Criminal Justice
Program Goals & Outcomes
The goal of the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice degree program is to prepare you for a career in criminal justice and to continue your education in a related baccalaureate degree program. Some areas of employment are Correctional Officer, Police Officer, Private Security, Border Patrol, Customs, and TSA Security.
Several basic courses are offered through daytime, nighttime and online instruction. With eighteen (18) hours of core instruction, the classes include: Introduction to the Criminal Process, Introduction to Corrections, Introduction to Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Internship, Cultural Diversity and Criminal Justice and Delinquency and the Juvenile Justice System.
Upon the successful completion of sixty-two (62) hours of program instruction and the awarding of an Associate of Arts Degree, you may transfer to a related baccalaureate program or consider the Associate of Arts Degree a terminal degree and seek employment in the Criminal Justice field.
Students will be able to:
- Explain the historical development of the criminal justice and/or law enforcement systems;
- Describe the criminal justice system from arrest to appeal;
- Communicate verbally and in writing, using appropriate terminology;
- Assess the functions of the criminal justice system and/or police operations; and
- Apply ethical standards of behavior in relation to issues of diversity and human rights.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (36 hours min.)
English Composition (6 hours)
- ENGL 1113 English Composition I+
- ENGL 1213 English Composition II+
U.S. History/U.S. Government (6 hours)
- HIST 1483 U.S. History to 1877
or HIST 1493 U.S. History Since 1877 - POLS 1113 American Federal Government
Sciences (7 hours)–one must include lab
See Science Electives below.
Humanities (6 hours)
See courses listed in the College Catalog.
Mathematics (3 hours)
See Mathematics Electives below.
Liberal Arts (3 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in SOC 1113 to be eligible for graduation.
- SOC 1113 Introduction to Sociology+
General Education (3 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in CJ 2303 to be eligible for graduation.
- CJ 2303 Cultural Diversity & Criminal Justice+
- HPER Elective (2 hours minimum)–Any course(s) with HPER prefix.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (13 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in these courses to be eligible for graduation.
- CJ 1123 Introduction to Law Enforcement
- CJ 2401 Police Report Writing
- CJ 2503 Criminology+
- CJ 2703 Delinquency & the Juvenile Justice System
- CJ 2863 Ethics in Criminal Justice
OPTION REQUIREMENTS (12 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in these courses to be eligible for graduation.
- CJ 1103 Introduction to the Criminal Process
- CJ 1113 Introduction to Corrections
- CJ 2193 Criminal Justice Internship+
- CJ 2453 Probation, Parole, & Community Corrections
+Check course description for prerequisites that must be met.
Science Electives
HSBC 1104, HSBC 1224, HSBC 2103, HSBC 2114, GEOG 1114, or any course with the following prefixes: ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, ENSC, GEOL, METR, PHSC, or PHYS
Mathematics Electives
Any MATH course which is at least 1000 level or higher except MATH 2013, MATH 2023, & MATH 2033
Suggested Order of Enrollment
Students should enroll in a combination of General Education Requirements and Program Requirements to complete the degree. Check the College Catalog and/or class schedule for course offering specifics. The “+” symbol represents a prerequisite for the course. Any course offering is subject to change without notice.
1st Semester
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3rd Semester
| 4th Semester
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