School of Public Safety, Legal Studies, and Education
Do you want to serve and protect your community? Make a difference in someone’s life? Assist with legal processes? Your role as a public service professional is as versatile as any job can be.
To Serve and Protect
Whether it’s providing order or enforcing laws, playing an important role in the legal system, or helping someone in need, with a career in law or public safety, you can save lives.
A more security-conscious society and population growth will contribute to the increasing demand for police services.
Employment for paralegals is projected to grow much faster than average, as employers try to reduce costs and increase efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers.
Job Outlook
As the population of Florida increases and cities and municipalities continue to grow, there will be an increased need for qualified law enforcement officers and fire personnel, as well as legal assistants, to serve and help protect our communities. Get help with job search strategies, employment readiness, interviewing and more at one of our four on-campus Career Centers.
Criminal Justice
(Salary Range: $50,000 – $60,000)
This program prepares you for a variety of careers within the criminal justice field. You’ll learn about the history and philosophy of criminal justice; the management and operation of criminal justice agencies; the social, psychological and cultural aspects of society; and the laws impacting criminal justice functions. With this degree, you will be prepared to do the following tasks:
- Investigate complaints, respond to traffic emergencies, drive patrol vehicle, detect crimes, arrest violators and issue citations
- Oversee individuals in jails and prisons
Potential Careers:
- Crime Analyst
- Criminal Justice Administrator
- Detective and Investigator
- Loss Prevention Specialist
Emergency Medical Services Technology
(EMT: $30,000 – $35,000)
(Paramedic: $40,000 – $45,000)
Are you good at making split-decisions and staying calm in a crisis? If so, you may want to consider a career in emergency medical services. Grads will be prepared to:
- Respond to medical emergencies and identify the injuries
- Administer basic and advanced life support, including cardiac, medical, trauma, pediatric and psychiatric illnesses
- Transport persons to medical facilities
Potential Careers:
- EMT
- Paramedic
- Emergency Manager
Law Enforcement Academy
(Salary Range: $35,000 – $50,000)
The Criminal Justice Institute is one of the most recognized criminal justice academy programs in the state and offers certified training programs that are required in order to become sworn correctional or law enforcement officers in Florida. Graduates will be prepared to serve their communities with the following skills:
- Identify, collect and preserve evidence
- Interview and interrogate persons of interest
- Arrest violators and write incident reports
- Investigate complaints, assist with traffic accidents and testify in court when needed
Potential Careers:
- Correctional Officer
- Deputy Sheriff
- Law Enforcement
Fire Science Technology
(Salary Range: $55,000 – $65,000)
If you are good at making split-second decisions and staying calm in a crisis, then a career in firefighting may just right for you. In the Fire Science Technology program, you will learn about different fire and emergency hazards, and effective operating procedures for fire prevention, control and management. When you graduate, you will be prepared to do the following:
- Protect the public by responding to fires and other emergencies
- Visit and inspect buildings and other structures to search for fire hazard and ensure that fire codes are met
- Test and inspect fire protection and fire extinguishing equipment to ensure that it works
- Determine the origin and cause of fires
Potential Careers:
- Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor
- Fire Investigator
- Fire Officer
- Fire Safety Inspector
Note: Valencia College Fire Rescue Institute also offers training for the Fire Fighter (Minimum Standards) program
Paralegal Studies (ABA* Approved)
(Salary Range: $45,000 – $55,000)
Through the A.S. degree in Paralegal Studies, students will develop a strong background in areas such as civil litigation, real property, business organizations, legal research and legal technology, as well as an understanding of the ethical framework within which they will work. Paralegals perform the following tasks:
- Assist in trial preparation
- Draft contracts, court pleadings and related documents
- Maintain corporate records
- Perform legal research and informal investigations
- Prepare real estate documents and assist in real estate closings
Potential Careers:
- Legal Assistant
- Paralegal
*American Bar Association
Valencia College provides equal opportunity for educational opportunities and employment to all. For more information, please visit valenciacollege.edu/equalopportunity