- Joined
- Aug 25, 2014
- Messages
- 28
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So I know I might get flamed for this...but I'm going to ask it anyways....
I currently work full time as a Police Officer, I have for about 5 years. I had considered maybe leaving the profession and perusing my MD/DO (just watch the news and you'll see why); however, I didn't really take the right path for that to begin with. I also decided that I was doing well with law enforcement and that it would be best for me to stay on my current path.
I had enlisted in the United States Army after high school, got out and came back home and started working in law enforcement. For us, a degree allows a 5.5% raise and will help with promotion. It also does not matter where you got the degree from or what it was in, so long as it was accredited. I fell into the University of Phoenix routine like many veterans do and got my Bachelors in Business Management.
I was still very interested in the medical field and wanted to further my education, so I began my Master's in Psychology through an online program. (Again, before you bash me for doing my Master's online, in terms of my current profession, so long as our degree is accredited, it will give me another pay boost and help in promotion.) My master's will really help me with promotion at work since it's uncommon to have anything higher than a bachelors. Many of my co-workers also have degrees in programs such as business or criminal justice, so psychology gives me a different perspective as well.
I would like to obtain my PhD in Psychology one of these days, but I'm not too sure in what specialization. I've debated I/O Psych because it would further my knowledge and capabilities to promote, such as to Chief of Police. I also have a desire to conduct psychology based research and would like to do some research in addition to working in law enforcement. Just about every aspect of psychology interests me (I/O, health, forensic, etc.) so I'm not set on one thing. I also have no desire to be a forensic psychologist and give expert testimony. It may sound funny but most officers hate going to court.
The reason I pursued my Master's online versus on campus is a scheduling thing. Between working shift work, mandatory overtime, mandatory court appearances, it's very difficult to make a set time commitment and be there every week for an extended period of time. Taking courses online allows me to study between these obligations. That being said, I know online programs get bashed on here, especially for clinical programs, which I understand. My question for people here is, based on the information I have given you and my desire to do research later down the road, are there any online PhD programs that would help me achieve this? Like I said, I don't plan on doing clinical work, I would like to obtain my PhD for personal achievement, the possibility of promotion, and to conduct part time research. Also, I know my online masters will help me in my current field, but would it do anything for me in the field of psychology on its own, without a PhD.
Thank you for any insight, I greatly appreciate it.
I currently work full time as a Police Officer, I have for about 5 years. I had considered maybe leaving the profession and perusing my MD/DO (just watch the news and you'll see why); however, I didn't really take the right path for that to begin with. I also decided that I was doing well with law enforcement and that it would be best for me to stay on my current path.
I had enlisted in the United States Army after high school, got out and came back home and started working in law enforcement. For us, a degree allows a 5.5% raise and will help with promotion. It also does not matter where you got the degree from or what it was in, so long as it was accredited. I fell into the University of Phoenix routine like many veterans do and got my Bachelors in Business Management.
I was still very interested in the medical field and wanted to further my education, so I began my Master's in Psychology through an online program. (Again, before you bash me for doing my Master's online, in terms of my current profession, so long as our degree is accredited, it will give me another pay boost and help in promotion.) My master's will really help me with promotion at work since it's uncommon to have anything higher than a bachelors. Many of my co-workers also have degrees in programs such as business or criminal justice, so psychology gives me a different perspective as well.
I would like to obtain my PhD in Psychology one of these days, but I'm not too sure in what specialization. I've debated I/O Psych because it would further my knowledge and capabilities to promote, such as to Chief of Police. I also have a desire to conduct psychology based research and would like to do some research in addition to working in law enforcement. Just about every aspect of psychology interests me (I/O, health, forensic, etc.) so I'm not set on one thing. I also have no desire to be a forensic psychologist and give expert testimony. It may sound funny but most officers hate going to court.
The reason I pursued my Master's online versus on campus is a scheduling thing. Between working shift work, mandatory overtime, mandatory court appearances, it's very difficult to make a set time commitment and be there every week for an extended period of time. Taking courses online allows me to study between these obligations. That being said, I know online programs get bashed on here, especially for clinical programs, which I understand. My question for people here is, based on the information I have given you and my desire to do research later down the road, are there any online PhD programs that would help me achieve this? Like I said, I don't plan on doing clinical work, I would like to obtain my PhD for personal achievement, the possibility of promotion, and to conduct part time research. Also, I know my online masters will help me in my current field, but would it do anything for me in the field of psychology on its own, without a PhD.
Thank you for any insight, I greatly appreciate it.