Step 2: Get a degree in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, or a related discipline (two to four years)

Some prospective police detectives may be eligible to enroll directly in a police academy, but many police academies require at least some college to qualify. By illustration, Eileen Carlin—a 20-year veteran in law enforcement and state coordinator with Rasmussen College’s School of Justice Studies—reports that most departments want detectives who have two- to four-year college degrees.

Florida Tech Online—an affiliate of the Florida Institute of Technology based in Melbourne—provides an online associate of arts (AA) in criminal justice degree with courses in law and the legal system, correctional systems, and delinquency and prevention.

Ideal for aspiring detectives seeking some college experience to join a police academy, Florida Tech’s 20-month program imparts the basic fundamentals of crime-solving, victimology, and critical thinking. For those interested in working as an FBI agent, a DEA agent, or a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement criminal investigator, having a bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement.

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York (CUNY) provides several reputable undergraduate degrees with majors in criminology, criminal justice, and criminal justice management. In its bachelor of science (BS) in criminal justice program, students focus on institutional theory and practice with specialized training in law and politics of race relations; police and community relations; and constitutional law.

Additionally, California State University in San Bernardino (CSUSB) provides a bachelor of arts (BA) in criminal justice, combining valuable research and internship opportunities with structured coursework in criminal law, statistics in criminal justice, and correctional counseling.