See list of Department Chairs on the Personnel page.
Career Opportunities
The criminal justice program prepares you to transfer as a junior to a four-year institution to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology or criminal Justice, after which you can pursue a career in federal, state and local adult correctional institutions, juvenile corrections and treatment facilities, law enforcement, forensics, private security and private investigations.
Program Description
The criminal justice program provides an in-depth analysis of the three components of the criminal justice system (law enforcement, the judicial system and corrections) with special emphasis on criminology, substantive criminal law, procedural criminal law and constitutional law. It places a strong emphasis on reading and comprehension skills, written and verbal communication skills and empathic awareness of cultural diversity.
Disclaimer
If you have any prior arrests and/or drug/alcohol history, you should discuss this history with a Criminal Justice advisor prior to beginning courses toward this degree. Neither PCC nor the Criminal Justice Department or advisors will be held liable for your decision to continue in pursuit of the degree if you have such a history. Many criminal justice employers will not hire students with a past history of arrests or convictions regardless of typology of offense.
Your entrance into any criminal justice course of study, or your subsequent graduation, is no guarantee, explicit or implied, that you are employable in the criminal justice field. Further, if you cannot be placed and/or remain in the course CRJ 2080 - Cooperative Education/internship , after two good-faith attempts at placement, neither PCC nor its employees accept responsibility in respect to your inability to complete or meet fulfillment requirements of the degree.
Many criminal justice and related agencies require certain standards prospective employees must meet at the application stage. Job applications will ask if you have ever been arrested for any offense, either misdemeanor or felony. If you have, your prospective employer may deny your application. You may also be required to take psychological tests, lie detector tests, medical tests and physical fitness tests to determine if you are suited to a particular position.
Program Requirements
Entrance Requirements:
This is an open enrollment program.
Graduation Requirements:
A grade of “C” or higher is required in each course.
