California Community Colleges
Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal justice programs at community colleges in this state. Law-enforcement, corrections, and pre-law pathways.
25 colleges · 384 sections · 195 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
California community college criminal-justice programs feed directly into law enforcement, corrections, court, and victim-services careers across the state. The 384 sections at 25 California CCs colleges this term cover criminology, criminal law, evidence and procedure, corrections theory, and the field-applicable foundation police academies expect from recruits.
The CC criminal-justice associate isn't a shortcut to becoming a police officer — most California departments still require academy graduation regardless of degree — but it counts strongly during the hiring process, qualifies you for higher entry pay grades at many agencies, and is the standard prep for federal law-enforcement, probation officer, and corrections-officer roles that increasingly prefer degree holders.
Colleges offering Criminal Justice
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Criminal Justice is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Desert | 39 | 17 | 22 |
| Moreno Valley College | 34 | 21 | 8 |
| Santa Ana College | 28 | 12 | 16 |
| Moorpark College | 26 | 14 | 18 |
| Golden West College | 24 | 12 | 10 |
| Chaffey College | 23 | 9 | 17 |
| Norco College | 22 | 15 | 13 |
| Victor Valley College | 22 | 12 | 7 |
| Ventura College | 19 | 13 | 14 |
| Riverside City College | 17 | 9 | 5 |
| Hartnell College | 16 | 11 | 9 |
| Mendocino College | 15 | 9 | 5 |
| Irvine Valley College | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Solano Community College | 13 | 9 | 7 |
| College of the Siskiyous | 11 | 6 | — |
| Cuesta College | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Madera Community College | 9 | 9 | — |
| Palo Verde College | 8 | 4 | — |
| Reedley College | 8 | 7 | — |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Cabrillo College | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Santiago Canyon College | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Clovis Community College | 4 | 4 | — |
| Lake Tahoe Community College | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Coastline Community College | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Criminal Justice Availability Snapshot
How criminal justice sections are being offered across 25 colleges in California this term (384 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person169 (44%)
- online155 (40%)
- hybrid31 (8%)
- zoom29 (8%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)81
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)23
- Evening (5 PM and after)70
- Asynchronous / TBA210
Start dates
Sections begin on 36 distinct dates. 342 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 137 distinct instructors across 25 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Grossmont College2 programs
San Bernardino Valley College2 programs
San Joaquin Delta College2 programs
San Jose City College2 programs
Common Criminal Justice courses
- CJ 101Introduction to Criminal Justi(21 sections)
- ADJ 1Intro to Admin of Justice(18 sections)
- CJ 001INTROD TO CRIM JUSTI(15 sections)
- ADJ 3Concepts of Criminal Law(12 sections)
- CJ 1Intro to Criminal J(9 sections)
- CJ M01Intro-Criminal Justice(8 sections)
- CJ 002CONCEPTS OF CRIM LAW(6 sections)
- CJ 103Concepts of Criminal Law(6 sections)
- ADJ 4Criminal Evidence(6 sections)
- CJ 006CRIMINAL INVESTIGATON(5 sections)
- CJ G140Intro to Criminal Justice(5 sections)
- ADJ 9079Law Enforcement Topics-Perishable Skills(5 sections)
Career outlook for Criminal Justice graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare California’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a criminal-justice degree to become a police officer in California?
- No — police academies in California accept candidates with just a high school diploma or GED plus background-check clearance. But a CJ associate's makes a difference in three ways: it boosts your competitive ranking in hiring, qualifies you for higher entry pay at most municipal agencies (typically a $1–3k starting-salary bump), and lets you sit for promotional exams sooner.
- What jobs does this degree qualify me for besides policing?
- Corrections officer (county jail, state prison), probation/parole officer, court clerk, victim advocate, security supervisor, juvenile-justice case manager, federal-agency entry roles (CBP, TSA, US Marshals support staff). Many graduates work corrections or court roles for a few years while preparing for police-academy admission.
- Can I transfer CJ credits to a four-year program?
- Yes — most California state universities have criminal-justice bachelor's programs with articulated transfer from the California CCs associate. Some specialized degrees (forensic science, cybersecurity-focused CJ, pre-law CJ) require specific lower-division courses, so confirm with the target university's transfer office before locking your schedule.
- How long does the criminal-justice associate take?
- Two years full-time. Many California community colleges offer evening and online sections aimed at working students — current corrections officers, security personnel, and military veterans use those formats to complete the degree while staying in their current jobs.
Compare Criminal Justice programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how California’s criminal justice programs stack up.
Other programs in California
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.