Program Code: 832C

Total Credits: 40-42

1. College Success

• COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits)

• Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

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• Note: The College Success course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following. Your advisor will assist you in selecting either the 3- or 5- credit version of the course. Should you choose to repeat a College Success course you must enroll in a College Success course with the same credit amount as the original course; a COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course. 

2. Criminal Justice Success Seminar

• CJ 103 Criminal Justice: Success Seminar (1 credit)

• Course purpose: This course is an introduction to success in the CJ program. It will cover education plans, navigating through Pierce College, and how to be successful in the culminating project. You will learn about professional standards and employment requirements. It should be taken within the first two quarters.

3. Public Speaking

• CMST& 220 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (5 credits)

• Course purpose: As a professional in criminal justice you will have to talk to people one on one, in groups and you will need to give presentations to classes, groups, and oral boards.  This class will set you up for success. 

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Policing in America

• CJ 150 Introduction to Policing (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Policing is a huge part of the justice system and a great career opportunity. This course will help you with the history of policing and its impact on the citizens the system serves as well as what is currently occurring in our policing systems and where it might change in the future. Often our understanding of Law Enforcement is different from what it is. This class will help to bridge those two truths.

5. Crime and Justice in America

• CJ 200 Crime and Justice in America: The Issues (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This class deals with how to respond to culture conflict and is steeped heavily in social justice and multiculturalism. You will learn hands-on skills to communicate with others who may not believe as you do. It is important as a criminal justice professional to address your biases prior to getting into the field. Your job is to serve all citizens, no matter your personal beliefs. This class will help you do just that.

6. Introduction to Criminal Justice

• CJ& 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course gives an overview of theories and the major elements of the criminal justice system. You will be able to speak across the justice system and understand how the different elements (law enforcement, courts, corrections and support agencies) work together, or don’t at times.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

7. Problem Based Research

• INFO 102 Problem Based Research in Professional/Technical Programs (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This class will assist you with your academic research and citation. This is not only imperative for your success in academic writing, but it also will help you research best practices and validate your evidence in order to best serve the community by making changes in the system. Information that is not credible can create more hurt in our system and to our citizens.

8. Corrections in America

• CJ& 105 Corrections in America (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Corrections is a huge part of the justice system and a great career opportunity. This course will help you with the history of corrections and its impact on the citizens the system serves as well as what is currently occurring in our correctional systems and where it might change in the future. Often our understanding of corrections is different from what it is. This class will help to bridge those two truths. This powerful class will expand your knowledge of the system as taught through the dominate culture and assist your level of understanding of systematic oppression.

9. Criminal Law

• CJ& 110 Criminal Law (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This class helps you understand the law, how it was developed and the elements of certain crimes. It is a course for all people who want to work in the justice field. You will also learn how to find out the ins and outs of a case and court processes.

10. Work Based Learning or CJ Elective

• Choose one: 

• CJ 251 Criminal Justice Work Based Learning (4 credits)
• CJ 252 Criminal Justice Work Based Learning (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This is the course where you get to put your theory and content from your classes to practice in the field. It includes 90-180 hours of volunteer work (dependent on credit load) in a criminal justice agency that is pre-approved by instructor. You must search for the site up to 6 months in advanced.

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• Advising note:  If a student is unable to complete a Work Based Learning opportunity, please work with your advisor for an appropriate substitution.  

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• OR Take five credits as advised: Courses are grouped by criminal justice themes.  Please work with your advisor in choosing the elective that works best for your interests and needs

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• Police Officer/Law Enforcement 

• CJ 120 Constitutional Rights (5 credits)
• CJ 245 Evidence Law (5 credits)
• CJ& 240 Introduction to Forensic Science (5 credits)
• CJ 228 Community Emergency Response Teams (2 credits)
• CJ 260 Law Enforcement Operational Skills: Explore/Cadet (5 credits)

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  Law

• CJ 102 Introduction to Criminal Law (5 credits)
• CJ 120 Constitutional Rights (5 credits)
• CJ 245 Evidence Law (5 Credits)

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• Victim Advocacy

• CJ& 106 Juvenile Justice (5 credits)

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• Corrections

• CJ& 106 Juvenile Justice (5 credits)
• CJ 144 Corrections Special Populations and Case Management (5 credits)
• CJ 228 Community Emergency Response Teams (2 credits)

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  Forensic Science

• CJ& 240 Introduction to Forensic Science (5 credits)
• CJ 245 Evidence Law (5 credits)

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  Crime Analysis and Investigations

• CJ 270 Introduction to Investigative Profiling (5 credits)
• CJ 271 Introduction to Crime Analysis & Intelligence (5 credits)
• CJ 272 Criminal Investigations (5 credits)
• CJ 273 Crime Mapping Techniques (5 credits)
• CJ 274 Criminal Behavior (5 credits)

11. Culminating Project

• CJ 280 Criminal Justice Culminating Project (1 credit)

• Course purpose: In this course you will prove that you have met all the outcomes of this certificate. You will have an opportunity to show us what you have done in a 20 minute PowerPoint presentation to the criminal justice and Pierce College community. It is an exciting experience to see the great growth you have had at Pierce College.

Total Credits: 40-42

Program Code: 832C