Graduates of this program will earn their A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice and will also be prepared to become a sworn law enforcement officer in the state of Florida.
- Associate in Science Degree - Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement Officer - Career Certificate
Associate in Science Degree – Criminal Justice (CIP# 1743010302)
The Criminal Justice A.S. - Law Enforcement Academy Track program is designed to provide students with the education, training, skills, and abilities for a successful law enforcement career. Specifically, this program prepares students for a career in the criminal justice field as a sworn law enforcement officer in the state of Florida.
Students in this track program will have the opportunity to complete both the A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice and the Law Enforcement Officer Academy program, and will be prepared to take the Florida Law Enforcement certification examination which is required to become a sworn law enforcement officer in the State of Florida. Students must successfully complete each course in the Criminal Justice A.S. Law Enforcement Academy Track Program, complete the Law Enforcement Academy, and pass the state of Florida Law Enforcement Certification Examination to receive this Associate in Science Degree.
Note: Students may complete the general education and criminal justice course requirements online or on any campus where these courses are offered, and then upon successful admission to the law enforcement academy at the Criminal Justice Institute at the School of Public Safety, complete the law enforcement academy program during their last semester. Upon completion of the requisite courses and successfully passing the State of Florida Law Enforcement certification examination, students will receive both an A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice and the Law Enforcement Officer Career Certificate.
All degree-seeking students must satisfy entry testing requirements and satisfactorily complete all mandatory courses in reading, student success, mathematics, English, and English for Academic Purposes in which the student is placed.
Students are strongly encouraged to consult a career program advisor in the division office for assistance in determining the best education plan for their career goals.
Students should use the recommended course sequence as a guide in program planning.
Students wishing to transfer any credits from this program to another institution must accept responsibility for securing approval from the transfer institution.
Students cannot take both credit-hour and clock-hour courses during the same semester. During the semester that the student attends the Law Enforcement Academy, this is the only coursework the student can enroll in and pursue.
Law Enforcement Officer Academy Program
Valencia’s Law Enforcement Academy Program is a limited access program. Admission to Valencia College does not imply acceptance to the Law Enforcement Academy. The Law Enforcement Academy within the Criminal Justice Institute is located at the School of Public Safety.
This program is designed to prepare individuals for entry-level positions in law enforcement, such as police officers and deputy sheriffs. Upon completion of this program, students must successfully pass the state law enforcement certification exam and be at least 19 years of age to be employed or appointed as a law enforcement officer as required in Florida Statute 943.13.
Program content includes introduction to criminal justice, legal knowledge, patrol techniques, defensive tactics, vehicle operation, weapons, investigations, CPR and first aid, court system, communications and interpersonal skills.
To be accepted into Valencia’s Law Enforcement Academy program, students must meet the following admission requirements:
- Applicant must be at least 19 years of age.
- Applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
- Applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Applicant cannot have a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States.
- Applicant cannot have been convicted of any felony, or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement. Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of a felony, or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, shall not be eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, not-withstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication.
- Applicant must take the Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJ BAT) and achieve required scores.
- Applicant will be required to provide birth certificate, high school diploma or equivalent, valid Florida Driver's License, Social Security Card, Military Form DD214 (if applicable), college transcript or other proof of degree (if applicable), and proof of medical insurance.
- Applicant must have a physical examination and EKG, and pass an audiometry (hearing) exam prior to program entry. Forms for this purpose are part of the application packet available in the Criminal Justice Institute Office.
- Applicant must fill out an application at the Criminal Justice Institute.
- Applicant must pass a physical assessment.
Note: The law enforcement academy is offered at the School of Public Safety, Criminal Justice Institute, 8600 Valencia College Lane, Orlando, 32826. Students should apply to the law enforcement academy upon entering this track program, and no later than after their 2nd semester in the Law Enforcement Academy Track Program.
The program description, estimated costs, program courses, and admission requirements for the law enforcement academy are located at https://valenciacollege.edu/locations/school-of-public-safety/criminal-justice-institute/basic_law.php
Students in this track program can only register for and attend the January or September daytime academy class, or January evening academy class.
