direction. If you had a bachelors with poor marketability, art history, or similar liberal arts degrees, it might be more beneficial to obtain another bachelors degree in a marketable skill. I wound research occupational outlooks before deciding.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 12:52 AM

2015-10-23T00:52:41-04:00

Concur with the previous response. I made the mistake of working on a second bachelors myself. However, I transitioned from logistics and operations management to healthcare administration. Move forward sounds like the consensus.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 12:55 AM

2015-10-23T00:55:56-04:00

SGT Robert Zuniga go for your masters degree if you enjoy the field of work you're in. If you plan to stay that route and want to advance in the field.
I'll give you an example;
My first bachelors was in computer science. I work in the field and found myself getting bored at a young age, so I joined the army as a medic (figured it would be a 180 from compsci)
So now while I already have a bachelors, I'm back finishing my second bachelors in biology premed as I am enjoying the medical world.
Had I loved the compscI engineering I would have continued into masters and Phd in the field to advance myself and my marketability to employers.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 7:14 AM

2015-10-23T07:14:20-04:00

Master in what and BS in what? that are some very important details there. Your future career goals also make a different of what you want to study too...

I can only speak for myself, I am an engineer, so going master will only lead to two reason, 1)better my knowledge, 2) going into researching. It will not help me on my current career at all, beside getting a PE.

Now if I want to leave engineering and go for a medical field? I will need to study a whole new BS degree.

But also consider one thing, I got a BS/Mechanical Engineering, I can go for a different master degree than engineering.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 10:41 AM

2015-10-24T10:41:12-04:00

The market is saturated with bachelor's degrees. A Master's degree and your experience sets you apart from the competitors for the position in which you apply.

Response by CPT Jason Torpy made Oct 24 at 2015 3:59 PM

2015-10-24T15:59:23-04:00

Get a job. There's something to be said for scholarship, but education is not really for its own sake. You have a Bachelors in criminal justice I assume. Unless you're planning on doing something else, you don't need another bachelors. If you plan to change careers, get a masters degree in that career field. Get a masters in CJ or something related if you want, but only something that requires a masters. It's an expensive, useless, and prideful hobby to just get a degree of any kind without good reason.

Response by MSG D. Layne-Sheffield made Oct 24 at 2015 9:54 PM

2015-10-24T21:54:41-04:00

Masters!

Response by SSgt Jeffrey Andrews made Oct 24 at 2015 10:54 PM

2015-10-24T22:54:08-04:00

I would say it depends on whether you wish to achieve higher success in your job using your Bachelor's or you wish to go off into a completely new field. If you wish to rise to the top of your job in the Criminal Justice field or to teach then go for the Masters. If you wish to change jobs and find a new area of expertise then go for a double B.A.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2015 3:00 PM

2015-10-25T15:00:50-04:00

If you are going in different directions then you future job then get a different degree!

Response by SGT James Hastings made Oct 25 at 2015 3:06 PM

2015-10-25T15:06:07-04:00

For me, the most important things is get an education for a job you would love. To make that more likely, try to talk to people doing a certain job before completing all that work with the possibility that you might not be happy doing what you think it involves. As them if they were doing it all over would they choose that career? Ask them what they dislike about their job. People are different so if you can ask these questions of at least 3 people it might guide you.

Response by MSgt Daniel Attilio made Oct 26 at 2015 1:39 PM

2015-10-26T13:39:21-04:00

I was contemplating a similar move but all the advice I received was to pursue a Master's. Upon reflection I am glad I listened to the advice.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 2:37 PM

2015-10-26T14:37:37-04:00

Having done both, I can tell you that, really, it's just a matter of do you want to spend the time (and other additional precious resources) and which will help you achieve your dreams. Many will tell you that an additional Bachelor's is a lateral move and you should be striving to move upward. This isn't necessarily wrong, but there are times when an additional Bachelor's CAN be beneficial (such as expanding your knowledge base into a closely related field).
As an example, I was going to double major in History and Anthropology (specifically Archaeology) because I wanted to pursue a Master's in Museum Studies, but dual majors were a no-no under the GI Bill, so I did my support work for History in Anthropology and then stayed on an additional year to finish my my BA in Anthropology after my BA in History. This set me up perfectly to be accepted into several different Museum Studies programs and I don't think that either degree on it's own would have done that.
As it turned out, I ended up not being able to move away for a Museum Studies program as planned (ended up having to take care of a parent), so I kind of ended up wasting my time for the second Bachelor's, but that was because life sometimes gets in the way.
I later got a Master's in a different field, and that's now where I work, so everything worked out...

