Criminal Justice (AS.CRJ)

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Students graduating with an AS degree in Criminal Justice will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between the criminal justice system and process.

2. Identify the agencies that make up the criminal justice system, describe the functions of each, and explain the roles/responsibilities of the criminal justice personnel who work in those agencies.

3. Identify the specific stages of the criminal justice process, from arrest to appeal, describe the amount of proof required at each stage, who must offer that proof, and explain what happens at each particular stage of the process.

4. Identify and explain the various sources of law in American society, distinguish between criminal and civil law, and identify U.S. Constitutional Amendments most relevant to the criminal justice process. Students will also identify and explain how certain landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions have shaped and influenced the American criminal justice process.

5. Explain the theories/justifications for criminal punishment and articulate the strengths and weaknesses of each theory. Students will examine how our government imposes punishment on convicted offenders, learn the differences between institutional and community correctional practices and programs, and demonstrate an understanding of the pros and cons of each approach.

6. Explain the difference between organization and management, understand how various criminal justice agencies are organized and managed, and identify who serves as the chief managers of specific criminal justice agencies. Additionally, students will understand and explain how a criminal justice organization influences the behavior of its personnel, as well as how it influences and is influenced by the environment in which it operates.

To complete the AS in Criminal Justice, students must complete the following coursework:

Majors must earn an overall 2.0 average in CRJ and CRJ-related (approved) courses in the major.

Complete these core courses (15 cr):

Majors should complete CRJ 1010, CRJ 2020, CRJ 2080, and CRJ 2510 in their first two years of study.

CRJ 1010 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 cr (must be completed with a C or better)
CRJ 2010 - Law Enforcement in America 3 cr
CRJ 2020 - American Judicial Process 3 cr
CRJ 2080 - Correctional Philosophies and Practices 3 cr
CRJ 2510 - Criminal Law 3 cr

And complete at least 4 CRJ or CRJ-approved electives, which may include any 2 of these courses (12 cr):

SOC 2210 - Deviant Behavior 3 cr
SOC 3210 - Criminology 3 cr
SOC 3410 - Dismantling Rape Culture 3 cr
SWK 2020 - Family Violence 3 cr

And complete 1 of the following courses (3 cr):

SOC 2040 - Race, Ethnicity, Class and Gender 3 cr
SWK 2040 - Discrimination in American Society 3 cr

And complete these specific General Education courses (9 cr):

MAT 2021 - Statistics I 3 cr
PSY 1012 - Introduction to Psychological Science 3 cr
SOC 1010 - Introduction to Sociology 3 cr

(Credits required for the major: 39 cr)

Note:

In-service students should discuss these requirements with their Criminal Justice Advisor and/or the Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program. Transfer students from criminal justice programs in other schools are urged to review their transcript evaluation with their Advisor and /or the Coordinator. They must satisfy the General Education and academic major requirements, regardless of the number of criminal justice credits transferred.