This course of study is designed to prepare students for a career in law enforcement-related field (i.e., police officer, deputy sheriff, probation officer) and/or to transfer to Bachelor’s degree programs in Criminology, Criminal Justice, or related fields.

Certificate of Achievement Requirements

Complete all Department Requirements for the Certificate of Achievement with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better.  Candidates for a Certificate of Achievement are required to complete at least 20% of the department requirements through SBCC.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the American Criminal Justice system and the scope of responsibilities of the various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies beginning with arrest through parole.
2. Describe the system’s responsibilities to the community, factors in crime causation, the social implications of crime and communication barriers between the system and the community.
3. Articulate the differences between the major criminological theories of the causes of crime and how those theories relate to policies toward crime and criminal behavior.
4. Identify and describe the different methods used in measuring crime and criminal behavior patterns.
5. Identify and discuss the legal, social, and political contexts of crime and punishment.
6. Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills acquired in the social sciences in preparation for continuance of college-level education.

Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.

How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.