Criminal Justice
(Associate in Science Degree
or Bachelor of Science Degree)
Instructors in Criminal Justice blend practical experience with the scholarship of the criminologist to prepare students for positions in the criminal justice field at local, state, and federal levels. Career opportunities at the federal level include positions with the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Secret Service; Department of Immigration and Naturalization; Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; Drug Enforcement Administration; National Security Agency; U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol, and Customs. Positions also exist in probation; parole; juvenile counseling; prosecution and public defenders’ offices; sheriffs’ departments; and in state, municipal, and county police departments. Private sector positions are available in insurance companies, social service agencies and private corporations.
Associate Degree
| Program of Study | Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Core Requirements | 24 | |
| Social Science Core |
|
9 |
| Major Requirements |
|
18 |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Baccalaureate Degree
| Program of Study | Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | 45 | |
| Criminal Justice Core |
|
27 |
| Criminal Justice Career Paths |
Students must take a minimum of 2 courses in their chosen path (one at the 300 or 400 level) and a minimum of one course from each of the other paths Path A: Administration of Justice
Path B: Public and Private Law Enforcement Path C: Corrections and Supervision |
12 |
| Criminal Justice Electives |
9 credits at the 300 or 400 level |
12 |
| Minor (not required) | 18 | |
| General Electives | 12-30 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Track
The Vermont Police Academy and Southern Vermont College have established a partnership to provide students in the College's Criminal Justice program the opportunity to complete the required training to become police officers in the State of Vermont while completing a bachelor degree at Southern Vermont College.
The program prepares students for careers as police officers in the State of Vermont. Graduates may also qualify for positions as police officers in other states but would need to complete additional training or requirements specific to the regulations in the state in which they are seeking to be certified as police officers.
Students complete 105 credits of the 120-credit Bachelor of Science program with a major in Criminal Justice in residence at SVC. Students recommended by SVC will be required to complete the qualification process and be accepted into the academy to be eligible to complete a degree in this track. Those students accepted into the program would enroll in 15 credits in Cj450 Law Enforcement Residency at SVC. Students take 15 credits in residency at the academy. Upon successful completion of police academy training and certification as a police officer by the State of Vermont they will be awarded 15 credits The 15 credits will be applied toward 6 credits of Cj-Related Electives, 3 credits of Related Electives and will fulfill the Cj400 and Cj401 requirements. A student who fails to complete police academy training will have to complete all requirements of the Cj major to receive a degree in Criminal Justice.
A student must have a total of 21 credits of course work at the 300/400 level in the major, Cj electives and related electives to complete a major in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Track.
A student must be recommended to the Vermont State Police Senior Training Coordinator for consideration for acceptance into an academy training class. In order to be eligible for recommendation, a student must be enrolled in a B.S. in Criminal Justice degree program in the Law Enforcement Track with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have completed a minimum of 60 credits with a minimum of 15 credits in Criminal Justice major courses. The number of seatsavailable to SVC students each year will be determined by the academy.
A student who is recommended must successfully complete all requirements for acceptance into the academy as specified by academy regulations. These include: a written test, physical fitness test, MMPI, background investigation and finger printing. Evaluation of students for acceptance, continuation and completion will be the sole responsibility of the academy.
Students are responsible for tuition, fees and cost of uniforms, equipment and training materials.
| Program of Study | Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Major Requirements |
|
45 |
| Minor (optional) | 18 | |
| General Electives | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
