The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree is designed to provide our students with a solid foundation of the criminal justice system. Students are introduced to law enforcement and correctional concepts and practices. They also study law and social sciences as applied to the field of criminal justice. Current themes in criminal justice including criminal justice reform, bail reform, poverty, decarceration, and restorative justice are explored to provide our students with the innovative tools for creating effective changes in communities throughout the United States. The program level objectives for students completing the AS in Criminal Justice are as follows:

1. Trace and articulate the historical impact of the U.S. Constitution on the formation of the American criminal justice system
2. Analyze and articulate the major components of American criminal justice system, including an evaluation of the impact of processes and public policy on each component
3. Formulate a standard competency for analyzing the concepts of criminal law and criminal law cases
4. Define, evaluate and critique the nature, extent and cause of crime(s) and the relevant theories that apply to such crimes
5. Assess the value and importance of ethical decision-making by the various criminal justice actors within the hierarchy of their organizations
6. Develop interpersonal and professional skills essential for academic and professional development

Graduates of this degree program are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and effective work habits required for entry-level positions in criminal justice and related fields.

Requirements

Recommended Sequence 

¹

Electives should be chosen based on advisement. Both Open Electives can be used to fulfill the Legal Studies Concentration. 

Legal Studies Concentration