Criminal Justice Degree Online

The Mount Marty College Criminal Justice program prepares students to become practitioners in the criminal justice field. Students learn how the criminal justice system works and gain insight into investigations, corrections, juvenile justice, chemical dependency, legal writing and research, police management, ethical responsibility, and security administration.

With its emphasis on community service, internships, and practitioner mentoring, MMC’s criminal justice program is unique, focused on applied learning and preparing students for the contemporary world of work in the criminal justice system.

Criminal Justice majors are taught to challenge assumptions and investigate issues beneath the surface. Motivation to improve the world, combined with a quality education, will lead to a career that can be deeply rewarding on many levels. Given the small size of classes, professors teach all classes, know their students, and commit to helping their students to grow personally and professionally. One of the biggest benefits at MMC is individualized attention and opportunity to work closely with faculty members both in and out of the classroom.

Criminal Justice majors work closely with programs in psychology, sociology, and the behavioral sciences. These disciplines develop insight into human behavior essential to a criminal justice professional. During the senior year, all students experience a senior seminar in criminal justice.

It is recommended that students complete an internship in the criminal justice or social science area. Through this experience, students develop an in depth knowledge of the field and beyond. Graduates receive comprehensive career training that will enable them to choose among several entry-level positions in criminal justice.

MMC offers both a bachelor’s degree and an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice.

What It Means:
Popular culture thrills us with portrayals of crime scene investigators and detectives who solve complicated crimes using their powers of deduction and sophisticated technology. However, these are only some of the more high-profile jobs in the field of criminal justice. Criminal Justice professionals work in a variety of positions, both in the public eye and behind the scenes. There are entry-level positions, for example, in: local law enforcement, including sheriff’s departments and juvenile justice centers; state law enforcement, including the court system and attorneys general offices; and private companies including workplace security, safety firms and security patrol firms.

Criminal justice is one of America’s fastest-growing career fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for correctional officers, law enforcement officers and security officers is projected to increase as much as 35% through 2010*.

What It Means To You:
The Associate degree program in Criminal Justice offered at the ITT Technical Institutes teaches fundamentals of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology. Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts and corrections. Graduates of this program may pursue career opportunities in a variety of entry-level positions involving law enforcement, community corrections, private investigation and security.

Some of the Courses in the Program Include:
Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice Organization and Administration
Criminology
Principles of Policing and Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Reporting and Recording
Correctional Programs: Probation and Parole
Criminal Investigation
Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation
The Criminalistics of Cybercrime
Policing Techniques: Interviewing and Interrogation
Aviation Security

Equipment Used By Students In the Program:
Students will have the opportunity to use the following school equipment as required throughout the program: computer systems, network hubs, patch panels, printers and other common computer peripherals. Please refer to the Student Equipment provision in the Online course Information section of the school catalog for information relating to student equipment requirements for any distance education courses that are taught online over the Internet.

Length of Program:
Based on the typical class schedule of a full-time student, this program of study is 8 quarters in length. A typical class session lasts approximately four to five hours. Class sessions are generally available in the morning, afternoon and evening, depending on student enrollment. A number of courses in this program of study may be taught online over the Internet rather than in residence at the ITT Technical Institute. Please refer to the Program Outline and Online Course Information section of the specific ITT Technical Institute’s school catalog for specific information regarding the courses in the program that may be taught online. This program leads to an associate degree.

Admission Requirements:
Please consult the school catalog for an explanation of the admission requirements for this Associate program. Please contact the local school regarding the opportunity to transfer credits earned at other postsecondary institutions to satisfy course requirements of this program.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002 - 2003 Edition

This program is available at the following campuses. Please select a campus to learn more about this program.

