CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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Get the training you need to protect and serve your community with a Criminal Justice degree from NCTC. With 100% virtual class options, you can make your dreams of working in law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, forensics, and investigation a reality. Our specialized training fosters critical thinking and exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal. You will also learn how to conduct yourself professionally, ethically, and respectfully towards people of diverse cultures, customs, and beliefs in stressful situations. With the high demand of the Criminal Justice field, finding a job after graduation is almost always guaranteed for students.
With the option to complete the coursework completely online, you can earn a meaningful degree on a schedule that works for you.
Degree can be completed 100% online
cRIMINAL jUSTICE Program details
CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE
Earn an Occupational Skills Award (OSA), and a Level 1 Criminal Justice Certificate, on your way to an AAS Criminal Justice Degree at NCTC.
The AAS Criminal Justice Degree can be completed through a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online classes. It only takes two years to complete if you elect to attend every semester, including summer semester, or you can take classes at a pace that best suits you and spread them out over a longer period of time. The choice is up to you, and our Advisors can also help you make that decision.
Upon completion of this Associate of Applied Science Degree, you will be able to:
Exhibit critical thinking skills related to all areas of the Criminal Justice field
Demonstrate professional, ethical and respectful conduct to individuals of all types of backgrounds
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to assist in your duties in the Criminal Justice field
Obtain the ability to use employment strategies that will enhance your performance in the role you pursue
Grasp a deeper understanding of our nation’s laws, regulations, and how they impact society
Advocate for the the safety and well-being of the individuals and communities you choose to serve
Special Note: Experiential credit may be available for students currently working in the field of Criminal Justice. For more information, contact the Division Chair.
Criminal Justice Management OSA
The OSA in Criminal Justice Management equips you for working in the field with knowledge and skills directly applicable to a supervisory role and to qualify for promotion to managerial responsibilities.
First Semester
| Total Credit Hours | 12 |
|---|
Level 1 Certificate
The Certificate teaches the necessary skills and fulfills academic requirements to qualify for employment in a Criminal Justice agency. All the courses completed in the certificate program are part of the AAS Degree and may be directly transferred into the degree program. Students seeking a certificate cannot enroll in CJSA 2388.
Experiential credit is available for students currently working in the field of Criminal Justice. For more information, see the Division Chair.
This program can be completed either in-person or a mix of in-person classes and online classes. It takes two semesters to complete. Upon completion of the Level 1 Certificate, you will be able to:
Display critical thinking skills related to areas in the criminal justice field.
Demonstrate professional, ethical, respectful conduct to those of diverse cultures, customs, and beliefs in stressful situations.
Communicate both verbally and in writing in areas related to the criminal justice field.
Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate employment strategies relevant to positions in criminal justice.
First Semester
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CRIJ 1301 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CJSA 1348 ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CJSA 1317 JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM | 3 |
| CRIJ 2313 CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS & PRACTICES | 3 |
| CRIJ 2328 POLICE SYSTEMS & PRACTICES | 3 |
| CJCR 1304 PROBATION & PAROLE | 3 |
| Total for this semester | 18 |
Second Semester
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CJSA 1342 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION | 3 |
| CRIJ 1310 FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL LAW | 3 |
| CRIJ 1306 COURT SYSTEMS & PRACTICES | 3 |
| CJSA 1325 CRIMINOLOGY | 3 |
| CJSA 2334 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CJSA 2302 POLICE MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISION & RELATED TOPICS | 3 |
| Total for this semester | 18 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 |
|---|
Capstone Requirement: Students completing the certificate must pass a comprehensive program exam with a score of 70% or higher to satisfy the capstone requirement. Exam must be scheduled with the Division Chair.
Criminal Justice AAS
Experiential credit may be available for students currently working in the field of Criminal Justice. For more information, contact the Division Chair.
The program can be completed through a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online classes. It takes two years to complete. Upon completion of this Associate of Applied Science Degree, you will be able to:
Exhibit critical thinking skills related to areas in the Criminal Justice Field.
Demonstrate professional, ethical, respectful conduct to those of diverse cultures, customs, and beliefs in stressful situations.
Communicate both verbally and in writing on areas related to the criminal justice field.
Demonstrate the ability to use employment strategies related to the field of criminal justice.
First Semester
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CRIJ 1301 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CJSA 1348 ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CJSA 1317 JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM | 3 |
| CRIJ 2313 CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS & PRACTICES | 3 |
| CRIJ 2328 POLICE SYSTEMS & PRACTICES | 3 |
| CJCR 1304 PROBATION & PAROLE | 3 |
| Total for this semester | 18 |
Second Semester
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CJSA 1342 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION | 3 |
| CRIJ 1310 FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL LAW | 3 |
| CRIJ 1306 COURT SYSTEMS & PRACTICES | 3 |
| CJSA 1325 CRIMINOLOGY | 3 |
| CJSA 2334 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CJSA 2302 POLICE MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISION & RELATED TOPICS | 3 |
| Total for this semester | 18 |
Third Semester
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ENGL 1301 COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| SOCI 1301 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| MATH 1314 COLLEGE ALGEBRA
or MATH 1342 ELEMENTARY STATISTICAL METHODS or MATH 1332 CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS |
3 |
| CORE LANGUAGE, PHILOSOPHY, CULTURE OR CREATIVE ARTS | 3 |
| Total for this semester | 12 |
Fourth Semester
| Total Credit Hours | 60 |
|---|
Capstone Requirement: CJSA 2388 Internship - Criminal Justice/Safety Studies is the capstone requirement and may not be substituted. It should be taken the last semester before graduation.
Note: Most agencies require a criminal background check as part of the internship hiring process. Having a criminal record may prevent you from being accepted in an internship program.
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