2019-2020 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Dec 05, 2024  
2019-2020 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Criminal Justice Certificate Course Map


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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your certificate by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets certificate requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Criminal Justice Certificate, you are responsible for fulfilling all certificate requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

 

All Criminal Justice courses require a 2.0 or higher grade.

1. College Success


  • 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


  • 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. Criminal Justice Course Recommendation


Take five credits as advised.

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


  • 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


  • 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. Criminal Justice in America


  • 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


  • 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


  • 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 Justice Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: Being able to successfully complete the Practical Agility Test for employment is important. This class will assist you to develop a training plan and implementing it. A personal trainer to help you develop a program that you should consider to use for a lifelong goal.

  • Course purpose: You will successfully complete Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This will help you build your professional network, and learn skills to build resume. This course will help you to know what to do when there is a major natural disaster,  how to be prepared, how to prepare your family.

10. Concepts of Criminal Law


  • 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.

11. Work Based Learning


  • 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 instructor. You must search for the site up to 6 months in advanced.

12. Culminating Project


  • 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: 44-47


Program Code: 832C


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