What It Means:
Popular culture thrills us with portrayals of local, state and federal enforcement agencies, crime scene investigators and detectives who solve complicated crimes using their powers of deduction and sophisticated technology. However, these are only some of the more high-profile jobs in the field of criminal justice. Criminal Justice professionals work in a variety of positions, both in the public eye and behind the scenes. There are entry level positions, for example, in local law enforcement, including sheriff’s departments and juvenile justice centers; state law enforcement including the court system and attorneys general offices; federal law enforcement including the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Inspector General; and private companies including insurance companies and security patrol officers.

Criminal justice is one of America’s fastest-growing career fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for correctional officers, law enforcement officers and security officers is projected to increase as much as 35% through 2010.*

What It Means To You:
The Criminal Justice program of study at the ITT Technical Institutes1 teaches fundamentals of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology. Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts and corrections.

The upper-level courses include more in-depth study of the criminal justice systems, along with instruction in areas such as criminalistics, victimology and computer forensics.

Graduates of this program may pursue career opportunities in a variety of entry-level positions involving criminal justice, including local, state and federal law enforcement jobs in policing, crime commissions, parole and probation, corrections and court systems. The program also offers the academic preparation to pursue a broad spectrum of criminal justice careers in the private sector involving workplace security, private investigations, and insurance investigations as private detectives, safety officers and security patrol officers.

Some of the Courses in the Program Include:
Courts and the Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice Organization and Administration
Principles of Policing and Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Reporting and Recording
Correctional Programs: Probation and Parole
Criminal Investigation
Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation
The Criminalistics of Cybercrime
Policing Techniques: Interviewing and Interrogation
Essentials of Security
Aviation Security
Crime Prevention
Multicultural Law Enforcement
Substance Abuse and Crime in America
Gangs and Juvenile Justice
The Criminalistics of Computer Forensics
Controversial Issues in Law Enforcement
Homeland Security

Equipment Used By Students In the Program:
Students will have the opportunity to use the following school equipment as required throughout the program: computer systems, network hubs, patch panels, printers and other common computer peripherals.

Length of Program:
Based on the typical class schedule of a full-time student, this program of study is 15 quarters in length. A typical class session lasts approximately four to five hours. Class sessions are generally available in the morning, afternoon and evening, depending on student enrollment. Some programs of study also offer one or more classes via the World Wide Web. This program leads to a bachelor degree.

Admission Requirements:
Please consult the school catalog for an explanation of the admission requirements for this program. Please contact the local school regarding the opportunity to transfer credits earned at other postsecondary institutions to satisfy course requirements of this program.

* Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002 - 2003 Edition

1 Bachelor’s degree programs are not offered at all ITT Technical Institutes and not all ITT TEchnical Institutes offering bachelor’s degree programs offer this program. See the specific ITT TEchnical Institute’s school catalog for a complete list of the programs offered at that institute.

This program is available at the following campuses. Please select a campus to learn more about this program.

What Kind of Jobs Can I Get With a Criminal Justice Degree?

Our liberal arts program qualifies graduates to pursue both professional and further academic goals. Employment opportunities for those with Bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice include entry-level positions in the following areas:
Federal Government
Border Protection
U.S. Marshalls
Governmental Investigation Services
Law Enforcement
State Police
Local Police
Court Administration & Investigation
Juvenile Justice
Probation/Parole Officer
Corrections
Administration
Corrections Officer
Graduate School
Law School
Criminal Justice Graduate Studies
Behavioral Sciences
Plattsburgh State Career Development Center

Our Career Development Center provides services, resources, and programs designed to help students and alumni to better understand the career development process, and to enhance their professional preparation and employability.

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Criminology is the study of criminal behavior, its causes and consequences, and the way in which society responds to those who have been identified as criminal or deviant. Criminology can be viewed as an integrated approach to the study of crime and it combines elements of knowledge from a variety of disciplines. Students of criminology are exposed to a wide variety of theories of criminal behavior as well as to a diverse range of analysis of the criminal justice system. The independent major in Criminology offered within the Bachelor of Arts degree programme provides an appropriate background for entry-level positions in the field of criminal justice as well as for admission to professional and graduate programme in criminology and related fields.

