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.

Criminal Justice Program Goals

A student will have knowledge of the criminal justice system and how it operates within modern society;
A student will have knowledge of current issues of modern criminal justice management agencies;
Students will have in depth exposure to the American court system and how it operates within the field of criminal justice; to include sentencing, probation, courtroom activities and the stages of criminal trials;
Students will have a basic understanding of both criminal law and procedural law used in criminal justice;
Students will be exposed to the study of crime as a social phenomenon, through the examination of criminological theories on the causation of crime;
Students will have a knowledge to the current issues of facing the criminal justice field to include an in depth focus on political ethics, community relations and policy development;
Students will gain valuable work experience within the field of criminal justice via an established internship program;
Students will have a working knowledge of modern criminal investigative techniques as well as concepts of report writing, interpersonal communication and courtroom testimony.

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 - Introduction 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.