Looking for help and feedback on picking a TESC degree plan

[sanantone]

I'm actually looking at the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, Federal Air Marshals, and BATFE. The first two prefer CJ degrees, BATFE doesn't have a preference.

Where did you hear that the Federal Air Marshals prefer criminal justice degrees?
OLE/FAMS Positions | Transportation Security Administration

Air Force OSI also doesn't specify a preference for criminal justice degrees. They don't specify a preference for any degree, but you would be better off studying something that would give you a specialized skill that will give you priority.

What are other "Quality Ranking Factors"?

Any degree above the bachelor's level is considered a "Quality Ranking Factor." Others are foreign-area specialty; foreign language abilities; training or experience in forensic sciences; training or experience in computer sciences; training or experience in polygraph administration; and training or experience in the technical services specialty.

Does fluency in a foreign language give me any priority over applicants without a language skill?

It depends on the position. Fluency in a foreign language is considered a "Quality Ranking Factor," as listed on the announcements. A Quality Ranking Factor may or may not be used to make the hiring decision, based on the position being filled.

http://www.osi.af.mil/questions/civilian.../index.asp
http://www.osi.af.mil/questions/civilians/

I don't think the criminal justice degree should even be considered if you only want it for employment purposes because it's not going to help you much for employment purposes. A lot of people make the mistake of getting a criminal justice degree because they think they need it in order to become a law enforcement officer. That is incorrect and the reason why criminal justice majors have the highest underemployment rate and relatively high unemployment rate among recent graduates. If you're only targeting one or two agencies that have a preference for the degree, then what are you going to do if you don't get hired by those one or two agencies? We have a member here, OfficerA, who is in the military. He said that servicemembers often make the mistake of getting a criminal justice degree and have trouble finding employment.