Criminal Justice, Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S)
The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice provides students with a comprehensive practical and professional knowledge of the Criminal Justice System, consisting of law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Students will develop a knowledge of the application of the law, social sciences, and criminology to prepare them to advance to the ACT120 Police Academy or transfer to a four-year college or university to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Outcomes
- Identify and analyze the core principles, practices and skills required for a successful career in criminal justice.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the functions and roles of all major aspects of the United States criminal justice system in society.
- Describe and evaluate the role of the criminal justice concepts of reasonable suspicion, probable cause, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt from interrogation, arrest, prosecution, and conviction.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of and sensitivity toward the ethnic, racial and gender diversity of American society, and an understanding of how these values can be reflected and projected by the criminal justice system.
- Identify and analyze the ethical issues that arise in each component of the criminal justice system.
Career Outlook
Systems created to maintain public order are in every community. These systems need to be continually created, revised, implemented, and upheld. Individuals working in the criminal justice field provide a valuable service to the public by supporting our criminal justice system and helping to ensure a safe environment for people to live, work and play. Occupations that benefit from criminal justice studies include:
- Police Officers
- Detectives
- Private Investigators
- Paralegals
Additional education may open opportunities such as:
- Lawyer
- FBI Agent
- S. Marshal
- Forensic Psychologist
Program Courses
REQUIRED PROGRAM COURSES
CJS 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CJS 103 Juvenile Justice
CJS 150 Criminal Law
CJS 170 Introduction to Corrections
CJS 180 Introduction to Policing
CJS 190 Race, Crime, and Justice
CJS 199 Criminal Justice Internship
GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES
Additional course requirements from the EC3 General Education Program.
GENERAL ELECTIVE COURSES
Select three (3) additional courses from the general education program course list as approved by program advisor.
Total for Degree: 20 courses
This information is for planning purposes only. EC3 will make every effort to offer the most updated curriculum information above but reserves the right to change, add, and cancel course offerings. Please check with your assigned advisor for the most updated class information.