The Criminal Justice field offers many challenging career opportunities. Law Enforcement, Corrections, Judicial Services, and Forensic Laboratories are in need of qualified and trained personnel. Some of the duties in these career fields include investigations, traffic enforcement, evidence collection, inmate supervision, hunting regulation enforcement, correctional counseling, court services administration, and many more.

One of our programs strengths is the fact that many of our instructors are currently working or have worked in the Criminal Justice field. The ranks of our teaching staff have included a police chief, a chief deputy, a detective, criminal prosecutors, a former trooper, a correctional officer, and many other local Criminal Justice personnel. The Criminal Justice program can be taken as a diploma program when 30 core semester hours are completed or as an Associate of Applied Sciences or Associate of Arts degree when certain core semester hours are completed in accordance with each degree’s requirements.

Specific departmental requirements govern entry into all Criminal Justice careers. In the State of Iowa all certified law enforcement officials must first attend and successfully complete an accredited law enforcement academy. Iowa Central’s Criminal Justice Program will help prepare you for that challenge.

Indoor Simulated Firearms Range: Iowa Central Criminal Justice utilizes current state of the art Simunition firearms equipment that allows students the ability to learn basic firearms skills and tactics from qualified instructors on site. Students use two primary weapons systems: the Glock 17T and the DPMS AR-15T. These weapon systems utilize training marker rounds which are much like a “paintball” style round, but much more realistic. This training allows students the ability to experience practical hands-on skills that will help them in their future careers in the criminal justice system. These weapons systems are currently used by law enforcement and corrections training around the nation.

Iowa Law Enforcement Credit: Students who have graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy may receive up to 18 hours of Criminal Justice credit at Iowa Central Community College.

Program of Study: Criminal Justice is a two-year Associate of Applied Sciences Study Program offered at Iowa Central Community College. Students may enroll at any of the three centers for the general education portion of the program. The Criminal Justice program can be taken as a diploma program when 30 core semester hours are completed, or an Associate of Applied Science Study Degree program when 67 semester hours are completed.

Enrollment Date: Fall and/or Spring Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 30
Campus: Fort Dodge, Storm Lake, and Webster City
Department: Business
CIP#: 43.01070200