Students who major in criminal justice will explore all aspects of crime, the law
and the justice system. As a criminal justice major, you will deepen your understanding
of police departments and other law enforcement agencies. Most criminal justice majors
become interdisciplinary majors, meaning you should also be prepared to take courses
in psychology, sociology and public administration.
Criminal justice majors at Mid-Plains Community College have numerous options. One
career path might only require a successfully completed Associate’s degree while others
might require a transfer of their Associate’s degree and successfully completed course
credits into a Bachelor’s degree offered at a four-year college or university.
Almost all students majoring in this field are required to take an introductory course
in criminal justice. This is typically a large lecture class covering a little bit
of every subject taught in undergraduate programs in the field. These topics include
the causes of crime, policing styles, courts, and probation and parole.
A criminal justice major is typically interested in all aspects of the law, such as
the motivation behind criminal behavior and the way law enforcement agencies operate.
If you want to serve society and you have good people skills, this may be the major
for you. The careers associated with those who have criminal justice degrees include
counselor, probation officer, or a position one of the varied departments utilizing
law enforcement officers
If you wish to help make our communities safer, combat the threat of terrorism, work with those who are incarcerated or who are being rehabilitated, then you might consider a career in criminal justice.
- Police Officer
- Probation Officer
- Parole Officer
- Criminal Profiler
- Crime Scene
- Investigator
- Corrections Officer
- Fish and Game Warden
- Private Investigator
- Border Patrol Agent
- Forensic Analyst
- FBI Agent
- Attorney
- County Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff
- State Trooper
- Federal Air Marshal
- CIA Agent
Students pursuing a criminal justice concentration at MPCC may pursue either an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of General Studies degree.
Students planning on pursuing a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Criminal Justice should enroll in either the Associate of Arts or the Associate of Science degree program. If the student plans on pursuing work in the Criminal Justice field after completion of the Associate’s degree, the Associate of General Studies degree would be a viable option.
The Criminal Justice program at MPCC is primarily theory oriented, with the overall objective being an overview of the entire Criminal Justice field including courses such as Police & Society, Criminology, Juvenile Justice, Homeland Security, Introduction to Corrections, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Law, and Rules of Evidence.
Sheri Hink-Wagner
Criminal Justice Instructor
McCook Campus
hinkwagners@mpcc.edu
308-345-8155
