Program Description:

The Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Certificate program combines specialized criminal justice and general education coursework to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to compete for entry into the Massachusetts local law enforcement field. All of the credits earned in the certificate program can be applied to a Quinn Bill-eligible Associate in Science degree in criminal justice.

• Visit the Department Website for this program

Career and Transfer Outlook:

Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions with local law enforcement agencies. Credits earned in the certificate program can be used to qualify for the Police Career Pay Incentives Program under the Massachusetts Quinn Bill.

Helpful Hints:

No academic credit is awarded for life experience, or for military, police academy or other training.

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Certificate program are prepared to:

• Describe the functions and interrelationships of the major components of the criminal justice system;
• Utilize effective verbal, nonverbal and written communication;
• Demonstrate an understanding of ethical standards in the criminal justice system and apply these standards to practical situations;
• Describe the diversity of experiences and viewpoints within society and analyze how perceptions are affected by culture;
• Recognize a social problem, develop a problem-solving approach, formulate and evaluate effective responses;
• Apply the law to a set of facts and describe possible outcomes;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the enforcement of the law, the behavior of victims and the acts of the offender;
• Demonstrate computer proficiency in preparing, editing and saving documents, e-mail functions and the evaluation of Internet sites for reliability and validity of information.