Colorado Christian University has officially launched its new and
distinctive
Criminal
Justice degree program. CCU is now offering a
Criminal Justice
associate degree in addition to a new certificate and bachelor's degree.
The course of study provides educational opportunities in one of the nation's
fastest growing fields.
The entire program is aimed at working
adults and offered online as well as at a variety of locations throughout
Colorado. Its unique tiered-structure presents students with continual
academic success and workplace improvement as they progress from the
certificate, to associate, to bachelor's level. With five-week classes taken
one at a time, adult students have a program specifically designed for their
learning style: intensive classes available in the evenings or online for men
and women juggling school, family, and work.
"One of the things
that I thought was very important was being able to provide a path for our
students to get placed into the field sooner and have the ability to earn more
income at multiple steps along the way," said Assistant Vice President of
Enrollment and Marketing Chuck Klijewski, who works with College of Adult and
Graduate Students at CCU. "In essence, every six months to a year students
have the potential to earn more money and get a new placement in their
job."
CCU's program employs criminal justice experts who are active
in the field. Learning from professionals such as attorneys or police
captains, students gain theoretical groundwork and practical know-how. Plus,
with online classes, students can enroll in the program whether they are in
Alabama or Afghanistan.
The program is structured to easily accept
transfer credits -- to better meet the needs of an adult population. The
admissions office for CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies will accept
up to 90 credit hours from an outside institution, and any student with an
associate degree from a Colorado state community college is guaranteed
admission. Students can drop into the tiered program at any level.
This allows students to continually advance vocationally and financially and
to better exercise their values as they take on more responsibility. The
Criminal Justice program was developed at the directive of CCU President
William Armstrong, who saw it as a potential positive force in society. Said
President Armstrong, "Criminal justice is one of the most consequential issues
of our time. The need to enforce our laws with fairness, justice and
professional skill is a high priority for our state and the nation. This new
major will help to prepare outstanding men and women for a very rewarding
career in this important field."
Since large populations in law
enforcement, the judicial system, and correctional facilities possess some
level of faith and a belief in creating a better society, instructors at CCU
hope students can capture that same vision. Rather than students asking how
many criminals they put away, the instructors want them to ask how they are
preventing members of our society from continuing down destructive paths and
how they are making a difference in the lives of those around them.