Oregon Community Colleges
Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal justice programs at community colleges in this state. Law-enforcement, corrections, and pre-law pathways.
4 colleges · 46 sections · 25 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Oregon community college criminal-justice programs feed directly into law enforcement, corrections, court, and victim-services careers across the state. The 46 sections at 4 Oregon 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 Oregon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Oregon Community College | 18 | 14 | 5 |
| Chemeketa Community College | 16 | 10 | 14 |
| Treasure Valley Community College | 10 | 7 | — |
| Clatsop Community College | 2 | 2 | — |
Criminal Justice Availability Snapshot
How criminal justice sections are being offered across 4 colleges in Oregon this term (46 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person24 (52%)
- online19 (41%)
- hybrid3 (7%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)11
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)12
- Evening (5 PM and after)9
- Asynchronous / TBA14
Start dates
Sections begin on 4 distinct dates. 1 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 18 distinct instructors across 4 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Chemeketa Community College3 programs
Klamath Community College4 programs
Portland Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
90 credits- CJA 100Professions in Criminal Justice(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 101Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Professions(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 111Introduction to Criminal Justice System - Police(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 112Introduction to Criminal Justice System - Courts(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 113Introduction to the Criminal Justice System - Corrections(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 114Introduction to Juvenile Justice(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 210Arrest, Search and Seizure(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 212Criminal Law(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 220Mental Health & the Law(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 225Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 230Police Report Writing(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 244Tactical Communication in Crisis Incidents(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- CJA 250Human Trafficking(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- PS 201U.S. Governmentnot offered+ plan
- PS 202U.S. Public Policy & Democracynot offered+ plan
- PS 203State and Local Governmentnot offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Common Criminal Justice courses
- CJ 100Intro to Criminal Justice(9 sections)
- CJ 280CWE Criminal Justice(4 sections)
- CJ 130Intro to Corrections Process(4 sections)
- CJ 101Introduction to Criminology(2 sections)
- CJ 110Law Enforcement(2 sections)
- CJ 125Pub Safety Comm/Documentation(2 sections)
- CJ 146Officer Survival Mindset(2 sections)
- CJ 261ALaw Enforcement Related Exp 1(2 sections)
- CJ 261ELaw Enforcement Related Exp 5(2 sections)
- CJ 111Intro to Criminal Justice(2 sections)
- CJ 131Women, Gender and Crime(1 section)
- CJ 152Rape/Aggression Def for Women(1 section)
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 Oregon’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 Oregon?
- No — police academies in Oregon 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 Oregon state universities have criminal-justice bachelor's programs with articulated transfer from the Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon’s criminal justice programs stack up.
Other programs in Oregon
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.