Approved through the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Program Advisor: Reena Bucknell, (413) 236-4551

The Criminal Justice program offers career preparation for law enforcement at the local, state, or federal level; corrections; private security; and other criminal justice work. Courses also provide upgrading of skills for those currently in the field. 

A student planning on studies at the baccalaureate level should work closely with a Criminal Justice advisor to select courses that will be acceptable to the college and program to which the student plans to transfer. These majors include but are not limited to criminal justice, sociology, paralegal, political science, police science, criminology, and public administration.  This is a Quinn Bill eligible program.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• use effective verbal, nonverbal, and written communication;
  
• demonstrate an understanding of ethical standards in the criminal justice
  system and apply these standards to practical situations;
  
• describe the functions and interrelationships of the major components of
  the criminal justice system;
  
• explain the diversity of viewpoints and experiences within society;
  
• analyze how perceptions are affected by culture;
  
• identify a social problem, develop a problem-solving approach, and evaluate effective and appropriate responses.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete the 60 program and general education credits, plus the additional requirements, shown below.

 

General Education		24 Credits
COM	Communication	3
ENG	English Composition/Writing	6
MAT	Mathematics (see footnote 1)	3
	History or Government (see footnote 2)	3
	Humanities and Fine Arts	6
	Natural or Physical Science OR Environmental Studies	3
Additional As Shown
Core Competencies Portfolio		6 items
Forum		12 units
Health/Fitness (see footnote 4)		30 hours
Minimum Cumulative Averages:
-Overall		2.000
-Minimum Cumulative Average in Program		2.000

                                                           
Suggested Block for Program Completion
 
The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two   years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary   according to each student's individual needs. 

Footnotes: 

1. MAT 101, or any course with the "MA" General Education designation; students wishing to transfer should take MAT 102 or higher.

2. History or Government chosen from GOV 105, GOV 135, HIS 113, HIS 114, HIS 117, HIS 118, or HIS 225.

3. Professional Elective chosen from CIS 102, CRJ 200 or SOC 219, CRJ 201, HSV 135, SOC 136, SOC 208, SOC 212, SOC 216, SOC 228, or SPA 101, SPA 131, or others with Program Advisor approval. 

4. Fulfilled by successful completion of CRJ 108.