Just the Facts
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Criminal Justice
- 61 Credit Associate Degree
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Program Length
- Two Years
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Delivery Method
- Face-to-Face
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Career Cluster
- Public Service & Safety
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Program Location
- Eau Claire, River Falls
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Start Months
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August
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Financial Aid Eligible
- Non-Traditional Occupation
Estimated Program Cost
Learn more about the cost of attendance.
- Term 1
- $ 2,871
- Term 2
- $ 2,694
- Term 3
- $ 2,694
- Term 4
- $ 2,694
- Materials
- $ 135
- Books
- $ 1,113
- Estimated Total
- $12,201
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.
Check It Out
Join Us for the Fall Open House!
Thursday, November 5, 20263:30 – 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
Career Opportunities
- Police Officer
- Correctional Officer
- Court Research Specialist
- Patrol Officer
Graduate Employers
- Wisconsin Department of Corrections
- Sheboygan Police Department
- Chippewa County Correctional Office
- Durand Police Department
- Eau Claire County Sheriff
- Affirm Background Screening
Graduate 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.
$52K yearly salary
Our recent Criminal Justice graduates reported an average starting salary of $52,159.
67% employed
67% of our recent Criminal Justice graduates got a job in the industry.
129 regional jobs
There are 129 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.
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.
Request More Information
Please provide your contact information and an Admissions Advisor will get back to you ASAP with more information about this program.
We will never share or sell your information outside of CVTC. We may, on occasion, contact you regarding relevant services, events, and materials. You may opt out at any time. View our privacy policy to understand how we collect and use your information.
Your future is waiting…
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Student Testimonial
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
The Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Visit accreditation website.
Student Learning Outcomes
A Student Learning Outcome refers to the specific skills, knowledge, or abilities that students are expected to demonstrate upon successful completion of an academic program or degree.
Students will:
- Illustrate the interrelationships of the three core components of the criminal justice system
- Explore personal wellness strategies for criminal justice professions
- Analyze situational responses
- Apply communication skills as a criminal justice professional
- Conduct investigations
- Examine professional ethics as it applies to the criminal justice professional
- Explain the role of criminal justice professionals in working with diverse populations
Additional Admissions Resources
Admission Requirements
Each program requires specific requirements a student must meet to be considered for admissions to this program.
Advising Tips
We have compiled helpful tips and general information for students in this program.