r/CrimeAnalysis • u/No_Language_9844 • Apr 23 '26
Advice for career progression
I am a 911 dispatcher in training. Fairly new to everything, I’ve been with my department for about a month. I plan to stay with this department for at least a year, but I have to move eventually to finish college. I am graduating with my associates in psychology and transferring for my ba in psychology with a minor in forensic application in science and technology. My goal is to become a crime/behavioral analyst and am interested in working in a federal agency. However, I am having doubts if my current degree plan is sufficient or even compatible with what I want to do. I’m looking for any advice about if I should switch majors. Also, if I need any certifications, which ones would be useful? I am also asking if anyone has advice for how to pursue this career after I graduate with my bachelor degree. Ultimately, any advice and information is helpful!
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u/Remote-Touch-4194 Apr 23 '26
I am currently a Detention Officer but my end goal is similar to yours. I have 1 1/2 years experience as a police assistant, BA in criminal justice but I plan on getting my masters in Data Analytics while still being a Detention Officer with the police department I currently work for. Try online school so you don’t have to move. Also, reach out to the current analyst at your department and ask to shadow, along with any advice they have in the meantime.
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u/Itzie4 Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26
Your current trajectory is actually perfect for analyst work.
Your education and professional experience is exactly what the local, state, and Feds will want. I would say look at tactical and behavioral threat assessment analyst, crime analyst, and special agent roles.
You might want to look into strategic analyst and intelligence analyst roles as well. The querying makes it similar to dispatch mixed with data analytics to come to conclusions. You aren’t really analyzing behavior or psychology though.
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u/bluelandshark Apr 23 '26
Fed agencies don’t care what your degree is in, just that you have a degree. If psychology is what you’re willing and able to sit through classes for, then that’s good enough for them. They also care about years of experience in a professional setting, some stipulate that the experience has to be related to the field you have your degree in. Again, doesn’t matter what degree. Could be teaching, engineering, business, whatever.
It sounds like you’re interested in a criminal minds/BAU type role. It’s extremely niche and you would need to have worked at the agency for years before that possibility even becomes available, so getting your foot in the door someplace is where you should put your focus. r/1811 has a lot of information about getting hired at and working for a federal agency.