Criminal Justice Program Details

For 50+ years, DMACC has been a leader in providing criminal justice education programs. The DMACC Criminal Justice Degree Program is designed to provide a general criminal justice education that allows you to enter the workforce, move on to advanced training, or gain additional skills to enhance your career.

DMACC's Criminal Justice Faculty have years of proven experience and come from a variety of various backgrounds, including law enforcement agencies, corrections agencies, and judicial departments at local, state and federal levels. DMACC students receive and unmatched educational experience.

Choose Your Path

Go to Work

Many Criminal Justice careers require a two-year degree.

Transfer

Earn a degree and move on to a four-year college or university for advanced training.

Specialized Training Certificates

Enhance your Criminal Justice skills with these short-term training opportunities.

Employment in the criminal justice field is highly dependent upon one's character and background. Students who have a criminal history may complete the program of study, but it is NOT likely that they will find employment in the criminal justice field, and students with a criminal history may NOT be eligible for an internship, which is required for the AAS degree.

The Criminal Justice program prepares students for a career in such areas as law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, homeland security, loss prevention, and crime and intelligence analysis. DMACC also offers Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics through our IT department.

To earn a Criminal Justice AAS or Criminal Justice Transfer Major AA degree, a student must complete the course requirements and maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

Skills and Abilities Needed

  • Ability to get along with people
  • Possess maturity and emotional stability
  • Be in good physical health including sight and hearing
  • Self discipline to work with situations which may contradict your personal values
  • Ability to deal with emergencies
  • Function well under stress
  • Ability to function effectively in a political environment
  • Possess strong writing skills

Mission

The Criminal Justice Program's mission is to meet the needs of the citizens of the State of Iowa and their criminal justice agencies. This is accomplished by:

  • Providing students with a broad-based liberal arts education to help prepare them for the rigors of the criminal justice profession.
  • Preparing students for entry level positions in various criminal justice professions including law enforcement, corrections (including probation and parole), homeland security, crime analysis and private security/loss prevention.
  • Helping to establish partnerships between DMACC and area federal, state, county and municipal criminal justice agencies.
  • Providing a foundation for AA or AAS degree students to continue their education at 4-year academic institutions.
  • Enhancing knowledge about the criminal justice field.

Program Entry Requirements

Students may start fall semester, spring semester or summer term.

Earn College Credit in High School

High school students can earn Criminal Justice class credit at DMACC Career Academies at our Ames Center, Ankeny Campus, Newton Campus, Perry Center, and Southridge Center. Criminal Justice classes may also be offered at your high school. ​

Criminal Justice 

2024-2025 Program & Course Information

(Required courses indicated by program)

Course Fall Spring Summer
CRJ 100 - Intro to Criminal Justice (AA, AAS) In Person, Online (1st 8 wks,/15 wks) In Person, Online Online
CRJ 101 - Ethics in CJ (AA, AAS) In Person, Online (2nd 8 wks,/15 wks) In Person, Online Online
CRJ 107 - Survey of CJ Agencies (AAS) In Person, Online In Person, Online Online
CRJ 109 - Theories of Interviewing Online In Person  
CRJ 111 - Police & Society Online In Person  
CRJ 120 - Introduction to Corrections In Person Online  
CRJ 128 - Victimology Online In Person  
CRJ 141 - Criminal Investigation In Person Online  
CRJ 178 - E-Crime Investigative Methods (CSI) In Person Online Online
CRJ 196 - Crime Scene Investigation I (CSI) In Person Online  
CRJ 197 - Crime Scene Investigation II (CSI)   In Person Online
CRJ 198 - Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (CSI) Online In Person  
CRJ 200 - Criminology (AA, AAS) In Person, Online In Person, Online (2nd 8 wks,/15 wks) Online
CRJ 201 - Juvenile Delinquency (AA) In Person Online Online
CRJ 220 - Community-Based Corrections   Online  
CRJ 222 - Correctional Treatment Methods Online    
CRJ  237 - Criminal & Constitutional Law (AAS) In Person, Online In Person, Online  
CRJ 245 - Scientific Investigation (CSI) In Person   Online
CRJ 292 - Police Physical Fitness & Conditioning   In Person  
CRJ 293 - Criminal Justice Report Writing   Online  
CRJ 294 - CJ Communication Strategies (AAS, CSI) Online In Person Online
CRJ 297 - Death & Injury Investigations (CSI) Online In Person  
CRJ 301 - Introduction to Homeland Security (HS) In Person, Online (2nd 8 wks)    
CRJ 302 - Transportation & Border Security (HS)   Online (2nd 8 wks)  
CRJ 303 - Intelligence Analysis & Sec Mgmt (HS)   Online (1st 8 wks)  
CRJ 305 - Introduction to Cyber Terrorism     Online
CRJ 317 - White Collar Crime   Online  
CRJ 325 - Intro to Emergency Management (EM) Online (1st 8 wks)   Online
CRJ 326 - Emergency Planning (EM) Online (2nd 8 wks)    
CRJ 327 - Exercise Design & Evaluation (EM)   Online (1st 8 wks)  
CRJ 328 - Disaster Response & Recovery (EM)   Online (2nd 8 wks)  
CRJ 329 - Mitigation (EM)   Online (2nd 8 wks)  
CRJ 333 - CSI & Forensic Photography (CSI) In Person Online  
CRJ 932 - Internship (AAS) Online Online Online

