Employment opportunities in the criminal justice field are expected to increase at a rate faster than average through the year 2010. The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that a more security conscious society coupled with concerns about terrorism and drug-related crimes will influence this increased demand. Through the Criminal Justice Degree at FLCC, you can gain the academic knowledge and field experience needed for this highly demanding field and positions such as police officers, security guards, detectives, corrections officers, and special agents.

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Criminal Justice at Finger Lakes Community College is designed to provide you with the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for statutory, procedural, and constitutional law. You will learn to communicate effectively with professionals in criminal justice and related agencies.

If you are interested in pursuing a baccalaureate degree in criminal justice at a four-year institution, the program is designed to focus on specific subject areas such as corrections, police science, probation or probation assistant, and youth and/or community service.

Courses in this degree program include criminal law, laws of evidence, family court, issues in constitutional law, juvenile justice, current practices in corrections, and criminology, to name a few.

A certificate in Criminal Justice provides you with the opportunity to initially pursue studies in the law enforcement field and is fully transferable to the two-year degree program.

In addition, the College offers honors courses that provide enhanced educational experiences for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in honors courses is open to qualified students enrolled in this degree program, as well as all other qualified FLCC students. Successful completion of honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.

The Cooperative Education Internship curriculum in the Criminal Justice program is designed to supplement and expand the theoretical and doctrinal concepts delivered in the classroom at locations such as the Rochester Police Department, New York State Police Department, District Attorney's Offices in Ontario and Wayne Counties and local County Sheriff's Departments.

Graduates from the program have become members of police departments in New York City, Rochester, and Washington, D.C., as well as County Sheriff's Departments, New York State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshall, and the United States Secret Service. They also obtain employment in the areas of security, courts, and probation.

Those transferring to four-year institutions in criminal justice have found success at SUNY College at Brockport, Rochester Institute of Technology, Roberts Wesleyan College, and John Jay College, to name a few.*

In the criminal justice field, salary levels vary greatly depending on experience, education, rank, specialty, and geographic region. The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports average annual salaries for police and sheriff’s patrol officers as approximately $39,000 and for correctional officers as approximately $31,000.

* This is a sampling of some of the four-year colleges and universities to which our students have transferred. Please consult your advisor or the Center for Advisement and Personal Development for a complete listing of transfer agreements between Finger Lakes Community College and four-year institutions.

Students in the Criminal Justice degree program meeting specific criteria may qualify for a number of scholarships including the Becker-Strong Memorial, New York State Sheriff's Association, and the Anthony L. Cecere Memorial Scholarships. For details, contact a member of the Criminal Justice faculty or the Financial Aid Office.