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Criminal Justice program

Criminal Justice

Prepare for transfer into four-year criminal justice degrees

See How You Can Afford It

2 Yrs. 60 credit hours

4 semesters

Estimated Cost: $10,980 to $14,820*

Prepare for transfer into four-year criminal justice degrees

See How You Can Afford It

2 Yrs. 60 credit hours

4 semesters

Estimated Cost: $10,980 to $14,820*

Start Your Career: By the Numbers

Review Complete Outcome Statistics For This Program
Apply To This Program
Flexible Options

Complete your degree fully online or seated to fit your busy schedule.

Smooth Transfer

Meet requirements for entry into programs at four-year institutions.

Industry Input

Instructors collaborate with local criminal justice agencies to enhance student learning.

Lay the Academic Groundwork for Advanced Studies in Crime and Law

Prepare for a variety of roles in the criminal justice field with Ozarks Tech. The Criminal Justice program sets you up for success for four-year programs in criminal justice or criminology. You will create a solid foundation to study:

  • Policing techniques

  • Courtroom operations

  • Correctional methods

  • Political science

  • Social science

You’ll hear from guest speakers in the industry and tour local criminal justice partner location to enhance your learning experience. Your courses meet requirements to transfer to several institutions. Jump straight into criminology programs at Missouri State University, Drury and Missouri Southern State University. You can also find work with your associate degree! Work in entry-level jobs in criminal justice and human services.

Program Information

View our accreditation information, find program contacts and learn more about applying to Ozarks Tech.

General Admissions to Ozarks Tech

Admission to Ozarks Technical Community College is open to all individuals who can benefit from its educational programs. A focus of the college mission is on the academic, career and personal goals of the student. OTC may admit you as a First-Time student just completing their high school, GED or HiSET requirements or as a Transfer student coming from another institution finishing up a certificate or degree. For more information, visit OTC Admissions.

Wondering how you’re going to pay for college? At OTC, we believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to earning a degree. Our staff will work with you to make a financial plan. To browse the resources available to you, see paying for college.

At Ozarks Tech, we want your transfer process to be easy. We accomplish this goal through articulation agreements. These agreements are an official partnership to match coursework between schools. This gives you a more seamless transition from Ozarks Tech to a four-year institution.

We have established an agreement for this program. This will simplify the transfer of your credits to partner schools. To understand how this degree will transfer, review the current articulation agreements. Be sure to consult with your transfer school to ensure you’re on the right path toward completing your four-year degree.

Amy Shelley
Behavioral Sciences Department Chair
417-447-6688

Behavioral Sciences Team

Accreditation

OTC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our current accreditation status with the HLC is displayed on the page linked below. Our next comprehensive evaluation will be in 2030-2031. View more on OTC Accreditation.

Program Outcomes

View program outcomes.

Find Your Community

Getting involved is a great way to build connections and find your community on campus. With a variety of clubs and organizations and campus events it’s easy to find your people.

Life at Ozarks Tech

Plan Ahead

Thinking long term? After your A.A. you can transfer to continue your education at four-year institutions. Get connected with resources to help you plan your courses for transferring.

Find Transfer Advice

Course Information

Discover overview information, course sequences and specific course descriptions. Or, view the full catalog to see all the details.

Criminal Justice (A.A.)*

A.A. Degree: 60 Hours

The Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice provides a directed path of study for transfer to institutions offering baccalaureate and degrees in Criminal Justice and Criminology.  The degree also provides the academic background required to secure entry level employment options in a variety of criminal justice and human service positions.

General Education Requirements – 42 Credit Hours

General Education Requirements – 42 Credit Hours

CORE 42 is a statewide general education course of study intended to ensure that all graduates possess a common core of college-level skills and knowledge. CORE 42 specifies the basic competencies and knowledge areas that all students completing degrees at a Missouri public institution of higher education must complete. CORE 42 is comprised of dozens of courses distributed across five knowledge areas. These courses are designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number, which guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses among all Missouri public institutions of higher education. Please refer to MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

All knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo, indicate all courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Mathematical Sciences – 3 Credit Hours

Mathematical Sciences – 3 Credit Hours

OTC math courses approved with CORE 42 designation (MTH 128, MTH 128S, MTH 130, MTH 130S, MTH 138) have guaranteed transfer to all Missouri public higher education institutions.  Any math course with a CORE 42 prerequisite will satisfy the math general education credit.  The higher level math courses may not have direct transfer to all four-year universities.  Students should check with their receiving institution for transferability of these courses.

Written Communications – 6 Credit Hours

Written Communications – 6 Credit Hours

Oral Communications – 3 Credit Hours

Oral Communications – 3 Credit Hours

Humanities and Fine Arts – 9 Credit Hours (from at least 2 disciplines, and a limit of no more than 3 credit hours of performance courses can be applied to Humanities and Fine Arts)

Humanities and Fine Arts – 9 Credit Hours (from at least 2 disciplines, and a limit of no more than 3 credit hours of performance courses can be applied to Humanities and Fine Arts)

Natural Sciences – 7 Credit Hours (from at least 2 disciplines, including one course with a lab component)

Natural Sciences – 7 Credit Hours (from at least 2 disciplines, including one course with a lab component)

Social and Behavioral Sciences – 9 Credit Hours (include at least one Civics Course – PLS 101 or HST 120 or HST 130)

Social and Behavioral Sciences – 9 Credit Hours (include at least one Civics Course – PLS 101 or HST 120 or HST 130)

Core Electives – 5 Credit Hours

Core Electives – 5 Credit Hours

Any course with an approved MOTR number or additional hours from a MOTR approved course can be utilized to fulfill the Core electives requirement.  Credit received from an OTC course may be greater than the MOTR transfer equivalency.  The additional credit provided form OTC for a MOTR approved course will move the additional credit to the Core electives (e.g. CHM 160 at OTC = 4 credit hours, MOTR equivalency = 3 credit hours; additional 1 hour moved to Core electives).
 

Program Specific Courses – 15 Credit Hours

Program Specific Courses – 15 Credit Hours

Institutional Electives – 3 Credit Hours

Institutional Electives – 3 Credit Hours

The A.A. Criminal Justice degree at OTC requires the completion of 60 credit hours.  The 3 elective hours for this category can consist of any course numbered 100 or higher from any area of study that a student is eligible to enroll.  For the most accurate transferability of a course, a student should contact the institution to which they plan to transfer.

Locations Offered:

Some options available online.

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Notices & Disclaimers

*Costs displayed are based on current tuition and fee rates for the program’s required credit hours, as approved by the OTC Board of Trustees, and are subject to change without notice. Estimates reflect both in-district and out-of-district residency rates. Actual costs, degree completion time, and credit requirements may vary based on residency, prior credits, elective courses, program updates, and enrollment factors. For additional information on attendance costs, visit Cost of Attendance, tuition and fees or contact us at 417-447-6900.

**Graduation rates vary by individual. For details on program enrollment, retention, exam/certification, and employment rates, visit Student Outcomes / Student Right-to-Know. Some careers on this list may require additional education and training. For program-specific accreditation visit OTC Accreditation.

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