Program Description

The Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree program is for learners who are passionate about protecting and serving their community. A variety of hands-on learning opportunities are infused with theory throughout this program. Learners will have the opportunity to obtain one of two certifications that are recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Justice in either Corrections or Juvenile Supervision.

Approximate Cost

$9,906
Tuition: $9646 , Books: $260

Starting Salary

$31,200–$41,163
Average, based on the NTC Graduate Outcomes Report

Financial Aid

Available

Program Overview Video

Get Started

The application takes just a few minutes to complete.

Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

70-80%
at Wausau
20-30%
at Online

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Interact with others
  • Communicate effectively
  • Conduct investigations
  • Demonstrate professionalism
  • Manage emergencies
  • Think critically

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Corrections Officer
  • Park Ranger
  • Conservation Warden
  • Security Officer
  • Probation / Parole
  • Police Officer
  • Sheriff's Deputy

Courses

The Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree is a 61 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

First Term

CAREERS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 3.00
CURRENT EVENTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3.00
COMMUNICATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS 3.00
COLLEGE 101 1.00
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 3.00
ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 3.00
PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN RELATIONS 3.00
INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY 3.00

Second Term

CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM 3.00
REPORT DOCUMENTATION 3.00
JUVENILE JUSTICE AND JURISDICTION 2.00
COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 3.00
INTRO TO SOCIOLOGY 3.00

Third Term

PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW 3.00
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION 3.00
TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION 3.00
ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3.00
SPEECH 3.00
MARRIAGE & FAMILY 3.00
INTRODUCTION TO DIVERSITY STUDIES 3.00

Fourth Term

POLICE ETHICS 2.00
PATROL PROCEDURES 2.00
INTERVIEWS/INTERROGATIONS 3.00
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PORTFOLIO 2.00
PROFESSIONAL FITNESS 1.00
POLICE AND YOUR COMMUNITY 3.00
ELECTIVE 3.00

* College 101 (10-890-165) is not part of the program credit requirements but is a College Requirement for graduation that must be passed with a “C” or better.

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Transfer Information

You can continue your education to earn a four-year degree in a variety of ways.

Program Transfer

The following transfer guides, executed in partnership with post-secondary institutions, are based on agreements that allow you to continue your program at another college.

School Name Degree Name
American Public University B.A. in Criminal Justice, Entrepreneurship Con.
American Public University B.A. in Criminal Justice, Gen. Concentration
American Public University B.A. in Criminal Justice, Maritime Law Concentration
American Public University B.A. in Criminal Justice, Organizational Law Enforcement Con.
Bellevue University Online Emergency Management
Marian University Criminal Justice
Purdue University Global Criminal Justice
Rasmussen College Criminal Justice
University of Arizona Global Campus Social and Criminal Justice
Upper Iowa University Criminal Justice
Upper Iowa University Criminal Justice Homeland Security Emphasis
Upper Iowa University Public Administration
UW Eau Claire B.A in Criminal Justice
UW Oshkosh B.S. in Human Services Leadership
UW Oshkosh BAS in Public Safety
UW Parkside Criminal Justice
UW Platteville Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
UW Whitewater Criminology

General Transfer

All associate degrees transfer to a variety of programs at other partner colleges to give you the opportunity to continue your education in other areas of study.

View all transfer guides

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

Before you apply, you should know

The optional Corrections and/or Juvenile Supervision certification tracks of this program may require a Criminal Background Check and/or Health Record. Acceptance to Northcentral Technical College will not be denied based on a criminal background or health record, however, a check may be required for placement at clinical sites or field experiences.

Fill out our application

The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. There is no fee to apply.

Apply Now

Then, submit one of the following

Documentation can be sent via email to admissions@ntc.edu, via mail, addressed to: Northcentral Technical College, ATTN: Admissions, 1000 W. Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401, or delivered in person to any NTC campus.

  • High school transcript indicating a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above. Contact the high school you attended if you do not have a copy of your transcript.
  • ACT composite score of 18 or above. Request an ACT College Report from ACT or contact the high school you graduated from if you do not have a copy on hand.
  • Accuplacer scores. Score requirements vary by program and version of the Accuplacer test that was taken. For more details, please contact Admissions. If you did not take the Accuplacer at NTC, contact the college at which you took it to obtain a copy of your scores.
  • College transcript indicating a cumulative GPA of 2.5 over a minimum of 12 credits, earned at a single college.

If you do not meet any one of the above criteria, don’t worry, complete the application anyway and we will contact you to discuss your options.

What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be mailed to you.