<p>I’m trying to decide what major I want to take, and there are a couple that interest me. I always go back to criminal justice, though. The thing is that I can’t drive. (It’s just a phobia of mine, so please don’t tell me to just suck it up and get my license - it’s not going to happen.) Are there any careers I can get into with a criminal justice degree that won’t require me to drive? I’m just not sure if it would be feasible to get a degree in CJ since I’m not sure if there are many jobs that don’t require being able to drive.</p>
<p>I don’t know a whole lot about the career options in that field, but one option is working as a loss prevention associate or manager. Managers can make a pretty good income, and at least in the retail industry, a driver’s license isn’t typically required so long as you can get to the places you need to be in a timely fashion. </p>
<p>I’m not saying to suck it up, but I do think you should consider taking very small steps toward the goal of gaining a license, even if you choose to seldom drive. You will not only be limiting your career options, but where you can live - you would be dependent on public transportation or the generosity of others to get everywhere, and what if there is an emergency and no one is available? Saying “it’s not going to happen” isn’t going to help; first look at why you’re afraid of driving. Rationalize the likelihood of each fear happening. Seek counseling if it will help. No, you will not be able to just suck it up and drive - it could take a few years, but if you start now, and take it slow, people do overcome severe phobias if they really put their minds to it.</p>
<p>I agree… This is more than just a CJ degree problem, this phobia is going to be a strain on your life for years and years and years.</p>
<p>I can’t see many job fields in which you aren’t required to operate a vehicle in the CJ field. There are other types of jobs where you can use public transportation to get there, and likewise many work-from-home jobs that you could investigate, but for the Criminal Justice field, since it is very active/fast-moving, operating a vehicle is essential.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Now that I’m seriously considering college and looking into majors more, I’m actually moving away from CJ. After actually doing some research, I found out two things.</p>
<p>1.) CJ isn’t for me.
2.) The career field I’m looking at now still requires a driver’s license.</p>
<p>I won’t bore you with the details, but I figure you guys are right - I need to get my license. Since I’m not planning on going to college until fall of 2014, I’m planning on trying to get my license before I leave. So thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>That sounds great =) Glad to hear you’re not letting it hold you back from what really interests you. Good luck with everything.</p>
<p>Driving is a life skill and you should try to deal with this phobia at least incrementally. While there are grown-ups who live in city and do not drive and always take public transportation, the reason to have the ability to drive includes the following:
- You might be somewhere where there is an emergency and your friend/parent/co-worker/neighbor/significant other/child/grandparent needs to be driven to a hospital as they are incapacitated or you are somewhere with bad weather and drivers need to take turns
- You might have any kind of career where all of a sudden you need to go on a business trip and public transportation might not be an option
- At some point in your life you might be in a relationship either marriage or other long-term relationship and your significant other is injured and you need to take them to a doctor, to an out-patient clinic for therapy (my dh had minor surgery in May and coul not drive for 3-4 weeks and I needed to drive him home from the same-day surgery as well as drive to the drugstore for prescription and go grocery shopping and do all the family errands
- If you are a parent you will need to be able to perhaps drive your child/children to the pediatrician, perhaps to school and when they are older to endless activities and so on</p>
<p>I am sure there are other reasons but I know that phobias like this are treatable and should not be the basis for determining what kind of career you will pursue. You never know what paths your life will take</p>
<p>maybe something in forensics (lab work?) or something in the national security area, maybe cryptography or some such? Go on the website for things like the FBI to see what career options are available, and what the requirements are for entry level positions.</p>