Criminal Justice

Why Criminal Justice?

Law enforcement professionals provide important peacekeeping functions. They also prevent crimes, investigate complaints, apprehend and assist in the prosecution of violators. Practitioners must work effectively with all criminal justice agencies, have knowledge of the court process and desire to protect the public.

With further education, you can work at the local, state and federal levels in fields such as law enforcement at the local, state and federal level, probation and parole, law, homeland security and child welfare system among others.

Program Details

Associate in Arts

Format
On Campus, Online, Hybrid
In-District Tuition
$169/credit hour
Out-of-District Tuition
$337/credit hour
Degree
View Degree
Average Time to Complete
2 years
Financial Options
Financial Aid is available.

Program Highlights

Learn to serve and protect. Law enforcement professionals provide important peacekeeping functions. They also prevent crimes, investigate complaints, apprehend and assist in the prosecution of violators. Through your criminal justice degree and certificate classes at HCC, you will learn about the array of career options and prepare for the written and oral testing required for employment in the field. Possible opportunities include:

  • Municipal police departments
  • County sheriff's departments
  • State and federal agencies
  • Probation or parole
  • Juvenile justice casework
  • Corrections facilities
  • Private investigative services
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Courses

  • CRJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice
    • Major Code: CRJ 901
  • CRJ 200: Introduction to Corrections
    • Major Code: CRJ 911
  • CRJ 201: Introduction to Criminology
    • Major Code: CRJ 912
  • CRJ 202: Policing in America
  • CRJ 204: Criminal Law
  • CRJ 206: Criminal Investigations
  • CRJ 215: Juvenile Justice System
    • Major Code: CRJ 914
  • CRJ 222: Police/Community Relations
  • CRJ 224: Probation and Parole
  • CRJ 296: Special Topics in Criminal Justice
  • CRJ 299: Internship in Criminal Justice

Degree - Associate in Arts

Within our Associate in Arts degree, there may be specific courses that are recommended for your major at your chosen transfer school. It’s important to meet with an academic advisor each semester to ensure that the correct coursework is taken, while earning your degree.

Even if your specific concentration or major is not listed on our application or program pages, academic advisors can help ensure you are taking the right coursework for your chosen major.

Learn more about the general education requirements for an Associate in Arts. 

Transfer Guide

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) 

Heartland Community College is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide transfer agreement among more than 100 colleges and universities in Illinois. IAI courses have been approved for transfer to an Illinois public university. For more information about the Illinois Articulation Initiative, please visit the IAI website. 

General Education Core Curriculum Requirement

For completion of the Associate in Arts degree, you will need to complete a minimum of 37 general education core curriculum (GECC) hours, within 7 categories, as part of the 60-credit hour degree. Please click on the category to view what courses Heartland has to offer within each of the required categories.

View what courses Heartland has to offer within each of the required categories:
Communications 
Fine Arts 
Humanities 
Life Sciences 
Mathematics 
Physical Sciences 
Social & Behavioral Sciences

Careers

Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is expected to grow by 18% from 2010 to 2020. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow by 7% during that same period. Continued demand for public safety will lead to new openings for officers in local departments. However, both state and federal jobs may be more competitive. *

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition

The U.S. Department of Education's gainful employment regulations require disclosure of certain program information to students and prospective students.

Please review the employment information pertaining to your degree or certificate by selecting your intended program at the Heartland Community College Career Coach.

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions visit the U.S Department of Education College Scorecard site.

Internships

CRJ 299: Internship in Criminal Justice

Prerequisite(s)

  • Completion of CRJ 101 with a grade of C or better

AND

  • Completion of ENGL 101 and COMM 101 with grades of C or better

AND

  • Completion of 9 credit hours in criminal justice courses

OR

  • Permission of instructor

CRJ 299 is an optional addition to the Criminal Justice program at Heartland that sets students above the graduation requirements. Internships in Criminal Justice help students transition and gain hands-on experience in the field.

Students can earn anywhere from 1 to 6 credit hours, with 75 hours of work per credit at their internship site. Standard tuition applies.

New students interested in a Criminal Justice internship can expect to be eligible for enrollment by their second semester or later.

Current students who have met the prerequisites should contact their advisor to enroll.


Internship Opportunities:

  • Municipal, county, and state law enforcement
  • State's Attorneys and Public Defender offices
  • Correctional facilities (youth centers, jails, prisons)
  • Family and social services organizations
  • Illinois Prison Project and Illinois Innocence Project
  • Behavioral health and human services organizations

For more information about the Criminal Justice program and internships, please contact:

Alumni Stories

My internship was at The Immigration Project. My career path is to become an immigration lawyer, so this internship and experience has definitely gotten me closer and a lot more passionate about towards this career."
Samantha

Contact Information

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Division Office

ICB 2000 & 2100
1500 W Raab Road
Normal, IL 61761

Phone: 309-268-8620

Email: LASS Office