Criminal Justice, A.S.

Modern criminal justice professionals must be educated in a vast array of subject matter that reaches far beyond what is learned in the academy. The Criminal Justice program was designed with the intent of offering students a hands-on experience as well as a traditional classroom education. The combination will make them well-rounded and capable of understanding today’s changing criminal justice system.

The associate degree in Criminal Justice provides students the opportunity to experience and learn about all aspects of the criminal justice system. The program will develop the critical-thinking skills necessary for modern law enforcement, security, emergency response and investigative professions. Students will be exposed to contemporary policing issues as well as the historical development and future of criminal justice. The Criminal Justice program offers a unique opportunity to focus elective courses on homeland security, computer crime, forensics or law enforcement, in addition to the contemporary law enforcement subjects.

Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for entry-level positions or advancement in a criminal justice profession. These career opportunities may be in areas such as federal, state, or municipal law enforcement, corrections and security, and include jobs such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Bureau of Prisons, and private and personal security agencies.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all the general associate graduation requirements as stated in the catalog. In addition, students must complete the Criminal Justice major core courses with a minimum grade of “C-” in each course and a cumulative GPA of 2.3.