This course of study is designed to prepare students for a career in law (i.e. legal assistant, court reporter) or a law enforcement-related field and/or to transfer to Bachelor’s degree programs in Law, Criminal Justice or related fields and/or to qualify for admission to law school.

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. Articulate the system’s objectives, the crime problem, and role expectations of criminal justice personnel, and describe the various agencies and each subsystem within the system.
3. Analyze legal concepts and make rational decisions about case processing. Demonstrate knowledge of the rules of evidence, legal definitions, and concepts of evidentiary law. Apply basic investigative proficiencies.
4. Analyze the role of the Constitution and judiciary in shaping society, the criminal justice system, and our system of government.
5. Examine the issues of judicial review and incorporation of the Bill of Rights and evaluate and assess the effect of the political process on Supreme Court interpretations.
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.