Criminal Justice Schools in Montana

Criminal justice classes at the University of Great Falls examine the sociological aspects of the field, guiding students towards the helping nature of their future professions. Students will learn about the different jobs that they can pursue with a criminal justice background, and understand the roles and responsibilities of these jobs. Graduates of the program often find work in law enforcement, private security, corrections, and probation; they also enter graduate study programs in sociology, law, and criminal justice. Students who need assistance can contact the school's student support services department, which offers workshops, mentoring, financial aid counseling, and tutoring.

Montana State University _ Northern guides students seeking careers in law enforcement and homeland security through its criminal justice program. Curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from the legal system to crime prevention, with additional training in conflict management and psychology. Instructors are experienced professionals who have held criminal justice roles in rural and metropolitan areas, bringing their experiences into the classroom to help students gage where they would like to work. Both current students and alumni can access the university's career center to reach a network of employment services, from resume and cover letter assistance to on-campus recruiting.

The criminal justice program at Montana State University _ Billings leads to an undergraduate degree with a focus on sociology, criminology and ethics, and corrections. Students can also earn a two-year degree with a concentration in criminal justice from MSU Billings City College, a two-year college within the university that offers university transfer and career preparation. This program focuses on basic knowledge of policing, crime, and courts, as well as critical thinking and effective communication skills that benefit a professional in the criminal justice environment. To ensure a successful degree path, students can consult the school's advising services for information regarding required courses for an on-time graduation.

The two campuses that make up Flathead Valley Community College serve two northern Montana counties with a population of 100,000. FVCC students can find their associate degree to prepare for a four-year education or choose among 50 career and technical programs that ready them for the workplace. Flathead's criminal justice program offers the option of an associate of science or associate of applied science degree. Graduating AS transfer students can complete their four-year CJ degree at The University of Montana _ Missoula or at Montana State University _ Northern. The AAS degree focuses on preparing graduates to take entry level CJ jobs after completing the two-year program.

Established as a Montana public community college in 1940, Dawson Community College specializes in a college-transfer education, technical and career training, and continuing education. DCC's 400 undergraduates can choose from 35 plans of study leading to associate degrees, four vocational programs and six online programs. The associate of applied science degree in criminal justice is designed as a pre-academy program offering a curriculum in law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, criminology, and penology. Graduates can seek entry into CJ roles that do not require academy training, or they may transfer to a four-year CJ program.

Long affiliated with Montana's Flathead Valley Community College, Blackfeet Community College became an independent intuition in 1979 in order to provide curriculum in line with its service population. BCC's associate of arts in human services program administers the criminal justice specialization. The two-year program focuses on behavioral, cognitive, and psychological impacts on criminal behavior. Students completing the AA are qualified to take entry level roles in criminal justice or tribal law enforcement organizations. Or, they may transfer to a bachelor degree program in a related field. First-time students who complete their programs in one year are eligible for tuition waivers.