Note: Any CRJ course not required can be taken as "Option 3" for the AAS degree or "Elective" for the AA degree.

The Criminal Justice AAS Degree is designed for students planning to seek employment in the criminal justice field after DMACC - 64 credits.

The Criminal Justice Transfer Major AA degree is designed for students transferring to Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to study Criminal Justice - 64 credits.

Students transferring to the University of Iowa or private institutions should speak with an Advisor or Program Chair.

AA = Associate of Arts (Transfer Major)

AAS = Associate of Applied Science

CSI = Crime Scene Investigation Certificate

EM = Emergency Management Certificate

HS = Homeland Security Certificate


Criminal Justice

2024-2025 Certificate Information

Individuals with/without education or experience can complete a certificate at the same time as the Criminal Justice AAS or AA degree. Certificate courses count in the "Option 3" category in the Criminal Justice AAS, or the "Elective" category in the Criminal Justice AA Transfer Major.

Crime Scene Investigation Certificate - 18 credits

  • Courses focus on forensic documentation, evidence collection and analysis, and procedural reporting and courtroom testimony

Emergency Management Certificate - 18 credits

  • Courses focus on the skills, responsibilities and processes for all levels of emergency management, both in public and private sectors.

Homeland Security Certificate - 9 credits

Courses focus on threats to our nation as it applies to man-made and natural events.

Please visit the Course Schedule for more information regarding meeting days, times and locations.

Law Enforcement

Federal Law Enforcement

State Law Enforcement

Local Law Enforcement

Specialized Law Enforcement

Corrections

Federal Corrections

State Corrections

State Corrections - Community-Based Corrections

Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Judiciary

Other Agencies

Additional Resources

Employment in the criminal justice field is highly dependent upon one's character and background. Students who have a criminal history may complete the program of study, but it is NOT likely that they will find employment in the criminal justice field, and students with a criminal history may NOT be eligible for an internship, which is required for the AAS degree.

Students in the Criminal Justice AAS Degree program must complete CRJ 932 Internship, as it is a requirement for the degree.

Please read all of the information on this page carefully.

Note for Current or Former Criminal Justice Practitioners
If you are currently employed or were previously employed in the criminal justice or related fields, you may be able eligible for the Credit for Prior Learning – Credits by Experience Process. Please contact the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) as soon as possible.

CRJ 932 Internship Course Eligibility Requirements

  • Students must have completed at least 24 credits in a Criminal Justice degree program; and
  • Minimum grade point average of 2.0.

CRJ 932 Internship Course Description
Students are expected to gain experience in a criminal justice-related agency under the supervision of professionals totaling 120 hours. Students will develop marketable skills and networks for future possible opportunities in the criminal justice system or related systems.  This course is graded pass/fail (click here for details in the DMACC Catalog). Instructor approval is required for registration.

The CRJ 932 Criminal Justice Internship course requires 120 hours of supervised internship at a criminal justice or criminal justice-related agency, earn successful evaluations by the internship agency supervisor, and successfully complete CRJ 932 Internship, a course offered in a web-blend format on Canvas. The internship hours must occur within the time period of the academic semester or term in which the student is enrolled in the course. The academic course supports and enhances the learning from the internship experience.

