Forget what you’ve seen on television. What real people working in criminal justice do is far more important than any make-believe show. Do you want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others? Investigate a career in Criminal Justice.

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Criminal justice

Why study criminal justice?

Gain strong skills in criminal justice through course work in law enforcement, psychology, sociology, and communication skills. You will receive an on-the-job internship with one of several approved criminal justice agencies; some of these internships are paid. If you are interested in a career in criminal justice, Parkland is a great place to start.

At Parkland, you'll have the advantage of small class sizes, taught by master faculty—never teaching assistants. Your success is our priority.

Classes

Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJS 101): History, development, philosophy, and constitutional aspects of the criminal justice system.

Police Administration and Operations (CJS 102): Explores the proactive approach to police management with an emphasis on patrol functions.

Introduction to Corrections (CJS 104): Overview of the U.S. correctional system including its history, philosophy, administration, and administration.

Juvenile Delinquency (CJS 127): Examines the various facets of the juvenile delinquency system from legal and sociocultural perspectives.

Criminal Law and Procedures I (CJS 203) and Criminal Law and Procedures II (CJS 204): Surveys criminal procedure and evidence including criminal responsibility and legal rights.

Traffic Law Enforcement and Administration (CJS 207): Development, purpose, enforcement, and administration of traffic law.

Criminal Investigation (CJS 209): Theory and practice of investigations from crime scene to courtroom.

Introduction to Security (CJS 115): Introduction to the security industry, including history, terminology, and technology use. Survey of the business. Emphasis on licensing and training standards, private security law, loss prevention, investigative security, and surveillance. Exploration of security industry career opportunities including homeland security.

Internship and Seminar (CJS 218): Off-campus work experience in which students conduct research in their field of interest.

Community Policing and Problem Solving (CJS 221): Examines the history and evolution of community policing along with proactive problem-solving versus reactive incident-driving policing.

Issues in Criminal Justice (CJS 225): Study of specific criminal justice topics and problems in modern American society.

International Field Experience in Criminal Justice (CJS 292): Explores the criminal justice systems of other countries as well as different governmental policies and cultural influences on criminal justice.

Will my classes transfer?

Parkland College classes with an even middle digit (such as ENG 101, MAT 128, and BIO 141) are accepted for transfer as general education classes, major courses, or electives as determined by the transfer institution.

For more information about transferring, speak with an academic advisor and visit the Parkland Course Matrix.