Offered Only at Main Campus
The 21-month (seven-term) Criminal Justice program prepares students for careers in the area of public safety. The program focuses on major issues concerning criminal justice as a profession. The program director and instructors have the responsibility to the community and the public to carefully screen and advise those persons choosing criminal justice as a profession.
All applicants to this program will undergo a criminal background check. This program is closed to all applicants with a felony record. It would be unfair for Indian Hills to allow a student to complete the entire criminal justice program only to be refused employment because of a felony or serious misdemeanor conviction. This program also demands completion of a firearms qualification course. Federal law prohibits individuals convicted of domestic abuse from possessing a firearm. Students enrolled in this program will experience unique pre-employment qualifications, which may include passing extensive criminal and character background checks, physical requirements, polygraph testing, oral boards, drug screening and/or other requirements pertinent to current hiring practices.
Students will enter this major at the beginning of the Fall term. The following sequence of courses is based upon a Fall entry. To enroll, complete an application and attend any required academic orientation and information session. Students meeting all program and graduation requirements receive an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Students also have the option of earning an Associate of Arts degree with a major in Criminal Justice. This option is designed for students intersted in transferring to a four-year college or university to earn a baccalaureate degree.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Understand the major subsystems in the criminal justice field and how each functions.
- Understand the impact the United States Constitution has on various criminal justice components and their actors.
- Demonstrate sound ethical values when making decisions in the criminal justice system.
- Know the general concepts of criminal law.
- Identify the major theories of crime causation.
Program Total: 78 Credits
