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What is the balance between theoretical coursework and practical, skills-based training for taking the major of criminal justice?

I learn so much faster by doing everything hands on. I am looking for a program where I can actually use tools, not study them.

criminal-investigations
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Kelsey’s Answer

Hi Ava! You probably won't be able to avoid theoretical work entirely, but I think applying what you're learning in theory-focused classes will be really important for you. Consider how you learn best when you're evaluating programs and eventual specialties. Example: try to balance forensics classes with lab-based research, part-time work, volunteering, and job shadowing. When you end up evaluating programs, you'll want to look at the criminal justice faculty and see if most of their experience is hands-on in the field or only theoretical/research based. My dad worked in school-based law enforcement, and I'm so excited for you to continue to explore what you want to do in this field!
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Walter’s Answer

I think it is very admirable that you would seek to explore practical based skill training as well as theoretical instruction. I think you must consider that for various reasons, liability being a chief consideration, a institute of education that provides a degree will generally not provide the same type of experience that a specialized academy or skill based program would, the area of focus is just different. Before immersing yourself in a law enforcement path, I would always encourage anyone considering the profession to research your local law enforcement agencies as many if not most larger departments and agencies will offer programs like ride alongs or police explorers , even federal agencies like the FBI offer a academy for teens where you can actually observe or experience what the profession is about. Since criminal justice as a discipline is a very specialized discipline, It would go a long way towards making the determination if the conditions and responsibilities align with what your perceptions are and if it is indeed something you would like to consider as a profession.
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