CEC provides several opportunities for you to get both college and high school credit while also learning about the criminal justice system. The mission of the program is to create a rigorous learning environment that provides an authentic, real-world context.
Criminal Justice Students learn about the different areas of the criminal justice system through a problem-based approach with jail tours, guest speakers from the field, scenarios, case studies and other hands-on activities. Even if you aren’t interested in this career field, you learn about the roles of the different entities in a democratic society as well as the checks and balances.
Crime and Forensics Do you enjoy solving crimes and learning about the motivation behind criminal activity? This course is for you. This lab focused class will learn about a case from the first responding officer to trial with an emphasis on forensics such as blood spatter, fingerprinting, profiling and the identification of human remains.
What does Criminal Justice/Forensics offer?
Introduces a study of the agencies and processes involved in the criminal justice system
Includes an analysis of the roles and problems of the criminal justice system in a democratic society
Examines the complexity and multi-dimensional aspects of the law enforcement role and career, law enforcement discretion, values and culture in modern America
Covers the role and functions of law enforcement in occupational, social, racial and ethnic, political and organizational contexts
Spring semester focuses on basic procedures in crime scene management to include preparing initial reports and sketches
Includes processing evidence and related criminalistic procedures such as fingerprinting, blood spatter, forensic anthropology, and manner/cause of death
Covers interviewing suspects, witnesses and victims to include the recording of identifications and descriptions
Incorporates lab and lecture
Possible career choices in Criminal Justice/Forensics
Law Enforcement Officers
Lawyers
Probation and Parole Officers
Correctional Officers
Federal Agents
Crime Scene Investigators
Course Credits
Credits Per Semester: 1.5 units English credit depending on class taken
Concurrent Enrollment
CRJ 110-Introduction to Criminal Justice; 3
CRJ 125 Policing Systems: 3
CRJ 127 Crime Scene Investigation: 3
CRJ 145 Introduction to Correctional Process: 3
CRJ 205 Principles of Criminal Law: 3 (only offered at CCD, not at CEC)
COM 115 Public Speaking: 3 (offered outside of CJ classes)
Course Certifications Available
Law Enforcement certification through CCD. All courses listed above are included in this certification.
Currently attending a different school?
Talk to your school counselor about attending CEC part-time for career classes.
