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.