Criminal Justice | Great Bay Community College

The Criminal Justice Associate in Science degree is designed to prepare students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, or the courts. It also serves as the academic foundation to transfer on to complete a baccalaureate degree. The program provides educational progress for promotion and other career development purposes for those already in the criminal justice field.

ALSO OFFERED 100% ONLINE. Students will have the option of enrolling in the criminal justice program in the traditional format as a face-to-face hybrid offering, or as a 100% online program. After completion, students are prepared to work in local or state law enforcement as an officer, in corrections as an officer, or within the state and federal court systems. To accommodate the specific needs of the online student, an additional advising component has been added to the program. Guest speakers from law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, and courts will be integrated into course delivery and as part of the online curriculum. As in other formats, students will be placed in a criminal justice internship. Additional training may be required to receive a law enforcement certification.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program of study, students should be able to:

Analyze various theories of crime causation, societal responses, and crime prevention and treatment strategies, considering their implications for law enforcement practices.
Evaluate constitutional principles, laws, and judicial procedures that govern law enforcement agencies, protect citizens’ rights, and regulate the admissibility of evidence in criminal cases.
Examine the criminal justice system’s roles, structures, and procedures, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice agencies.
Develop critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills to effectively address complex situations and dilemmas in criminal justice.
Demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and oral, to convey information clearly, prepare reports, and present logical arguments within a law enforcement or criminal justice context.
Develop and execute a comprehensive project or internship experience that integrates and applies the knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired throughout the criminal justice program, addressing a contemporary issue or challenge faced by law enforcement agencies or criminal justice organizations.

Health, Safety, and Internship Considerations

Applicants should be aware of the basic health and fitness requirements for many careers in the criminal justice field. Prospective students with special needs or limitations that may affect their internship placement and/or potential employability are encouraged to discuss their career goals during the interview with a department member before admission. The College must ensure that individuals (customers, employees, etc.) at internship and service-learning sites are not adversely affected by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students participating in internship and field experiences must demonstrate the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member, and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships with employees, customers, and clients.

Most internship placement sites require students to have health insurance and students participating in an internship are required to follow the College Immunization Policy. Please see the Academic Policies section of this catalog, under XVI. Immunization Policy.

Technical Standards

Applicants should be aware that thorough background checks are completed by potential employers before obtaining any position with arrest or detention powers, and typically, even before being accepted for an internship. Applicants with a criminal history may not be employable or even eligible for participation in the Criminal Justice Internship Program. Due to the possible negative impact on future employability, applicants are strongly advised to discuss any concerns with the department chair before applying to the program. Overall, opportunities within the criminal justice field will be favorable for individuals who meet psychological, physical, and personal qualifications.

Transfer Credit Policy

In addition to Great Bay transfer credit policies, transfer of courses in criminal justice more than ten years old will be evaluated by the department chair individually.