Associate in Public Service Degree Program
Major in Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice associate’s degree program is designed to prepare professionally-educated and competent criminal justice practitioners for careers within the criminal justice system. Generally, three groups of students are served:  individuals seeking employment in public or private agencies upon completion of the two-year degree;   practitioners furthering their education for personal fulfillment or professional advancement; and those intending to pursue advanced studies in criminal justice, criminology, or sociology at four-year institutions.

The program examines a broad spectrum of criminal justice concepts and theories, including criminology, ethics, law, evidence and procedure, corrections, juveniles, as well as general education courses.  Near the end of the degree program, students will complete a criminal justice internship.  The internship program is designed to give students practical application exposure and an opportunity to interact with criminal justice professionals. This internship allows students to directly observe and experience connections between criminal justice theory and practice. Students are required to have an acceptable background check.  A criminal record could make you ineligible for enrollment or participation in a cooperative work experience creating an inability to graduate from the program. 

Students may be eligible for transfer credit from professional training courses and other institutions of higher learning.   For specific information and consideration of transfer credit, contact a criminal justice advisor and request an official copy of your transcript of coursework be sent to the college. 

Last Updated March 11, 2008