Important Reminders from the Program Chair

Students should contact the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) in the semester PRIOR to the when the internship is desired, so she can provide support or ideas to students and/or monitor progress to ensure the student can be registered successfully for the course in the desired semester. 

It is the student’s responsibility to secure an internship with an agency or organization within or related to the criminal justice field. Students are encouraged to use resources through DMACC Career Services and to find this expectation as practicing “real world” job-seeking skills. The student should also reflect upon their activities completed in CRJ 107 Survey of CJ Agencies course to help in this internship-seeking process.

Students are strongly encouraged to plan ahead, research, and apply for internships at agencies during the semester PRIOR to when they wish to register for and complete the internship class. 

Students should have the internship/agency agreement completed (see information below) and provided to the Program Chair by the end of the semester prior to when the student wishes to begin the internship and CRJ 932 class. 

Students cannot be registered for CRJ 932 any later than the end of the first week of the semester in which they wish to begin their internship.

Student Steps to Prepare for the CRJ 932 Internship Course and experience

  1. Contact the Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara)
    1. Let her know what agency and what semester you intend to obtain an internship; or
    2. Schedule an appointment with her if need of assistance or ideas in the internship-seeking process.
  2. Review course description document
    1. The Course Description and Requirement Statement document and save the document for reference later on your computer: CRJ 932 Course Description and Requirements Statement.
  3. Complete application document
    1. Email your completed Internship Application document to the Program Chair: CRJ 932 Internship Application.
  4. Find agency/apply/secure internship
    1. Contact a criminal justice-related organization and participate in their internship application process; or
    2. Contact the Program Chair if you need help or ideas.
  5. After securing an internship
    1. When the student is selected by an agency for an internship, email the Ethical and Professional Acknowledgement document and the Intern/Agency Agreement document  to the Program Chair: CRJ 932 Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgment; and CRJ 932 Intern and Agency Agreement.
  6. Registration
    1. After the Program Chair receives the Internship Application; Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgment; and Intern and Agency Agreement, she will notify the DMACC Registration Office to register the student for the CRJ 932 course with her instructor approval.
    2. The student is then registered for the CRJ 932 course and internship can occur.
    3. Registration can be completed during the course registration open in the term prior to the semester, or during the first week of the semester, in which the CRJ 932 course is desired. Students cannot be enrolled into a course after the first week of the semester or term.

Pro Tip:
When in doubt, with questions or concerns, students should reach out to the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) or their academic advisor. Don’t struggle alone.

REMEMBER:

Employment in the criminal justice field is highly dependent upon one's character and background. Many agencies will complete a background investigation as part of their internship application process. Students with criminal history (or other similar life experiences) may find limitations in their options for internships. The CRJ 932 Internship course is required for the AAS degree.  DMACC does not complete a background investigation as part of the internship course specifically nor as part of the Criminal Justice program generally. Please contact the Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) with questions.

Honors Program & Criminal Justice

Who? You! Stand up and stand out in this new initiative!

What? Click here for the DMACC Honors Program, and choo​se to focus on the discipline of criminal justice!

Why? The DMACC Honors Program is available for students with high academic standards in order to expand their boundaries and better prepare them to enter the workforce or continue on to a four-year college or university. The mission is to provide quality, student-centered education and opportunities for leadership, service, and research that challenge and stimulate students with high academic standards. Check out more benefits here!

Where? Honors seminar courses are offer online and in-person, and discipline courses are also offered online and in-person!

When? Apply today for admittance!

Questions? Contact honorsdirector@dmacc.edu with questions  or reach out to the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) today!


Criminal Justice Club

Why Join?

Students who join the Criminal Justice Club will gain unique knowledge and experiences through the club's collaboration with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Take a deeper look into the workings of the Criminal Justice field, while assisting the community through various events and activities​. ​

The club aims to take your education to the next level with hands-on learning experiences. Taking an active role within the club also helps you stand out when applying for a job in your chosen profession.

Expectations:

Students in the Criminal Justice Club are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the expectations of someone who aspires to become a professional criminal justice practitioner.

Contacts:

Cory McClure
Building 3W, Room 32
515-965-7334
clmcclure@dmacc.edu

Start Application

 


Additional Resources