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Criminal Justice

Associate Degree Program

The Criminal Justice program prepares students for positions in local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies as well as private agencies. Career areas available to graduates are law enforcement and related services, corrections, counseling, probation, and parole. This program provides students the foundation for transfer to public and private four-year in-state colleges and universities to complete requirements for a bachelor's degree.

Offered at the following location(s): Dover, Georgetown, Stanton

What You Can Do

In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for positions such as:

  • State/Municipal/Town Police Officer
  • Fish & Wildlife Enforcement 
  • Delaware River and Bay Authority Law Enforcement
  • Correctional Officer
  • Criminal Justice Case Manager
  • Work in Residential Treatment Facilities

What You Will Learn

Program Graduate Competencies

The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and homeland security.
  2. Analyze causes of adult and juvenile crime.
  3. Explain the importance of professionalism, ethics, and critical thinking skills in the field of criminal justice.
  4. Apply skills needed in investigation, report writing, and crisis intervention.
  5. Demonstrate communication skills appropriate to criminal justice, including cultural competence and trauma-informed care.

Core Curriculum Competencies

The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:

  1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
  2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
  3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
  4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
  5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
  6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Pathway to Graduation

Semester 1

Number Course Title Credits
First Year Seminar1
Introduction to Criminal and Social Justice3
Communication and Cultural Awareness in Criminal Justice3
Quantitative Reasoning3
Composition I3
Interpersonal Communications and Relations3

Semester 2

Number Course Title Credits
Composition II3
Sociology3
Criminal Law3
Corrections in America3
Criminal Judiciary3

Semester 3

Number Course Title Credits
Introduction to Law Enforcement and Forensics3
Introduction to Homeland Security and Emergency Management3
Forensic Psychology3
Investigation and Report Writing3
Introduction to Trauma and Crisis Intervention3

Semester 4

Number Course Title Credits
Ethics in Criminal Justice3
Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure3
Juvenile Justice3
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Law Enforcement Practicum8
Or
Criminal Justice Internship6
Or
ElectiveProgram Elective3
And
ElectiveProgram Elective3

OR Select two (2) program electives in lieu of CRJ 237 or CRJ 290:

Number Course Title Credits
Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice3
Mental Health and Criminal Justice3
Introduction to Terrorism3

To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 61 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).

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Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree?

This is a program that enables you to complete your associate degree and then transfer to a four-year degree program as a junior. See a program advisor for details!

Alumni | Cpl. Travis Shockley

Campus-Specific Program Information
Contact Dover

Wilbert Bordley
Department Chair, Instructor and Program Advisor
wbordley@dtcc.edu
(302) 857-1742

Contact Georgetown:

Stacie Spicer
Department Chair, Instructor and Program Advisor
sspicer3@dtcc.edu
(302) 259-6502

Contact Stanton

Jody Huber
Department Chair, Instructor and Program Advisor
jhuber1@dtcc.edu
(302) 292-3849

This program is offered at the Dover, Georgetown and Stanton campuses.