Students in this track program will be required to:
- Attend Law Enforcement Academy information session at the Criminal Justice Institute at the School of Public Safety or at the East, West, or Osceola Campus.
- Submit a completed Valencia Application for Admission; satisfy the requirements for degree-seeking status and be in “active student” status
- Meet with a Career Program Advisor to discuss the program and course selection
- Attend Law Enforcement Academy Track Program meetings each semester
- Attend Law Enforcement Academy Program orientation at the Criminal Justice Institute
- Complete a separate application for the Law Enforcement Academy at the Criminal Justice Institute
- Successfully complete a physical assessment at the Criminal Justice Institute between the first and second year in the track program
- Successfully complete the Law Enforcement Academy and pass the state law enforcement certification exam
General admission procedures for the Law Enforcement Academy and this degree track are found in the admissions section of this catalog, as well as below. The Criminal Justice Institute at the School of Public Safety provides information about specific admission criteria to the law enforcement academy at Valencia. Estimated program expenses are in the financial section of this catalog, or at https://catalog.valenciacollege.edu/financialinformationfees/estimatedexpenses/
Potential Careers
- Police Officer
- Deputy Sheriff
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Crime Analyst/Technician
- Criminal Justice Administrator
- Detective and Investigator
- Loss Prevention Specialist
Salary & Earnings Information
For career information related to this program, please visit O*Net OnLine
Contacts
Current Students
Your Career Program Advisor contact information can be found in Atlas. Log into Atlas, click on the Courses tab, and check your Academic Profile information to find a link to your Advisor.
Program Chair
James McDonald: (407) 582-1402
jmcdonald4@valenciacollege.edu
Program Outcomes
- Apply knowledge of criminal law, constitutional law, and juvenile law to criminal scenarios.
- Communicate criminal justice concepts through oral and written formats.
- Analyze lifelong ethical and professional responsibilities of criminal justice personnel in the administration of justice.
- Examine the interaction between police organizations, the courts, corrections, and the community in the administration of justice.
- Select the appropriate techniques and practices common to particular types of criminal investigations
- Students must demonstrate state mandated basic recruit law enforcement skills and knowledge in high liability training areas.
- Students must demonstrate state mandated basic recruit law enforcement knowledge in non-high-liability training areas.
- Students must complete the state mandated physical training requirements.
- Students must practice professional responsibility in accordance with the Criminal Justice Institute’s regulations manual
The following courses will be required for a student to earn a Criminal Justice A.S. Law Enforcement Track Degree and state of Florida law enforcement certification in the Law Enforcement Academy Track (recommended schedule of courses):
Plan of Study Grid | Year I |
|---|
| Term 1 |
|---|
| ENC 1101 | FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I +*~ | 3 |
| SLS 1122 | NEW STUDENT EXPERIENCE ~ | 3 |
| MGF 1130 | MATHEMATICAL THINKING +*~ | 3 |
| CCJ 1010 | CRIMINOLOGY | 3 |
| CCJ 1020 | INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Term 2 |
|---|
PSY 2012
| GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY ~
or INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| POS 2041 | U.S. GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| CCJ 2053 | ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE * | 3 |
| CJC 2000 | INTRODUCTION TO CORRECTIONS | 3 |
| CJL 2100 | CRIMINAL LAW | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Term 3 |
|---|
| ~ | 3 |
| 3 |
| CCJ 2358 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORT WRITING: CAPSTONE * | 3 |
| CJE 2000 | POLICING SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES * | 3 |
| CJJ 2001 | JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Term 4 |
|---|
| |
| |
| CJE 2600 | CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION | 3 |
| CJL 2102 | CRIMINAL EVIDENCE & PROCEDURES | 3 |
| CCJ 2930 | SELECTED TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CCJ 2022 | CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE * | 3 |
| HSC 1400C | FIRST AID AND CPR | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| | Total Credit Hours | 60 |
