Criminal Justice Degree Online

Course requirements in the major are organized into required and criminal justice elective courses. The required component includes those courses essential to building a strong general foundation in the discipline. The electives allow students to pursue particular areas of interest.

The total major consists of 14 courses, or 41 credit hours. A grade of C- or higher is required for each course in the major or minor.

Required Courses (11 courses, 32 hours):

CJ 101 Intro to Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
- majors must complete before other CJ courses
CJ 112 Careers in Criminal Justice (2 hrs)
- strongly suggest completing during first semester in major; pass/fail
CJ 154 Criminal Justice Theory (3 hrs)
CJ 203 Policing (3 hrs)
CJ 244 Corrections (3 hrs)
CJ 297 Criminal Law (3 hrs)
CJ 299 Criminal Justice Information, Communication, & Ethics (3 hrs)
- prerequisite: grade of C- in general education writing course
CJ 302 Criminal Justice Research Methods (3 hrs)
- prerequisites: CJ 154 & CJ 299
CJ 305 White-Collar Crime (3hrs)
CJ 365 Diversity & the Criminal Justice System (3 hrs)
CJ 410 Senior Thesis (3 hrs)
- prerequisites CJ 154,CJ 299 & CJ 302

Criminal Justice Electives (3 additional courses, 9 hours):

CJ 228 Juvenile Justice (3 hrs)
CJ 246 Criminal Investigation (3 hrs)
CJ 350 Trial Evidence (3 hrs)
- prerequisite CJ 297, & suggest CJ 355
CJ 355 Criminal Procedure (3 hrs)
- prerequisite: suggest CJ 297
CJ 372 Drugs & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 390 Special Topics in Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
CJ 422 Women & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 420 Victims & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 426 Media & Crime (3 hrs)
CJ 428 Internship (1 - 6 hrs)
- prerequisite CJ 112, junior/senior in good standing; pass/fail

Please see the admission section of our current college catalog (pdf) for more information about requirements and admission procedures.

Can you help rehabilitate a youth who already has a criminal record? How does a forensic pathologist know how to treat a crime scene? What is the Miranda decision and how does it affect the rights of those who are arrested or held in custody? These are only a few questions you can expect answered by our Criminal Justice program, one that provides a balance between a comprehensive introduction to criminal law and corrections and the fundamental skills you need to get started in the field.

PCC’s Criminal Justice program offers a variety of courses, providing an overview of the criminal justice system while also focusing on elements of criminal investigations, forensics and police report writing. Law enforcement agencies, both state and federal, routinely seek our graduates because of the rigorous, comprehensive, and quality education we provide. We’re sure you’ll agree. When it comes to addressing crime, we excel in training you to understand the policy, procedures, and applications of the law.
Degrees and Certificates

In this program you can earn the following:
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Certificate, Juvenile Corrections
Certificate, Corrections Technician

See the catalog [pdf] for information regarding program requirements.
Experience, Skills, Accreditation

Our criminal justice faculty at PCC have extensive education and experience in local and state police, corrections agencies, the FBI, and more. Only instructors who have proven experience, knowledge of proper procedures, and an understanding of criminal law teach our courses, which means that you receive up-to-date, relevant skills. City, County and State agencies have given our program the highest marks. Many of our graduates go on to pursue higher degrees.

Our program has a Continuing Education and Training component that is intended for criminal justice professionals already working in the field. The program’s purpose is to help you complete a degree, prepare for a promotion, or gain additional expertise in particular criminal justice courses. You can acquire the skills you need to advance your career. In addition, our program features specialized criminal justice seminars on current and high profile topics.

We also have a state-of-the-art facility, which includes a crime scene scenario room where classes are taught.