Criminal Justice

As the population grows, so does the need for trained workers in a variety of criminal justice fields. This program will graduate skilled workers who are able to bring value to those employers in multiple ways because they will have a broad understanding of the criminal justice system and will be skilled enough to fill a variety of roles.

This program has been designed to be broad in nature and to include coursework in a wide variety of criminal justice fields. Students will complete classes in criminal justice, corrections, juvenile justice, criminal law, criminal investigation, ethics in criminal justice, forensics and crime scene investigation, probation and parole, security, terrorism and counter-terrorism, border security, and more.

1. Complete Western Dakota Technical College Admissions Application
2. Complete the ACCUPLACER test ($15 fee)
3. Schedule your Admissions Advising Session
4. Provide an official copy of a High School transcript or GED scores. If you graduated from an international high school, you must submit your transcript to Educational Credential Evaluators to determine U.S. equivalence. Additionally, an official transcript must be submitted if you have attended other post-secondary institutions or universities.
5. Submit Immunization Records verifying two doses of MMR vaccinations
6. Once you receive your acceptance letter, schedule a time to register for classes

The ACCUPLACER test will be waived if you have an ACT sub-score of 18 or better in English, Math, and Reading.  To waive the ACCUPLACER with SAT scores a student will need a 500 on the MATH subsection of ACT and a composite of 970 to waive Writing and Reading. To place into MATH 114 a student will need a 520 on the MATH subsection.  

Please call 605-718-2565 to make an appointment.

Graduates of the program will be able to accomplish the typical duties of criminal justice professionals in many fields, including:

• Certified law enforcement officer
• Corrections officer
• Border patrol agent
• Probation officer
• Parole officer
• Private investigator
• Gaming officer or investigator
• Security guard
• Child protective services officer
• Transportation security screener
• Emergency services dispatcher
• Other related occupations

Program Learning Outcomes

Master Syllabi