Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice

60.00 Semester Units, 980.5-1010.5 Clock Hours

The Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice is a comprehensive 18-month program designed to prepare graduates for entry-level careers including, not only law enforcement, courts, and corrections, but also private sector employment such as private investigations, security, and victim advocacy agencies. The program emphasizes critical thinking and analysis, problem solving and decision-making, in the context of professional ethics, Constitutional protections, and citizens’ rights. Graduates will have amassed vast knowledge and skills in law enforcement procedures, correctional operations, and court systems supported by a healthy foundation of criminal justice fundamental theories and applications.

Additionally, the program offers a robust general education component intended to provide graduates with a healthy and broad base of knowledge, skills, and abilities for both personal and professional development. Graduates will have a broad exposure to the elements of the criminal justice system including structure and interrelated agencies of the criminal justice system, social theories, law, policy and procedures, correctional operations, as well as current trends and practices in the field. Graduates of the program are expected to have successfully developed the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitude to attain and succeed as a criminal justice professional in this high demand field.

The objectives of the AS Degree in Criminal Justice include:

The Post 9-11 society has seen massive amounts of governmental restructuring to ensure the future safety, security, and well being of the United States and the world at large. This has opened a vast array of new and expanding positions in the field and made criminal justice one of the fastest growing careers in the nation according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Many organizations currently require a minimum of an AS in Criminal Justice for entry and/or advancement and promotional opportunities. Parole agencies have an even higher standard, requiring agents to possess a minimum of a baccalaureate. Graduates can look forward to careers in public safety, law enforcement, emergency services, corrections, and corporate/private investigation, intelligence, and security institutions.

This program serves as an excellent foundation for the B.S. degree in Criminal Justice.

See the following matrix for program course listing: