The Blue Ridge criminal justice degree provides students with the abilities to begin or build upon a career in criminal justice or law enforcement. Our specialized program allows students to choose among three career tracks: law enforcement and corrections, homeland security, or forensic science. Each course of study provides students with training to succeed professionally, or the option to further your career by transferring to a four-year college.
Program Overview
As the Criminal Justice field has experienced strong and rapid growth in the past decade, it is anticipated that the need for skilled workers will continue to increase. Students completing the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice will:
- Understand and be able to function within federal and state legal systems.
- Possess the basic skills of writing, reading for information, critical thinking, and applied mathematics necessary to be successful in the Criminal Justice field.
- Successfully complete entry level or pre-employment examinations for law enforcement agencies and correctional institutions.
- Successfully obtain employment or promotion within the criminal justice field including but not limited to:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Correctional institutions
- Court systems
- Private security agencies
Students in the Criminal Justice Program are subject to the Community and Technical College’s requirements for admissions, basic skills testing, and appropriate course placement, including mandated remedial courses, which are not counted toward completion of the program. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College requirements regarding academic standards, student conduct, and graduation procedures also apply.
Career Opportunities
Criminal justice is a growing field and educated professionals are in high demand. Graduates may pursue employment in federal or state corrections, juvenile detention facilities, local or state police units, medical/crime labs, or in retail security/loss prevention. Entry-level salaries in the four state area are estimated at $24,000–$28,000 in corrections/victim services and $35,000 in law enforcement.
Note: All salary estimations are based on current position and educational trends. Blue Ridge and The School of Professional Studies and University Transfer cannot guarantee that the projections given will be the salaries students or graduates will ultimately receive.
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