Criminal Justice Leadership 

• Students entering this program who have completed the Basic Corrections Training or the Basic Corrections Training or the Basic Police Recruit Training at any FDLE/CJSTC approved training center and hold current state criminal justice certification may request that LSSC grant college credit.
• Completion of the online application and $30 application fee
• Submission of high school and college/university transcripts

Program Length

Credit Hours: 24

Estimated Time to Completion: 1 year (full time)

Degree Planning

Course Types Offered

General education pre-requisite courses will be offered online, hybrid, and/or on-campus.

 Learn more about course types offered at LSSC.

Program Costs

Total tuition costs for the Criminal Justice Leadership program are currently about $2,600. The cost per credit hour is $109.73 multiplied by the program credit hours, 24. This does not include course/lab fees and textbooks. For more information, visit our current Tuition & Fee information page.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to all eligible students each semester from the LSSC Foundation. Visit the Foundation Scholarships page to learn more.

Students graduating from high school and enrolling at LSSC may qualify for other scholarships offered through the State of Florida. You will be notified of your eligibility after you apply to the College.

Financial Aid

There are many options to finance your education. You may be eligible for Federal Grants, Work-Study, State Grants, Federal Loans, and Institutional Scholarships. For more information and how to apply, please visit the Financial Aid page.

The certificate is upward compatible with the Criminal Justice, Associate in Science Degree.

Jobs/Careers

• Police Officer
• Deputy Sheriff
• Corrections Officer

Job Outlook (Florida)

Statewide, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FLDEO) predicts 7.2% job growth in Criminal Justice through 2023. This includes all 67 of Florida's counties.

In Central Florida, FLDEO predicts a 1.75% growth rate in Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers through 2029. For this data, Central Florida includes Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Sumter Counties.

Salary Data (Florida)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 wage data, the median salary for Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers is $62,740 in Central Florida. Across Florida, the median salary is $61,970. For this data, Central Florida includes Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.

Career Report

To learn more about this career, visit the My Next Move career site. My Next Move is an interactive tool for job seekers and students to learn more about their career options. My Next Move has tasks, skills, salary information, and more for over 900 different careers. My Next Move is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

For additional assistance with choosing a career, make an appointment with LSSC's Career Development Services office.

Mission

The mission of the A.S Criminal Justice program is to provide students with the skills and knowledge of criminal law and explores the theoretical foundations, knowledge, skills, and practices of criminal justice operations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the A.S. Criminal Justice program requirements, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of laws, procedures, policies, and functions of the United States criminal justice system and other justice systems.
• Discuss ethical problems common throughout the criminal justice system
• Obtain required information and properly prepare written reports
• Explain the police role in relation to sociological and psychological dynamics of the community

College Accreditation

Lake-Sumter State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Learn more on our accreditation page.