341 Great Mall Parkway
Milpitas, CA 95035
Attend Heald. Major in Success.
At Heald, we know how to prepare you for the career you want and we'll support you every step of the way. From academic support and financial aid assistance, to career counseling and lifetime career services assistance, Heald provides support where you need it most.
Going to Heald is an investment – an investment in your future.
Your future is why we're here...
- Practical, hands-on learning
- Small, student-centered classes
- Financial aid (for those who qualify)
- Articulation agreements with several colleges
- Lifetime career services assistance for graduates
Heald's career-focused programs include associate's degree programs in business administration, criminal justice, network security, network systems administration, dental assisting, medical assisting, paralegal and many more. Programs vary by campus and can be completed in as little as 18 months.
Heald has campuses in California (Concord, Fresno, Hayward, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose and Stockton), Oregon (Portland) and Hawaii (Honolulu).
It's a great place to go to school
- 66,000-square-foot facility, conveniently located in Commercial Circle
- Easy access to Highways 680, 24 and 4
- Free and plentiful parking
- Accessible by public transportation (bus and BART)
Where you'll have everything you need to succeed
- Classrooms designed to maximize student comfort
- Round tables to encourage team building and communication
- 600 computers, 18 servers and a multi-purpose conference center with complete wireless capability
- Learning Resource Center featuring a library and a computer lab
- 1,800-square-foot dental lab with digital radiography equipment, a dark room for x-ray development, and sterilization and materials labs
- On-site food service in large student lounge
- On-site bookstore
- Free email and internet access on campus
- Dress for Success policy on select days that promotes workplace professionalism
Where you'll make lifelong friends
- 800 students enrolled on average
- 40 faculty members on staff on average
- 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio on average for business and technology programs, 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio on average for health care programs
- One-on-one tutoring and academic advising available six days a week
Criminal Justice - Associate's or Diploma
Is it right for me?
Criminal Justice students may earn an Associate of Applied Science or a Diploma. This program is designed to teach you a variety of entry-level skills for use in law enforcement, corrections, social services, security and other related private and public sector jobs.
If the following qualities describe you, criminal justice might be a good career choice:
- Trustworthy
- Possess strong ethics and moral values
- Organized and detail-oriented
- Value physical fitness
- Enjoy responsibility
What's the outlook?
The U.S. Department of Labor has predicted that by 2010 there will be more than a 29% increase in the demand for FBI Agents, Police Officers, Private Detectives, U.S. Customs Agents and many others, but the growing emphasis on homeland security has created an unprecedented demand for criminal justice and security professionals.*
Due to increasing populations in prison, as well as those on probation and on parole, the criminal justice field enjoys relatively consistent growth, despite a fluctuating economy. The demand for employees in this line of work is steadily increasing to keep up with personnel needs in the private sector, as well in federal, state and local government agencies.
While a degree in Criminal Justice may open the door to many of these careers, it is important to note that certain jobs may require additional certification, graduation from higher education programs and completion of additional training. Also, you may be required by some prospective employers to consent to a nationwide criminal history check, personal credit report check and a drug test.
What will I learn?
At Heald, we believe the best way to learn is to do. In this program, you will develop a thorough understanding of practices and procedures expected of professionals in the field. You will be able to effectively communicate with supervisors, peers and the public. You will also recognize and respond to safety and security issues as they occur in a detention and/or corrections environment. This program will teach you to apply basic procedures and investigative techniques for processing a crime scene.
Major topics of the program include an exploration of the nature and variety of crimes, constitutional law and related legal issues and protections, law enforcement procedures, criminal investigations, juvenile justice, corrections, victim's issues, organized crime and terrorism. Common program themes include increasing cultural awareness and developing effective, critical thinking skills.
What will I do?
Criminal justice graduates may obtain entry-level employment related to such areas as criminal investigations, insurance investigations, corrections, customs and security. There are also opportunities to work for administrative support staff positions in various law enforcement agencies. Criminal Justice internships may also be available to help you obtain practical experience in a real-world setting.
Employment of criminal justice and security professionals are projected to grow 29% by 2010, fueled by the growing emphasis on homeland security.*
Related programs include:
- Paralegal
The information on this sheet serves as a general overview for this program. For details, please refer to our academic catalog. Program availability and educational options vary by campus and by quarter.
*Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition,
-Bureau of Labor Statistics
