Criminal Justice

Associate of Applied Science Degree
Recommended basic skills standards are
• AAA 090
• ENG 090
• MAT 030
• REA 090

The Criminal Justice Program at PPCC is designed to upgrade the skills and knowledge of employed criminal justice professionals, and to provide a pre-employment or transfer program to students interested in the field, or in continuing on to a four year school.

With a wide variety of emphasis areas, including Investigations/Management, Patrol, Corrections and Crime Scene Investigation, and corresponding certificates. The student seeking an AAS degree, or the professional employed in the field can upgrade their skills for hiring, advancement and promotion. PPCC offers one of the broadest ranges of course offerings in the nation.

An AAS degree from PPCC will open doors into many opportunities in law enforcement at the state, federal and local level. Our students have gone on to careers in Criminal Investigations, as Crime Scene Investigators, Corrections officers, State and Federal Probation and Parole officers, and many others. Several PPCC graduates have advanced to become chiefs of police and sheriffs.

Students should realize, however, that a degree from PPCC will not guarantee a position with an agency in the criminal justice field. Many agencies impose requirements other than education for employment. These requirements may be related to age, physical condition, height, weight and vision. The majority of employers in the criminal justice field will not hire persons with a felony conviction, or a lengthy history of drug use. Some arrests and/or convictions for certain crimes will also be disqualifiers. Employers in the field screen for certain psychological and personality traits, and many give pre-employment polygraph tests.

Prospective students with questions concerning the foregoing should consult with faculty advisors.

General Education Courses

Required Courses (all emphasis areas)

Emphasis Areas
Choose fourteen (14) credit hours in one emphasis area

Investigations/Management

Patrol

Corrections

Crime Scene Investigations (CSI)

Certificates
Advanced Investigations

Basic Investigations

Corrections

Patrol

Patrol Recertification