The Career
The Oxford University Press defines criminal justice as the “system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses.” Careers follow the three main branches of this field: police, courts and corrections.
They include law enforcement, forensic science, law, private security and social work. ECC students who complete their associate degree in criminal justice are prepared to enter an undergraduate major leading to training in these areas.
Employment Opportunities
More specifically, criminal justice positions include:
- Attorney
- Bailiff
- Conservation Officer, Game Warden or Park Ranger
- Correctional Counselor
- Court Clerk
- Criminal Justice Educator
- Detective or Private Investigator
- Federal Agent or Inspector
- Forensic Scientist or Technician
- Judge, Mediator or Hearing Officer
- Juvenile Probation or Correctional Officer
- Legal Assistant or Researcher
- Police Officer or Sheriff
- Social Worker
Professional Traits
Those pursuing a career in criminal justice should:
- Have a high standard of ethics
- Be concerned about the public’s safety and well-being
- Be emotionally stable enough to cope with suffering, crime, emergencies and other on-the-job stressors
- Have superior communication, problem-solving and analytical skills
The Program
Students at East Central College who express an interest in a criminal justice profession have several course options and electives available. Assuming appropriate placement scores, it is a two-year transfer degree, with flexibility to customize the program to the student’s chosen career.
Criminal justice consists of the 43-credit hour general education core plus the necessary electives in constitutional law, corrections, criminal law and procedure, sociology and psychology. The academic program’s strong social science emphasis readies students to complete a bachelor’s degree in pre-law, criminal justice, social work, human services or a related field. In addition, ECC provides various student activities, organizations and practicum experiences related to the discipline.
Admissions Requirements
Students must have completed:
- High school diploma or the equivalent (documentation sent to the registration office)
- Application for admission
- A placement test as specified by the college (please note: some coursework requires minimum placement results)
Transfer Options
Many of the credits, particularly the general education electives earned with this degree, are accepted as transfer credits by four-year colleges and universities. These decisions are made solely by the bachelor degree-granting institution, not ECC.
Students seeking to transfer should communicate often with their faculty advisors and the East Central College transfer advisor. They should also make early contact with the four-year institution of their choice regarding the transferability of ECC credits and coursework.
Accreditation
East Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504
800-621-7440
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