Objectives
This program teaches the fundamentals of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology. Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts and corrections. Students are taught about the legal system and law enforcement standards to help them develop technical skills used in todays criminal justice environment. The upper-level courses enhance the study of the criminal justice system and expand into areas such as criminalistics, victimology and forensics investigations. The curriculum is designed to offer a balance of theory and application used in the field by integrating interpersonal skills and administrative subject matter. Students will examine the criminal justice process and study interpersonal communication skills. The program offers an interdisciplinary study of the mechanisms of social control, criminology and criminal justice in American society. Program content includes communication, criminal law and procedures, cybercrime and homeland security issues as well as technology skills. The program can help graduates cultivate particular human relations skills appropriate to the industry and an understanding of the causes and prevention of crime.

Career Opportunities
The program can help graduates prepare for careers in community corrections, the private investigation and security fields and law enforcement*. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have developed knowledge and skills that can be used to pursue entry-level positions involving a broad spectrum of criminal justice careers in the private sector involving workplace security, private investigations, and insurance investigations as private detectives, safety officers and security patrol officers. The program also offers the academic preparation to pursue entry-level positions involving criminal justice, such as local, state and federal law enforcement jobs in policing*, crime commissions, parole and probation, corrections and court systems.

*This program of study may not qualify a graduate for a career in law enforcement involving employment as a police officer or agent by federal, state, county, local or municipal authorities. An applicant must contact the applicable governmental authority prior to beginning the program at the school to determine if there are any specific requirements and/or qualifications that a candidate must satisfy to be eligible for employment as a police officer or agent by that authority. Those requirements and/or qualifications may include, among other things, that a candidate must: (a) successfully complete an academy or other specialized training; (b) be younger than a certain age; (c) pass a physical, mental and/or personality examination; (d) pass a background check; (e) not have a criminal record; (f) be a graduate from an institution that is regionally accredited (as opposed to nationally accredited, such as ITT Technical Institute); (g) complete a certain number of credit hours or a certain type of degree program at an accredited postsecondary educational institution; (h) have served a certain number of years in the military; (i) have a certain number of years of prior law enforcement experience; (j) be a U.S. citizen and/or a resident of the governmental authoritys jurisdiction; (k) have earned a bachelor or graduate degree in certain areas of study; and/or (l) have a valid drivers license.

Admission Requirements
Refer to the Admission section of this catalog for information relating to Admission Requirements and Procedures for this program.

Online Course Orientation
Prior to starting any of the online courses in this program, the student must complete the online course orientation, which describes the protocols that the student must follow when taking an online course.

Equipment
The student is responsible, at his or her expense, for providing all supplies and equipment for the students use in the online courses in the program, including, without limitation, a computer (and the associated accessories and peripheral equipment, including without limitation, a monitor, keyboard and printer), software and Internet service.

Online Courses
All of the courses offered at the school in this program are distance education courses and are taught online over the Internet, rather than in residence at the school. Each course will be taught over a period of either (a) six weeks or (b) 12 weeks, as determined by the school from time to time in its discretion. Courses are delivered through an asynchronous learning network. There is a prescribed completion schedule for the activities in each course. Support materials for each course will be sent to the student. These materials may include a course syllabus, a textbook(s), a CD-ROM(s) and other printed documents required for the course. Students will be assigned to a class for each course. Students in each course will interact with their classmates and the instructor through discussion board and e-mail systems.

Online Student Preparation - Prior to starting any of the online courses in this program, the student is encouraged to complete the online course student preparation, which describes the protocols that the student must follow when taking an online course.

Computer, Software Requirements and Specifications and Internet Service
The student must have access to a computer (and the associated accessories and peripheral equipment), software and Internet service that satisfies the following specifications:

Minimum Requirements for Computer: Personal computer capable of running Windows XP or greater. 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended), 7GB of available hard-drive space (additional free space required during installation),1,024x768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video card, and DVD-RW drive.

Minimum Requirements for Software: Microsoft Office Professional 2003 (or higher), Internet Browser, and functional e-mail address with file attachment capabilities. The student will be required to obtain any software tools, plug-ins and/or applications identified in the course syllabus for any course in the program of study.

Minimum Requirements for Internet Service: Broadband connection such as cable or DSL.

The student is obligated for any expense associated with obtaining access to the above specified computer equipment, software and Internet service. No school-owned computer equipment, software or Internet service will be accessible to the student.

Class Size
Classes generally range in size from 15 to 25 students. Depending on the course subject matter, certain classes may contain a greater or lesser number of students.

Program Outline

To view a list of the course descriptions, please click here.

Unspecified General Education Courses**

52

CJ312

Correctional Operation and Administration+

4

CJ322

Criminal Law and Procedures+

4

CJ333

Constitutional Law+

4

CJ335

Victimology+

4

CJ354

Community Policing+

4

CJ355

Multicultural Law Enforcement+

4

CJ436

Substance Abuse and Crime in America+

4

CJ439

Juvenile Justice+

4

CJ445

Spatial Aspects of Crime+

4

CJ446

The Criminalistics of Computer Forensics+

4

CJ456

Controversial Issues in Law Enforcement+

4

CJ464

Homeland Security+

4

CJ475

Bachelors Thesis+

4