Overview
If you enjoy helping others and want to make a difference in your local communities, a degree in criminal justice may be the right fit for you. The criminal justice field can offer dozens of rewarding job opportunities in areas like crime prevention, victim advocacy, corrections and rehabilitation, and investigative work.
The Associate of Arts Degree is designed for students preparing for law enforcement, homeland security, corrections, juvenile justice, victim assistance, and the many other varied careers or those who are currently employed in the criminal justice field. We strive to enhance knowledge, effectiveness, and professionalism for success in your future or present career. You can expect to be challenged and motivated to discover new ideas that will be beneficial as you enter the criminal justice field or seek higher education. As the criminal justice system evolves, so does the concept of academia as an essential requirement for employment. Articulation agreements exist with senior colleges and universities that make the transition from Criminal Justice at Weatherford College extremely smooth and cost-effective. Course specifications and requirements are described in the Criminal Justice section of this catalog.
More information can be found in the Catalog.
Career Options
There are plenty of opportunities for growth or employment in this field. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in criminal justice are growing faster than average, and are expected to grow by about 5% from 2019 to 2029.
The potential careers and opportunities for graduates with criminal justice degrees will largely depend on the degree specialization they choose and the type of degree they pursued. For example, if you specialized in forensics, you may find a job as a forensic scientist after graduation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), forensic science technicians earn a median salary of $59,150 per year, with a 14% projected job growth rate from 2018-2028.
Top Careers for Criminal Justice graduates:
- Police Officer
- Federal Law Enforcement Agent
- State Law Enforcement Officer
- Policy Analyst
- Corrections Officer
- Security Specialist
- Child Advocate
- US Marshal
- Victim Assistance Coordinator
- Attorney
Related Programs
- AAS - Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement
- Psychology
- Law Enforcement Academy (Workforce)
- Fire Academy (Workforce)
Transfer Options
- Guided pathways for ease of transfer to other colleges/universities.
- To the workforce.
Scholarships
- Russell L. Boyd Memorial Scholarship - Established in 1983 by Sherri Box in memory of her late husband, Russell Boyd, a Texas Highway Patrolman killed in the line of duty, to assist students interested in Law Enforcement.
- Criminal Justice Institute Alumni Scholarship - Established by Alumni of Weatherford College's Criminal Justice Institute for deserving Criminal Justice students.
- Estate of Stella & Stan Renner Scholarship - Established in 2019 by Marilyn Reynolds in honor of her parents, for full-time students entering a service career.
- Sharon Barder Law Enforcement Scholarship
- More information can be found on the Scholarship page.
Faculty
- Sharon K. Johnson
