Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

Interested in crime, and society’s response to it?

Consider the field of Criminal Justice: work in law enforcement, security, corrections, and court administration.

Criminal justice can be defined as the system through which crimes and criminals are identified, apprehended, judged, and punished. Broadly speaking it includes law enforcement, the courts, and corrections, but may also include specializations such as juvenile justice, crime scene investigation, cyber crime, private investigation and more.

Brookdale’s two-year degree program is both a transfer and a career program – our graduates can find employment or go on to earn their B. A. degree.

Included among our study options are a specialization in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Under a new agreement you may also transfer your Brookdale-earned Social Sciences A. A. degree (Criminal Justice option) to Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences in New Brunswick.

What’s the employment outlook?

According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the field is generally a growing one with excellent starting salaries, but impossible to generalize here as there are so many specializations within it. For instance:

• Police and detectives
• Private investigators
• Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
• Security officers and gaming surveillance
• Information security analysts

Criminal Justice Program Inquiry

Criminal Justice Degrees and Certificates

Brookdale offers the following degrees and certificates in Criminal Justice; click on any degree to read more in our online catalog.

Criminal Justice Program, A.S.

The Criminal Justice program is both a transfer and a career program. Students can go on to earn a B.A. Degree or take courses in an effort to find employment. The study of criminal justice provides an opportunity to learn about issues and problems in society’s response to crime. Coursework also seeks to provide particular career-oriented skills. Career opportunities exist in law enforcement, court administration, corrections and security.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Criminal Justice Option, Social Sciences, A.A.

This option is designed specifically for students seeking to transfer to Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences in New Brunswick. The required coursework in this new AA option will transfer seamlessly to Rutgers. Students seeking to complete a degree in criminal justice and transfer to four-year institutions other than Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences should select the Criminal Justice A.S. program.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Criminal Justice Program, Corrections Option, A.S.

The Corrections Option is aimed at providing students with the skills and knowledge to enter a career in institutional or community-based corrections. The tremendous growth of prisons and the prison population has resulted in career opportunities in corrections for criminal justice majors. A similar expansion of community-based corrections has occurred to stem the prison building boom and reduce the cost of institutional corrections. Career opportunities in community-based corrections provide an opportunity to incorporate psychological and sociological course work in the criminal justice program. The Corrections Option is designed to provide alternative curricula for students who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Because transfer requirements vary, students should identify transfer schools as early as possible and work closely with counselors to insure selecting appropriate courses for smooth transfer.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Criminal Justice, Academic Credt Certificate

The Criminal Justice Academic Credit Certificate is designed for individuals seeking a career in law enforcement and public safety. This certificate provides an understanding of the criminal justice systems and protocols. Students will develop career oriented skills in physical fitness and emergency response. Students completing the certificate may apply credits toward the Criminal Justice A.S. program.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program, A.S.

The Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program will prepare students to continue their education to earn a B.S. degree or to enter the workforce. Students in the program learn about issues and problems in society’s response to terrorism and emergency situations. Coursework provides particular career-oriented skills for career opportunities in courtrooms, Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), homeland security, emergency management, border patrol and national corporate security.

Link to prerequisites and requirements 

Legal & Social Justice Academic Certificate of Achievement

This program presents an interdisciplinary examination of institutions, policies, society, and culture through a theoretical lens focusing on issues of culture, justice, and democracy. The primary aim of this program is to introduce students to the foundational theories of justice by critically exploring how conceptions of justice have developed to influence society, politics, the law, and the criminal justice system. Students will be challenged to develop a general knowledge of the many topics and questions found in the issues of legal and social justice.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Transfer Opportunities

Transfer Agreements by Academic Program: Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between Brookdale and other colleges and universities. These agreements define how the courses you complete at Brookdale will apply to your future bachelor’s degree when you transfer into a baccalaureate program.

Brookdale Community College is an Equal Opportunity educational institution. In order to promote this goal, the College makes positive efforts to ensure equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability or veteran status.