Washington Community Colleges
Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal justice programs at community colleges in this state. Law-enforcement, corrections, and pre-law pathways.
16 colleges · 66 sections · 49 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Washington community college criminal-justice programs feed directly into law enforcement, corrections, court, and victim-services careers across the state. The 66 sections at 16 SBCTC 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 Washington 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 →
Criminal Justice Availability Snapshot
How criminal justice sections are being offered across 16 colleges in Washington this term (66 sections total).
Delivery format
- online41 (62%)
- hybrid13 (20%)
- in person12 (18%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)6
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)12
- Evening (5 PM and after)7
- Asynchronous / TBA41
Start dates
Sections begin on 4 distinct dates.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 31 distinct instructors across 16 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Bellevue College1 program
Core Coursework (35 credits)
35 creditsCommunication (25 credits)
25 credits- CMST 280 - Intercultural Communication5 sections+ plan
- CMST 285 - Nonverbal Communicationnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXChoose one course from the following:not offered+ plan
- ENGL 201 - The Research Paper25 sections+ plan
- ENGL 271 - Expository Writing I5 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXChoose one course from the following:not offered+ plan
Quantitative (5 credits)
5 creditsChoose 10 credits from 28 approved courses
Catalog group: Social Science and Humanities (10 credits)
- ELEC XXXChoose two courses from the following:not offered+ plan
- CES 100 - Race in the United States5 sections+ plan
- CES 104 - Whiteness Studies: Identity and Inquirynot offered+ plan
- CES 120 - Introduction to Native American Studies1 section+ plan
- CES 140 - Introduction to African American Studies1 section+ plan
Choose 10 credits from 12 approved courses
Catalog group: Natural Sciences (10-11 credits)
- ELEC XXXChoose two courses from the following:not offered+ plan
- BIOL 150 - Marine Biology1 section+ plan
- BOTAN 110 - Introductory Plant Biology1 section+ plan
- BOTAN 113 - Plant Identification and Classificationnot offered+ plan
- CHEM 100 - Chemical Explorations1 section+ plan
Choose 5 credits from 6 approved courses
Catalog group: Electives (5 credits)
Source: College catalog
Centralia College2 programs
Grays Harbor College2 programs
Green River College11 programs
Highline College1 program
Program Core Courses
Program Electives
- CJ 104 - Introduction to Law Enforcement1 section+ plan
- CJ 140 - Internship1 section+ plan
- CJ 245 - Internshipnot offered+ plan
- CJ 295 - Independent Study1 section+ plan
- CJ 200 - Comparative Criminal Justicenot offered+ plan
- CJ 213 - Law of Arrest, Search, and Seizurenot offered+ plan
- CJ 215 - Conflict Managementnot offered+ plan
- CJ 228 - Introduction to Forensic Psychologynot offered+ plan
- PHIL 110 - Introduction to Ethics1 section+ plan
- GEO 107 - Geologic Catastrophes in the Pacific Northwest1 section+ plan
- SOC 115 - Crime and Society1 section+ plan
- PSYCH 202 - Biopsychology1 section+ plan
- EM 102 - Introduction to Homeland Security Emergency Management1 section+ plan
- HSER 101 - Introduction to Human Services2 sections+ plan
- HSER 103 - Case Management1 section+ plan
- HSER 110 - Interviewing & Counselingnot offered+ plan
Program Supporting Courses
Source: College catalog
Pierce College District3 programs
Shoreline Community College6 programs
Skagit Valley College3 programs
Walla Walla Community College18 programs
Yakima Valley College3 programs
Common Criminal Justice courses
- CJ 203Police Administration and Leadership(3 sections)
- CJ 103Constitutional Case Law(3 sections)
- CJ 260Internship(3 sections)
- CJ 104Introduction to Law Enforcement (AE)(2 sections)
- CJ 111Criminal Justice Ethics(2 sections)
- CJ 135Traffic Control [RE](2 sections)
- CJ 115Fingerprint Science(2 sections)
- CJ 236Policing(2 sections)
- CJ 120Constitutional Rights(2 sections)
- CJ 252Criminal Justice Work Based Learning(2 sections)
- CJ 201Criminal Investigations(2 sections)
- CJ 210Police Organization & Administration(2 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 Washington’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 Washington?
- No — police academies in Washington 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 Washington state universities have criminal-justice bachelor's programs with articulated transfer from the SBCTC 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 Washington 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 Washington’s criminal justice programs stack up.
Other programs in Washington
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.