Criminal Justice

As a pathway to dynamic professional careers and continuing education for lifelong learning, the Criminal Justice program promotes collaboration and innovative teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and community involvement in public service.

The Criminal Justice program exists for the preparation of students for employment as law enforcement officers, corrections/detention officers, private security officers, and many other positions within the criminal justice profession.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program the student should be able to:

Compete for entry level positions in the criminal justice field.
Analyze the criminal justice system recognizing its impact on our lives and in a global community.
Utilize critical thinking skills and apply them in various criminal justice settings.
Communicate and collaborate within teams to accomplish tasks in a professional manner.
Communicate within the discipline using words and phrases specific to criminal justice.
Utilize and demonstrate problem solving skills.
Identify attributes of successful criminal justice professionals.

Students from the Criminal Justice program have been hired as trooper cadets with the Washington State Patrol, as local law enforcement officers in many cities, as deputy sheriffs in many counties, as corrections officers at the local and state levels, and as detention officers.

Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice, students will be prepared to compete for entry-level employment in criminal justice positions including law enforcement, institutional corrections, police support personnel, and loss prevention. Students are cautioned that career opportunities in the criminal justice field might be limited by criminal convictions, physical requirements, medical history, drug or alcohol use, or other bona fide occupational qualifications or disqualifiers established and determined by employers.

For more information on current employment trends, contact the Washington State Employment Security Department at www.esd.wa.gov. Additional information is available at www.wa.gov.

Programs

Certificate - Professional/Technical

Associate

Criminal Justice, AAS