Criminal Justice

Centralia College offers a comprehensive course of study designed to prepare students for a wide variety of careers in law enforcement, corrections, private investigations, or the social services.

This accelerated degree program can be completed in as little as 15 months of full-time study. Additionally, we provide a transfer program for students who are looking to further their academics and transfer to a four-year college.

Degree Options

There are two-degree options for students – an Associate in Applied Science with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. We also provide a certificate program for those looking to do Crime Scene Investigations.

Credits for Work Experience

For adults already working as police officers, deputy sheriffs, or state troopers, Centralia College is the only college or university in Washington to award 50 credits for that work experience in the Criminal Justice Crosswalk Degree program. The Crosswalk program allows law enforcement officers to fast-track their way to an associate degree by aligning the Centralia College curriculum with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Law Enforcement Academy and the Washington State Patrol Academy training programs.

Why Centralia College?

Centralia College students enjoy the option of taking either a traditional classroom or fully online courses. Classes are taught by a criminology Ph.D. graduate or a previous law enforcement professional who have extensive knowledge of our criminal justice system.

Career Possibilities

CC's curriculum is designed to academically prepare students for careers as peace officers with local or state law enforcement agencies or correctional institutions.

Associate in Applied Science Education Plan

Emphasis: Criminal Justice
Degree: Associate in Applied Science
Total Credits: 90-93

Notes for Students - Recommended Electives

SPAN& 121 Spanish I - 5 credits
PSYC& 100 General Psychology - 5 credits
SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology - 5 credits
BTEC 101 Keyboarding for Business - 3 credits
BTEC 221 Business Communications - 5 credits

First Year
Fall Quarter	CJ& 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice - 5 credits CJ 103 Constitutional Case Law - 5 credits WRT 105 Writing in the Workplace OR ENGL& 101 English Composition I - 5 credits Criminal Justice Elective - 5 credits
Winter Quarter	CJ 104 Introduction to Law Enforcement - 5 credits CJ 107 Criminal Procedures - 5 credits Criminal Justice Elective - 5 credits
Spring Quarter	CJ 109 Community Policing - 5 credits CJ& 110 Criminal Law - 5 credits CJ 111 Criminal Justice Ethics - 5 credits Quantitative Skills Distribution - 5 credits
Summer Quarter	CJ& 106 Juvenile Justice - 5 credits CJ& 112 Criminology - 5 credits CJ 204 Reports, Forms, & Affidavits - 5 credits Criminal Justice Elective - 5 credits

Second Year
Fall Quarter	HR 110 Human Relations in the Workplace - 5 credits Health and Fitness Distribution - 3 credits Criminal Justice Elective - 5 credits General Education Elective - 2-5 credits

Associate in Arts Education Plan

Degree: Associate in Arts
Emphasis: Criminal Justice

Note for Students

The Criminal Justice emphasis can be tailored to meet both the career path objectives of the individual and coordinate planning to a four year school. An advisor can provide additional information on this.

First Year
Fall Quarter	CJ& 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice - 5 credits CJ 105 Introduction to Corrections - 5 credits ENGL& 101 English Composition I - 5 credits
Winter Quarter	CJ 104 Introduction to Law Enforcement - 5 credits ENGL& 102 Composition II - 5 credits MATH& 107 Math in Society OR MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics - 5 credits
Spring Quarter	CJ& 110 Criminal Law - 5 credits Humanities Distribution - 5 credits Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits
Summer Quarter	CJ& 106 Juvenile Justice - 5 credits CJ& 112 Criminology - 5 credits Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits

Second Year
Fall Quarter	Social Science Distribution - 5 credits Humanities Distribution - 5 credits POLS& 202 American Government - 5 credits
Winter Quarter	PHIL 103 Introduction to Ethics - 5 credits Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits Social Science Distribution - 5 credits Health and Fitness Distribution - 3 credits

Certificate in Criminal Investigation Education Plan

Certificate in Criminal Investigation

Degree: Certificate of Proficiency
Emphasis: Criminal Investigation
Total Credits: 55

Core Classes	Related Instruction
CJ 126 Homicide Investigation - 5 credits CJ 129 Introduction to Victimology - 5 credits CJ 130 Domestic Violence & Abuse - 5 credits CJ 223 Felony Investigations - 5 credits CJ 224 Criminal Interviews & Interrogation - 5 credits CJ 228 Crime Scene Photography - 5 credits CJ& 240 Introduction to Forensic Science - 5 credits	BTEC 120 Applied Business Math - 5 credits WRT 105 Writing in the Workplace - 5 credits HR 110 Human Relations in the Workplace - 5 credits

Faculty Spotlight - Dr. Tionna Miller

Dr. Tionna Miller

Dr. Tionna Miller received both her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and her master’s in Social Work from the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus. She later received her doctorate degree in Criminology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her research and expertise are in Corrections, Re-entry, Mass Incarceration, Alternatives to Incarceration, Mental Health for Justice Involved Individuals, Social Work within Policing, and Community Policing.

Faculty Spotlight - Michael McFadden

Michael McFadden

Michael McFadden spent 15 years in Law Enforcement as a Patrol Officer, Instructor, K9 Officer, Field Training Officer-Mentor (FTO), and Corrections Officer. He has a teaching/instructor platform in Law Enforcement. He medically retired in October 2018 due to injury. He began pursuing his master’s degree in Criminal Justice in August 2019 and completed that degree in December 2020. He currently teaches Criminal Justice at both Centralia College and Everett Community College. He teaches in online modalities and has been involved in student advising and curriculum development. He teaches various courses, from Criminology to Criminal Law. He was born and raised in South Carolina and served in the U.S Marine Corps and Coast Guard for almost 8 years. He grew up in a culturally and economically challenging area in South Carolina and his background, experiences, education, and training give him a unique perspective.

Contact

Dr. Tionna Miller
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
TransAlta Commons, Room 327
360-623-8587
Email Dr. Tionna Miller