From the police dispatcher to the crime lab technician, criminal justice support professionals play an essential role in keeping all phases of America’s justice system working correctly.  With the expansion of criminal justice initiatives on the federal and state levels over the past decade, the need for support professionals of all kinds has grown steadily—court stenographers, probation officers, paralegals, and more. At Bay State College, we understand that local, national and international criminal justice efforts are effective largely because of these dedicated professionals who operate behind the scenes and provide essential support functions.  Our Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice recognizes the critical nature of this career path and seeks to train professionals who can carry this mission forward. In just two years, our program will help you develop the professional skills you need to quickly enter this rapidly growing job market. Once you complete your studies, you can also choose to transfer into a full bachelor’s program. Either way, there’s no more flexible way to start your career. Our curriculum includes coursework that covers everything from criminal investigation and criminal law to civil rights. You’ll grow through lively class discussion, fine tune your oral and written skills, and work closely with professors who are criminal justice professionals themselves. Our program will give you the practical knowledge you need to succeed in the criminal justice field, by fine-tuning your skills in: Conducting research in an academic environment; Applying ethical and legal standards when making decisions, processing criminals and disseminating information to the government and/or public; Working in groups to define and identify legal issues, make group decisions and implement solutions; Examining and analyzing individual problems and case studies, applying legal rules and procedures, and explaining