Criminal Justice

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Associates Degree in Criminal Justice

The criminal justice program is designed to prepare students for careers in law enforcement, emergency services, or the legal field. The criminal justice program can also serve as building the groundwork for students pursuing training in other related areas such as social work. Students within the criminal justice program will not only learn the basic components of the criminal justice system, but will also apply theories and practices of criminal justice to structuring, managing, directing, and controlling a variety of criminal justice agencies associated with police, courts, and corrections. While actively learning about the criminal justice system, the program provides students with the courses needed to fulfill the requirements of the core curriculum and degree requirements for the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Applied Science degrees in criminal justice. Our Criminal Justice program provides a holistic approach to educating students by not only providing students with well-rounded skills and knowledgebase, but also emphasizing character education and critical thinking.

Estimated Annual Cost: $7,785

Cost estimate based on enrollment in 45 annual quarter hours with current Tuition and Fees. Cost includes fees for textbooks and materials.

Learn more about Associate of Applied Science Degrees >

What You Will Learn:

Program Benefits:

This degree will help students gain the skills to compete effectively in the criminal justice profession.  While for some entry-level positions, a degree is not required, given the job market, having an associate degree makes a qualified candidate more competitive.  Moreover, this degree prepares students to transfer to four-year programs.  Most associate degree graduates are competitive for entry-level positions in corrections, private and corporate security, and office support for law enforcement departments. Bachelor degree graduates may start in similar positions but will be prepared to later assume supervisory or management responsibilities. Students who are interested in graduate school or law school will need to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

Program Costs:

One of our goals is to offer the highest quality college education at some of the most affordable tuition rates. To understand our tuition rates, please visit the Tuition and Fees Basics Page on our website. Keep in mind that total costs for the program will depend not only on tuition rates, but the number of quarter hours students must take in order to complete the degree.  This will include courses both in the core and in the major.

Take the First Step

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