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Criminal Justice
Associate in Arts

Purpose

This degree prepares students to transfer to a baccalaureate institution and major in criminal justice. A B.A. degree prepares student to work in criminal justice and government agencies (federal, state, or local) or the private sector. Graduates may enter careers in state and local law enforcement, community corrections, federal law enforcement or in the private sector.

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program should be able to:

  1. Discuss and demonstrate basic procedures related to the fields of law enforcement and corrections.
  2. Utilize knowledge about state and federal laws that impact law enforcement and corrections in decision making.
  3. Understand and discuss the difference in relationships between law enforcement in the community and other legal entities.
  4. Understand and describe the relationships that exist between the various law enforcement, corrections, and the courts systems and at the local, state, and federal levels of government.
  5. Discuss ethics as related to law enforcement and corrections.

Recommended Course Schedule

Fall Quarter, First Year

ENGL& 101 English Composition I (C) 5
CJ& 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice 5
CJ 103 Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice 5
  Total Credits 15

Winter Quarter, First Year

ENGL& 102 English Composition II (C) 5
CJ 105 The Police Function 5
POLS& 202 American Government 5
  Total Credits 15

Spring Quarter, First Year

CJ 113 Crime & Delinquency 5
  Humanities Distribution (H) 5
  Science Distribution (S) 5
  Total Credits 15

Fall Quarter, Second Year

CJ 106 Introduction to Correctional Methods 5
FORS 101 Introduction to Forensic Science 5
MATH& 107 Math in Society (M)  
  or  
MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics (M) 5
  Health & Fitness Distribution (HF) 3
  Total Credits 18

Winter Quarter, Second Year

PHIL 103 Introduction to Ethics 5
  Science Distribution (S) 5
  Social Science Distribution (SS) 5
  Total Credits 15

Spring Quarter, Second Year

CJ 112 Critical & Current Issues in Criminal Justice 5
  Humanities Distribution (H) 5
  Social Science Distribution (SS) 5
  Total Credits 15

Students entering this degree plan should be strongly encouraged to complete a Math placement diagnostic examination prior to their first quarter of academic instruction.

Students are required to complete 3-5 credits in a Diversity (D) course. A list of courses that satisfy the Diversity Requirement can be found in the college catalog.

(Content has been updated for 2010-2011.)