Criminal Justice Associate in Arts

General Requirements: Total Hours: 62 • Minimum GPA: 2.0
Program Description: The Criminal Justice program is designed for students who intend to transfer to a Baccalaureate program in criminal justice. The freshman and sophomore level courses introduce the student to Criminal Justice and provide him or her with the general education core requirements. Those enrolled in the Associate in Arts Criminal Justice program are encouraged to work closely with their advisors and with the admissions department at the 4-year institution where they wish to transfer in designing their course of study.

General Education Requirements:    37 hours
Area Min. Hours Course Code Course Description
Communications 6 ENGL 1113 English Composition I
    ENGL 1213 English Composition II
Social Science 6 HIST 1483 or HIST 1493 U.S. HIST to 1877 or U.S. HIST 1877-Pres
    POLS 1113 U.S. Government 
Life Science 3 BISC, BOT, MICR, ZOOL (Lecture)
Physical Science 3 CHEM, ASTR, GEOL, PHSC, PHYS (Lecture)
Science Lab 1 BISC, BOT, CHEM, ASTR, GEOL, MICR, PHSC, PHYS, ZOOL (Lab)
Humanities 6 Choose from humanities course options
Math 3 MATH    1303 or General Quantitative Reasoning or
    MATH    1513 College Algebra or
    MATH    1483 Functions & Modeling
Psychology/Sociology 6 PSY    1113 Elements of Psychology
    SOC    1113 Introduction to Sociology
Selected Gen Ed Requirements 3 PSY, SOC, ART, HIST, PHIL, POLS, SPA, or SPCH
 
Program Core Requirements:   24 hours
Criminal Justice 9 CJ    1113 Introduction to Criminal Justice
    CJ    2313 Criminal Law
    CJ    2443 Criminal Law and Procedures
    CJ    2333 Police Organization and Management
  9 Any other CJ courses except CJ 2451, CJ 2461, CJ 2471 or CJ 2363
Social Science 3 SOC    2133 Crime and Delinquency
    SOC    2173 Problems in Sociology
    SOC    2183 Sociology of the Family
Physical Education 3 HPER    1553 Lifetime Fitness and Management
 
Institutional Requirements:   1 hour
Institutional Requirement 1 COL    1111 College Success

 

Plan of Study

Course Code Course Description Hours
Freshman 1st Semester
ENGL 1113* English Composition I 3
HIST 1483 or HIST 1493* U.S. HIST to 1877 or U.S. HIST 1877-Pres 3
Math 1303 or 1513 Quant. Reasoning or College Algebra 3
COL 1111 College Success 1
CJ 1113 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
Total 13
 
Freshman 2nd Semester
ENGL 1213* English Composition II 3
POLS 1113* U.S. Government 3
CJ 2313 Criminal Law 3
SOC 1113 Sociology 3
Physical Science Geology 3
CJ Elective   3
Total 18
 
Sophomore 1st Semester
Life Science Biology w/Lab 4
Humanities   3
HPER 1553 Lifetime Fitness & Management 3
CJ Elective       3
PSY 1113 Psychology 3
Total 16
 
Sophomore 2nd Semester
Humanities   3
Gen. ED. Elective   3
CJ 2443 Criminal Law & Procedure 3
CJ Elective       3
SOC Elective   3
Total 15

NOTE:  * = General Education Requirement ** = Program Core Requirement and *** = Option Requirement

Program Outcomes

The criminal justice program provides students with an understanding of the nature of crime and the personnel, institutions and process that prevent or respond to crime. Students learn both the theory and practice of the criminal justice system. The curriculum covers crime and criminal behavior, law enforcement, courts, and corrections. It provides a solid foundation for further study or entry into a variety of criminal justice professions.  Students must obtain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher for successful degree completion. 

Intended Program Outcomes 

  • Explain the structure of the American criminal justice system in terms of its major components (i.e., police, courts, and corrections) and the functions they serve.  
  • Measured by effectively communicating thru reading and writing assignments as well as exams. 
  • Communicate in writing to express solutions in criminal justice topics. 

Measured by completing writing assignments that demonstrate effective critical thinking to identifying and defining problems and then formulating conclusions based upon reading assignments.  

  • Apply critical thinking skills to analyze and solve a variety of complex problems in the criminal justice environment. Assess the philosophy, theories, policies, practices, processes, and reforms of the criminal justice system

Measured thru completion of writing assignments and exams as well as a series of class discussions. 

  • Use technology to develop specialized technical knowledge and skills relevant to the field of criminal justice. (computer & writing skills)

Measured by demonstrating basic technology skills for class success, i.e. computer, research, on-line discussions.

  • Review the major historical and contemporary issues facing the criminal justice system including events, information, programs, policies, and concepts that affect the operation of criminal justice agencies as well as issues of society ethnic and gender diversity. 

Measured by reading and writing assignments as well as exams.