Criminal Justice Certificate

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A student completing this curriculum will be eligible for employment with various criminal justice agencies. Certain private positions, such as business, industrial, and institutional security guards, may also be available. A student with a felony conviction will be admitted to the program but may experience difficulty in securing employment in some criminal justice agencies.

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Carl Sandburg College offers students the opportunity to prepare for a wide array of careers in public service including law enforcement officers, correctional staff, and private security positions. Both the public and private sector careers are readily available in many locations and include high incomes.

Program Features

Students have an opportunity to make the criminal justice program work with their schedule. The courses are offered in the day and evening on a scheduled semester outline. Students are exposed to a rich curriculum that allows for a solid foundation in all aspects of the criminal justice system.

Short-Term Benefits

Day and evening classes; online offerings
Small class sizes allowing for individual attention
Quality education at an affordable price
Range of programs to meet the students needs

Long-Term Benefits

Graduates are prepared for the workforce and can make their degrees and certificates work for them
Continuing education available to those in the field

The Future of Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Employers are seeking entry level applicants with an education associated with an Associate degree or higher. Agencies are seeking applicants with strong communication, writing, and leadership qualities. Applicants will need to pass several pre-hiring testing requirements which vary from agency to agency. Applicants need to be in good health, pass fitness standards and have a clear criminal background for consideration.

Admission to the Program: Open

First-Time Enrollees

Complete an application for admission and, if desired, apply for financial aid.
Send an official high school transcript or GED score report to the Admissions and Records Office.
Complete the placement exam.
Meet with an advisor/counselor to select classes and complete the registration process.

Department of Social & Business Sciences

2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd.
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309.341.5427

For Additional Information Contact:

The Welcome Center
Phone: 309.345.3500
welcomecenter@sandburg.edu

For Graduation Requirements:

See the graduation policies and procedures page for details .

Certificate Requirements

First Year

Fall Semester

CRM 101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credit(s): 3
CRM 102 - Police Administration & Management Credit(s): 3
CRM 231 - Procedural Law for Police Credit(s): 3
ENG 101 - Freshman Composition 1 Credit(s): 3
SOC 205 - Social Problems-Professional Ethics Credit(s): 3

Spring Semester

CRM 121 - Juvenile Justice Credit(s): 3
CRM 261 - Criminal Law Credit(s): 3
CRM 103 - Intro to Crime Scene Technology Credit(s): 3
or SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3
BOC 107 - Tech Skills for Business Environment Credit(s): 3
CRM 141 - Introduction to Corrections Credit(s): 3

Total Semester Hours: 30

Faculty

Christopher Barber
Instructor, Criminal Justice
Coordinator, Criminal Justice

Lara Roemer
Associate Dean of Social and Business Sciences
Assistant Professor, History/Political Science

Facilities

The Criminal Justice Program has established a Crime Lab for the development of new curriculum and supplemental instruction. The lab is a multifunction room that consists of both lecture and lab stations for computer and practical use. The area allows for students to participate in active interview and interrogation simulations, mock processing and booking, crime scene software as well as mock crime scenes. Students are introduced to five key areas of crime scene technology; latent print evidence, blood spatter and trace evidence, impression evidence, ballistics, and crime scene photography.

This space employs practical applications to many core courses within the criminal justice program. It also allows for program growth in the area of crime scene technologies and practical presentations of contemporary investigative methods.