Undergraduate Catalog 2019-20 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2019-20 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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.

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


And complete these specific General Education courses (9 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.

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