Response by SPC Tyler Frampton made Oct 30 at 2015 12:41 AM

2015-10-30T00:41:21-04:00

If that is the field you want to work in then pursue your masters. At the rate of education growth and online access grows, the higher your degree the better off you'll be.
Get the MS degree and pursue your Doctorate and specialize in something you like, i.e forensics, law, or home land security etc. Just an idea for you best if luck.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2015 8:46 AM

2015-11-02T08:46:48-05:00

It has to support your end goals. I would recommend that you get a masters in leadership with an emphasis on Criminal Justice in your electives. I thought about it myself and opted for the masters. I will use my GI Bill for a second masters when I retire.

Response by SSgt David Nace made Nov 24 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-11-24T09:34:20-05:00

I would suggest getting the graduate degree also. Employers give more to a person with one Bachelor and a Masters, then they do to a person with two bachelor degrees in different fields.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 24 at 2015 3:46 PM

2015-11-24T15:46:23-05:00

I would be nice if you list the alternatives instead of in general terms.

Response by SPC John Canning made Dec 1 at 2015 9:35 AM

2015-12-01T09:35:17-05:00

It all depends on where you want to go. I would not go for a second BS. My advice would be to get an MBA, it is a way for you to diversify your skillsets. The combination of disciplines should enhance your ability to look at issues that arise from multiple view points. You will also have an indepth understanding of the business side of law enforcement.

Response by SPC John Canning made Dec 1 at 2015 9:36 AM

2015-12-01T09:36:43-05:00

A MPA is a good one too.

Response by Lt Col Jim Vasconcellos made May 2 at 2016 6:41 PM

2016-05-02T18:41:52-04:00

You can go for a more generalized masters, also. Like Organizational Leadership. Do not waste time with a different bachelor

Response by PO3 Sarah de Groot made Feb 24 at 2017 3:37 PM

2017-02-24T15:37:03-05:00

I plan on getting a second bachelor's degree. But then again i am going into a completely different field than my first bachelor's degree.

Response by SGT Robert Zuniga made Mar 4 at 2017 6:33 PM

2017-03-04T18:33:13-05:00

Thanks for all the responses. My how time flies. I will graduate with my MS/CJ in 5 weeks. All the way!!!

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Mar 4 at 2017 8:31 PM

2017-03-04T20:31:40-05:00

What are your long term goals? Where do you want to be? How will each help you reach your end result? Your Call!

Response by SGT Ryan Lawson made Jan 29 at 2018 5:23 PM

2018-01-29T17:23:24-05:00

Master's for sure.. I'm at Argosy University Twin Cities.. gives life experience credits, takes JSTs, accepts VA benefits, and gives 20% deal for active, reserve, or vets. Has accredited 100% online too! Associates-Doctoral.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2018 11:17 AM

2018-04-18T11:17:00-04:00

This is 3 years old - but I came in with a Bachelor's. I got my Master's two years ago and I'm going for a second Master's maybe next month. Bachelor's is in Journalism. Master's is in Public Relations. This second one I'm thinking Security Management. It appears security managers can make decent money in the civilian world. I've done enough in my time in the Army why not? I've been trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up (aka retire). :D

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 31 at 2018 12:39 PM

2018-08-31T12:39:55-04:00

Graduate degree will carry you further in life than two Bachelors.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2022 11:12 PM

2022-03-04T23:12:29-05:00

I think going to the next level is very wise of you. However, a second bachelor’s degree is fine if you are completely switching careers.