New Course Requirements for Criminology Major and Honours Students—March 22, 2006

Students Entering Second Year of Study:
Students will be required to take CRIM 2103 Introduction to Qualitative Research and CRIM 2113 Quantitative Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice
They will then go on to take one of CRIM 3103 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in Criminology or CRIM 3113 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods in Criminology

Students Entering Third Year or Beyond of Study:
Students who have already completed CRIM 2103 under the old calendar description will take one of CRIM 3103 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in Criminology or CRIM 3113 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods in Criminology
Students entering their third year of study who have not yet fulfilled the CRIM 3133 Criminal Law & the Charter requirement under the old calendar description may take CRIM 3143 Charter Rights to fulfill this requirement.
Student entering their third year of study are not required to have taken CRIM 2123 Criminal Law before enrolling in CRIM 3223 Criminal Procedure or CRIM 3143 Charter Rights.
Students who have taken CRIM 2213 Adult Courts may not take CRIM 3223 Criminal Procedure. Students who have taken CRIM 3133 Criminal Law & the Charter may not take CRIM 3143 (Charter Rights).

Students Entering into the Honours Program:
Students enrolled in the Honours program may take both CRIM 3103 and CRIM 3113; however, they are not required to do so.
All other course requirements for students entering the Honours program in the 2006-2007 academic year remain the same as in the old calendar description.

General Interest Courses

Students with a general interest in criminology are invited to enrol in CRIM 1006 Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice. This course is a prerequisite for all other courses offered by the criminology department and will provide students with the opportunity to select other general interest courses in criminology beyond the first-year level. In some cases, students may be allowed to take upper-level criminology courses with written permission of the instructor.

Culver-Stockton’s criminal justice program prepares you for a productive, professional career in social service, law enforcement, corrections or graduate school.

The criminal justice program at Culver-Stockton College is designed to provide educational preparation for students desiring entry-level positions in both public and private agencies concerned with the administration of justice. The major is founded on a broad-based liberal arts education with practical experience, such as internships, outside the classroom. It is designed to provide you with knowledge specific to the institutions and processes of criminal justice.

Students must complete 33 hours of criminal justice coursework to earn the major, including 12 hours of criminal justice electives. A sampling of courses includes criminology, juvenile delinquency, law enforcement procedures, judicial process, criminal and constitutional law, victimology, legal research and writing, corrections, social research, and crime scene investigation. Students also may complete a minor in criminal justice.

What can I do with this major?
If you are interested in working with people and improving society, then you will find a career in criminal justice satisfying. Potential career tracks include local, state and federal law enforcement or corrections, various types of protective services, private security, and graduate or law school.
For a complete listing of the course offerings and requirements for a criminal justice major, please see the current academic catalog.

Criminal Justice is a multidisciplinary field, which draws upon the social and behavioral sciences for much of its content as well as its methodologies. Many graduates of the program move directly into entry level positions as professionals in the criminal justice system; others choose law school or further study in a range of master’s and doctoral degree programs.

In recent years, Sage graduates have accepted positions with the U.S. Marshals Office and the Internal Revenue Service, as well as with state and local law enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Crime and Justice Policy is available through Sage After Work Students who enter this program have already done some college-level work and are prepared to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Required introductory level courses will normally have been completed and transferred in, but when that is not the case a Sage academic advisor will describe convenient alternatives for completing these courses. This innovative program provides students with multiple modes for course delivery designed to meet the needs of working adults.

The fast-paced expansion of all areas of the criminal justice system is creating a demand for skilled workers as never before in local, state and federal systems, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Today’s criminal justice workforce must be knowledgeable and skilled in every component of the system to address the public’s demand for protection and services. Educated and skilled individuals are needed, from the traditional roles of law enforcement, security and corrections, to work with victim advocacy, juveniles and social services.

