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Career Opportunities
The Associate of Arts Degree with Designation in Criminal Justice prepares students to transfer as juniors to a four-year institution in Colorado to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Graduates can seek a career in federal, state and local criminal justice agencies. This includes correctional institutions, juvenile corrections and varied treatment facilities, law enforcement agencies, courts, private security and forensic investigation work.
Program Description
Courses in the criminal justice degree provide an in-depth analysis of the three main components of the criminal justice system, law enforcement, the judicial system and corrections, with special emphasis on criminology, substantive criminal law and constitutional law. The AA degree coursework requires students learn reading and comprehension skills, written and verbal communication skills, and cultural diversity awareness.
Program Requirements
Students must meet all admission and application requirements at the receiving institution including the submission of all required documentation stated deadlines. In addition to the requirements listed below, you must:
- Earn a minimum of 60 semester hours of course work
- Earn a minimum of 15 graded semester hours at PCC
- Earn a minimum of “C” in all coursework for the degree
Consult with a PCC Criminal Justice advisor or transfer advisor to find out which Colorado Statewide Guaranteed Transfer Courses (GT Pathways) or elective courses meet the degree requirements of the four-year college to which you plan to transfer. To earn an AA degree with Designation in Business, you must complete at least 60 college-level credits, as described below:
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 the type 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.
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.
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