The Justice Studies Department focuses on building knowledge in the areas of law enforcement, criminology, law, paralegal studies, courts, juvenile justice, forensic studies and corrections. Our students are provided the professional and academic preparation necessary for entry-level positions in public and private sectors as well as successful graduate study.
The Protective Services Department follows the principles and guidelines of the Central Texas College mission, utilizing its resources to provide qualified, trained individuals for local, state, national, and international public criminal justice agencies. Further, it assists students in making an intelligent career choice and assists the field in providing qualified employees by guaranteeing the performance of its graduates.
The Bachelor of Science program in criminology is based on the study of criminal behavior and society’s response to it, including the analysis of those policies and systems designed to control criminality. Through the in-depth exploration and study of both theoretical and empirical research drawn from the behavioral, legal, and social sciences students learn about many aspects of crime as a social phenomenon, including the correlates of crime and criminal behavior, the tools and methods used to study and prevent crime, and the institutions involved in the processing of criminal offenders. The department seeks to achieve this mission through its curriculum that emphasizes the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills with respect to each of the following: 1) the structure and organizational behaviors of the justice system; 2) the theories underpinning normative socialization and both formal and informal social control; 3) the roles policing, courts, corrections, and laws play in contributing to social control; 4) the practical and ethical complexities of the roles of justice professionals; 5) macro and micro level criminology theories regarding the etiology of crime, criminality, and delinquency; 6) the measurement, detection, and prevention of crime, criminality, and delinquency; 7) the research, planning, and evaluation methods used to expand knowledge in the field; 
the international variations on criminal justice systems and social control and comparative criminology; 9) the development and refinement of communication skills both orally and in writing with particular emphasis on persuasive argumentation supported by logic, legal precedent, and scholarly research; and 10) the practical application of all of this knowledge in ways that promote active leadership that effectuates positive change in the agencies of law, law enforcement, rehabilitation, governmental service, academia, and research.
This 520-hour training is specifically designed for potential law enforcement officers in need of meeting Wisconsin certification requirements. Annually, CVTC offers three full-time academies. The competency-based instruction meets the criteria set forth by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Training and Standards Bureau. Training is delivered through a combination of lecture, multimedia, interactive group discussion, hands-on instruction, and field exercises.
All full-time academy classes are conducted at CVTC’s Criminal Justice Division in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Some training will take place outdoors and in the evening hours and weekends to simulate actual conditions.
Graduates of Chemeketa’s Criminal Justice program may become law enforcement officers, adult or juvenile correctional officers, federal protection service workers, progress toward a career with homeland security (customs, border patrol, Transportation Security Administration, port security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, drug enforcement agency), or they may develop a foundation for a career in parole and probation. Although there is much competition for such positions, they offer good benefits. Graduates may also find jobs in 9-1-1 telecommunications, intake and release work in correctional institutions, and in private and public security work. As a graduate, you may also qualify for work in a related field as an insurance adjuster, an agency investigations officer, a hearings officer, or a licensing inspector for the state department of motor vehicles.
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice offers a BA degree in both Sociology and Criminal Justice, and an accelerated, five-year combined BA/MSW Degree with Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. Students may also pursue a Sociology or Criminal Justice Minor.
The Criminal Justice Program provides students with excellent academic training and experience through our classes and internship program. The program is designed to prepare students to take and active role in criminal justice and to also prepare students for continued training.
The Criminal Justice Program at Bowling Green State University offers both a Bachelors of Science (BS) and Masters of Science (MS) degree in Criminal Justice. Since its inception in 1972 the Criminal Justice program has established a national reputation as one of the best four-year programs in Criminal Justice. Follow the links below to learn more about our department.