Personal Development

Dan Barker from Kent
Police Officer
Studying Foundation Degree in Criminal Justice

I once went to university and started a degree in a similar field. However, I wasn’t able to engage with the course and I found the quality of teaching to be poor. I left the University and applied to join the police. I have been a Police Officer now for a couple of years and I felt it the right time to start a higher education course again. I researched a number of distance learning courses in the fields of law and criminology and after weighing up all the options I chose the FdA in Criminal Justice from University of Essex Online as the best option.

When I started the course I was a bit apprehensive as to what to expect, particularly considering my previous experience of higher education. However, I haven’t looked back. I have so far completed the Introduction to Online Learning module which was invaluable in getting me back into the habit of writing essays, researching and using the learning platform. I have also done the Legal Framework, Crime and the Impact of Crime and Dealing with Offending Behaviour modules. The regular discussions as part of these modules are engaging and the regular assignments have been challenging, yet achievable.

I am in the process of doing the module that I have most been looking forward to, the Work Based Learning module. I am doing a research project looking into the proportionate investigation of low level crime. I am finding it really interesting seeing what other forces are doing, although it is suitably challenging and a learning curve.

For someone already working in the criminal justice system, this degree is ideal for broadening horizons and developing career potential. The support throughout has been easily accessible and the flexibility of the work has not been a problem for me to fit around my full time job as a police officer.