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.

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. Policing in America

• CJ 150 Policing in America (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.

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. English Composition I

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Writing is an important aspect of criminal justice. You will be writing infractions, court documents, depositions, etc. Your ability to write will influence the systems view of your skills and ability, as well as the public’s perception of you as a professional. In addition it will strengthen your work in your academic career.

5. Criminal Justice in America

• CJ 112 Criminal Justice in America (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.

6. Crime and Justice

• CJ 200 Crime and Justice in America: 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.

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. Public Speaking

• CMST& 220 Public Speaking (5 credits)

• Course purpose: As a professional in criminal justice you will have to talk to people one-on-one and in group settings. You will need to give presentations to classes, groups, and boards. Every time you get to work on your presentation skills, whether it is an informative speech, a “teaching” speech, or a persuasive speech, you will be using skills that may save your life or the life of another when you are on the job.

8. Work Based Learning

• 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 180 hours of volunteer work in a criminal justice agency that is pre-approved by an instructor. You must search for the site up to six months in advance.  For the Cadet/Explorer Certificate, you may use the hours you are volunteering in the community. 

9. Operational Skills

• CJ 260 Law Enforcement Operational Skills: Explorer/Cadet (5 credits)

• Course purpose: You will take this course if you are interested in Cadet/Explorer, where you will be volunteering as a Police explorer or cadet and will include all the time that you put into your weekly trainings as well as your academy. You must successfully complete one academy to complete this course.

10. 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.

11. Problem Based Research

• INFO 102 Problem Based Research Methods 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.

Total Credits: 42

Program Code: 832E