The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice (ASCJ) degree program is designed to prepare you to enter the criminal justice profession in a variety of first-tier positions. You will be exposed to the foundational areas of the discipline: investigation and law enforcement, law and courts, and corrections and parole. The program also addresses juvenile delinquency and the juvenile justice system.

The ASCJ satisfies the requirements for the first two years of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

What skills can I learn?
Students who successfully complete the ASCJ degree program should be able to:
Use the theory and historical perspectives of law enforcement, corrections, criminal law, and the courts.
Describe the various theories of crime and the foundations of the criminal justice environment.
Demonstrate general, foundational knowledge of human behavior.
Demonstrate proficient math and communications skills.

What are some possible career opportunities?
The ASCJ degree program can help you qualify for entry-level positions in the areas of law enforcement, legal assisting, corrections, dispatching, court services, security, juvenile and victim advocacy, family court work, child and youth work, loss prevention, fraud investigation, court administration, homeland security, crisis work, customs, juvenile correction work, and court-appointed special advocacy.

Additional education and /or experience and a clean criminal record may be required for employment in some positions.

Built-in CTU Academic Certificates
The ASCJ degree program includes the following built-in Academic Certificates:
Corrections Technician
Domestic Violence
Back to Degree Listing
These CTU Academic Certificates can be earned without additional courses.

Students receiving an associate degree in criminal justice should understand each of the three main components of the criminal justice system and their inter-relatedness. This program includes study in law enforcement, courts, and corrections, plus work in theories of crime causation and crime control policy. Students should expect reading, writing, and critical thinking skills to be rigorously applied and developed throughout the degree program. The associate in science degree in Criminal Justice prepares students for entry-level positions in criminal justice or for study at the baccalaureate level.

Requires a total of 64 credits for the degree (refer to Associate Degree checklist and Recommended Academic Plan) defined as follows:

General Education Requirements: 21 credits

Writing/Speaking (GWS) – 3 credits

Quantification (GQ) – 3 credits

Natural Science (GN) – 3 credits

Arts (GA) – 3 credits

Humanities (GH) – 3 credits

Social Sciences (GS) – 3 credits

Additional General Education course (GWS, GQ, GN, GA, GH, or GS) - 3 credits

Requirements for the Major: 32 credits, with a grade of “C” or better.

CRIMJ-100, Intro to Criminal Justice (3)

CRIMJ-210, Law Enforcement Function (3)

CRIMJ-220, Courts and Prosecution Process (3)

CRIMJ-230, Corrections in America (3)

MIS-103, Basic Computer Course (3)

Soc-007, Research Methods (3)

Soc-012, Criminology *

Soc-119, Race and Ethnic Relations (4) *

Stat-200, Statistics (4) *

Phil-103, Introduction to Ethics (3) *

Electives: 11 credits

NOTE: Associate degree students must complete a 3 credit Writing across the Curriculum (W) course and a 3 credit course in either United States Cultures (US) or International Cultures (IL).

Degree offered: Bachelor of Arts

The purpose of the Peace and Justice Major is to prepare students for entry level positions in peace and social justice related governmental and non-governmental organizations. In addition, the major provides a foundation for students desiring graduate education in international relations, conflict resolution, and peace and justice studies. The interdisciplinary course of study, grounded in the social sciences, emphasizes nonviolent solutions to conflict and injustice, strategies for building communities at peace with justice, and reconciliation post conflict. The curriculum addresses peace and justice from the individual, group, and international levels and prepares graduates with conflict resolution and social organizing skills to be constructive agents of social change.

Download and Print the Peace & Justice Major Information Sheet & Sample 4 Year Course Plan
See Peace & Justice Major Requirements in the University Catalog
See Peace & Justice Course Descriptions in the University Catalog

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Julie Hart
Associate Professor
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Ohio Dominican University
1216 Sunbury Rd.
Columbus OH 43219

(614) 251-4263
hartj@ohiodominican.edu