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Associate Degree

Criminal Justice

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Criminal Justice Overview

Earn your degree in criminal justice at CVTC! A career in criminal justice is the right choice as our world has become more complex and the demand for criminal justice professionals has increased.

CVTC’s Criminal Justice program provides theoretical and practical information on various types of law, community policing, corrections, investigations, report writing, and professional communication. Other courses will strengthen your ability to interact with the public, work with people from diverse backgrounds, and clearly communicate in a professional manner verbally and in writing.

This program includes plenty of hands-on experience, including preparing you for entrance to the 720-hours of training that is required for certification by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Bureau of Training and Standards and the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board after you obtain 60 college credits.

Students may participate in a summer elective internship where they will have firsthand observation within a criminal justice agency of their choice.

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Join Us for the Spring Open House!

Tuesday, March 26, 2024  //  3:30 – 7 p.m.  //  View Event Details

Earn credit for prior learning! Do you have previous educational or work experience in the field? You could be eligible to receive credit for prior learning.

Explore This Program

Just the Facts

Criminal Justice
63 Credit Associate Degree

Program Length
Two Years

Delivery Method
Face-to-Face

Program Location
Eau Claire, River Falls

Start Months
August

 

Financial Aid Eligible

 

Non-Traditional Occupation

Estimated Program Cost 

Learn more about the cost of attendance.

Term 1

$

2,771

Term 2

$

2,924

Term 3

$

2,291

Term 4

$

2,459

Books

$

565

 What are estimated program costs? Estimated Total: $11,010

Program Courses Admission Information I'm Ready to Apply

Career Opportunities

Correctional Officer

Deputy

Police Officer

Security Officer

Graduate Employers

Chippewa Falls Police Department

Dunn County Sheriff's Department

Eau Claire Police Department

Mayo Clinic Health System

Stanley Correctional Institution

Thorp Police Department

Program Outcomes

CVTC graduates are ready for the workforce. Each year, we send our graduates the Graduate Follow-Up Survey asking several questions related to employment. Here are the program outcomes and job data.

// Program Scorecard
 

$48K
Yearly Salary

Our recent Criminal Justice graduates reported an average starting salary of $48,080.

 

128
Regional Jobs

There are 128 job openings in the CVTC district for the Criminal Justice industry.

Transfer

Credits to Other Institutions

Should you choose to continue your education after you leave CVTC, we have agreements in place with several institutions to ensure an easy transfer.

View Transfer Options

Program Courses

These are a few of the courses you will take in this program. Courses and the recommended sequence change from year to year; once you are enrolled in a program at CVTC you will be given a recommended course sequence that outlines what courses you should take and the order in which to take them.

You may search for available courses. If you are ever unsure of what courses to take, talk to your academic advisor. If you are looking for course information for previous years, check out our past catalogs.

Here are a few of the courses you can take in the Criminal Justice program.

Sample Courses

Law Enforcement Crisis Management
Students will learn principles, guidelines, and techniques for law enforcement response to persons with possible mental disorders, alcohol or drug problems, dementia disorders, and/or developmental disabilities.

Patrol Procedures
Learn a patrol officer's role, explanation of handling usual and unusual assignments, strategies of officer survival, patrol tactics, and traffic stops.

Criminal Investigation I and II Theory
Learn principles of preliminary investigation, crime scene control, identification and collection of evidence, development of information, and court presentation of evidence.

View Full Course List

Request More Information

Please provide your contact information and an Admissions Advisor will get back to you ASAP with more information about this program.

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Your future is waiting…Are you ready to get started?

Apply Now

The instructors for the Criminal Justice program are fantastic teachers and have the background to add to it. Not only where they great teachers they are now incredible mentors! Highly recommend this program to anyone.

Samantha

Criminal Justice Graduate

A Program You Can Trust

Program Accreditation

Wisconsin Department of Justice Logo

The Criminal Justice Program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Visit accreditation website.

Additional Admissions Resources

Admission Requirements

Each program requires specific requirements a student must meet to be considered for admissions to this program.

// View Admission Requirements

Advising Tips

We have compiled helpful tips and general information for students in this program.

// View Advising Tips

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