PublicSafetyConnect prepares students to enter careers in law, public safety, corrections and security. Classes may include forensics, fire science, criminal justice and law. Students may have the opportunity to receive college credit and make connections to local cadet programs.
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the American criminal justice system and the careers available within it. Emphasis will be placed upon the development and enrichment of communication and critical thinking skills. Students will develop an understanding of the American criminal justice system by participating in activities such as shadowing, field trips, role playing, mock interviews, mock trials, group and individual projects, and appearances by guest speakers. These activities will enable the student to identify and analyze legal issues, formulate alternative means of resolving them, and apply this knowledge to their everyday lives.
In addition, students will develop an understanding of careers available within the criminal justice system, and acquire basic job search and interview skills.
This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of firefighting and emergency medical response. Students will learn skills such as fire behavior, fire extinguishers, personal protective equipment, SCBA, fire hose, fire streams, patient assessment, taking and monitoring vital signs, patient treatments and transportation, search and rescue and interior fire attack.
Other subjects may include building construction, ropes and knots, forcible entry, ventilation, water supply, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, fire prevention and public fire education, special rescue, fire cause, pre-incident planning, reports and communications, and coordinating fire attack.
Students will have the opportunity to earn CPR and First Aid Certification through the American Heart Association. Also included in this course of study is Physical Training designed to help familiarize the student with the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) that is a required portion of many entry-level firefighter exams.
This course is designed to be an introduction to the U.S. legal system. Students will study the structure and function of the legal system as well as study specific areas of substantive law. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills including identifying legal issues, applying legal principles to hypothetical problems, analyzing and presenting opposing viewpoints on issues, and solving law-related problems.
Students will learn to become effective communicators, both oral and written. Class practices will include Socratic seminars, the Socratic method of questioning, debates, group discussions, analytical writing exercises, persuasive writing exercises and research-based writing exercises.
Note: CareerConnect classes may vary by school.
| Occupation | Education Level | Median Annual Earnings |
| Correctional Officer | High School Diploma, Training | $47,200 |
| Firefighter | High School Diploma, Training | $49,000 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | High School Diploma, Training | $39,150 |
| Police, Fire and Ambulance Dispatcher | Associate’s Degree | $45,800 |
| Paralegal | Associate’s Degree | $52,200 |
| Probation Officer | Bachelor’s Degree | $61,500 |
| Forensic Science Technician | Bachelor’s Degree | $61,800 |
| Attorney | Advanced Degree | $130,600 |
Source: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment