Criminal Justice Certificate curriculum overview:

Advanced Juvenile Justice Studies Certificate:

As practices in juvenile justice progress to include trauma-informed care, alternatives to incarceration, and restorative justice, practitioners are requiring more education and training. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the State of Oregon Department of Employment reflect this change in approach to working with youth in that positions for correctional officers (e.g., guards) are declining while careers for behavioral counselors, probation and parole officers, and those who are trained to work with youth in settings beyond incarceration are increasing in demand.

Students will be prepared to advance in their existing careers or begin anew in the field of juvenile justice. Careers in this field may be in juvenile corrections facilities, parole and probation, mentorship, advocacy, community organizations, gang interventions and suppression, and more. In addition, completion of this certificate will allow students to enter either the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice or the proposed Master of Science in Justice Studies at WOU to complete their graduate degree in just one additional year if they should so choose.

Social Justice Certificate:

This graduate certificate is timely in light of recent events including nationwide and global protests concerning police brutality, white supremacy, and systems of oppression. Student interest in how to address these topics and make substantive and lasting change is peaked. The graduate certificate is being proposed alongside a new master’s program as a faster route for students not seeking a full master’s degree and those who want to earn an accommodation in a shorter time frame.

The certificate program will be deliverable fully online, making it accessible to a wider and more diverse student population. Students in the certificate program will learn from experienced faculty not only in courses, but by participating in research and in community action opportunities. The Criminal Justice Sciences Division has a history of partnering with multiple state and community organizations to enhance our students’ experience through hands-on learning to the benefit of the community. Taking action to better society is at the heart of the certificate program and can only be learned by doing.

Your plan of study:

Once admitted to your Criminal Justice Certificate program , you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan: Advanced Juvenile Justice Certificate or Social Justice Certificate (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.

CONTACT US:

If you haven’t found the information you need or are still not sure where to direct your question, contact Amber Deets at deetsa@wou.edu or 503-838-8492