by our College Data Analytics TeamProtective Services Operations was the 1,371 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 20 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 20.0% increase in protective services operations degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 16.
This year's Best Protective Services Operations Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of protective services operations programs later in this article.
A major in protective services operations prepares you for careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is crucial. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most protective services operations degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic protective services operations program qualifications, to serve in some protective services operations careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of protective services operations degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in protective services operations to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the protective services operations degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to protective services operations, with approximately 21.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to protective services operations tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 27.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 20.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 16.6% |
| Some College Courses | 11.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 9.6% |
59.0% of protective services operations workers have at least a associate. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in protective services operations have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the protective services operations career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your protective services operations degree? Protective Services Operations careers are expected to grow 7.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to protective services operations.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 731,900 | 7.0% |
| Police and Detective Supervisors | 111,600 | 6.6% |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 45,800 | 10.6% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors | 19,400 | 12.1% |
| Emergency Management Directors | 10,900 | 7.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for protective services operations graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for protective services operations graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers protective services operations grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Police and Detective Supervisors | $93,100 |
| Emergency Management Directors | $82,570 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors | $72,390 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $65,400 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $56,810 |
With over 8 different protective services operations degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased protective services operations school rankings to help you with this.
One of 13 majors within the Criminal Justice & Corrections area of study, Protective Services Operations has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Studies | 46,814 |
| Criminal Justice | 32,891 |
| Criminal Justice & Police Science | 22,722 |
| Corrections | 4,039 |
| Other Corrections & Criminal Justice | 3,675 |
