A.S. in Criminal Justice

The A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice prepares men and women for a career of public service as a police officer, deputy sheriff, criminal investigator, or supervisor at local, state, and federal levels as well as transfer to a four year college or university. A great need exists for intelligent, well-educated personnel with a commitment toward professional growth in the justice system. The principles of criminal justice are enhanced by the range of courses in the general education pattern.

A.S. Degree Level Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Criminal Justice A.S. Degree will:

  1. Demonstrate an ability to write clearly and accurately about the administration of justice process using an appropriate vocabulary.
  2. Demonstrate critical and analytical thinking about issues in the administration of justice system.
  3. Demonstrate a comprehension and appreciation of the connections, contributions, experiences, and potential conflicts of various ethnic groups, races, and genders as they interact with the criminal justice system.
  4. Demonstrate an awareness of sciences and emerging technologies as it impacts the administration of justice.

Students receiving this degree must meet the following requirements:

  1. Complete the District General Education Pattern, CSUGE or IGETC.
    If transferring to a CSU or UC students are strongly recommended to complete the CSUGE or IGETC General Education Patterns. Students looking to transfer to an out of state or private college should consult with a counselor for the appropriate GE pattern selection.
  2. Complete with a “C” or better each course as specified by the major.
  3. Maintain an overall GPA of a 2.0 or better in all degree applicable coursework.
  4. Meet the local area requirement of Kinesiology/Dance.
Required courses:
AJ 101Introduction to the Administration of Justice3
AJ 102Concepts of Criminal Law3
AJ 103Legal Aspects of Evidence3
AJ 109Criminal Court Process3
AJ 112Community and the Justice System3
Select one (1) of the following courses:
Criminal Investigation3
Patrol Procedures3
Juvenile Procedures3
Narcotics and Vice Control3
Death Investigation3
Introduction to Probation and Parole3
Introduction to Corrections3
Control and Supervision in Corrections3
Correctional Interviewing and Counseling3
Legal Aspects of Corrections3
Introduction to Forensics3
Total Units18

2-Year Curriculum Map Example
This map represents one possible pathway through the program and is only for reference.

*It is highly recommended that you make an appointment to create a customized education plan that fits your needs.

Note: Co-requisite MATH course (2 units) and/or substitute ENGL 101E (5 units) may be needed based on placement.

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
AJ 101 Introduction to the Administration of Justice 3
ENGL 101
Reading and Composition
or Reading and Composition - Honors
4
MATH 165
Introductory Statistics
or Introductory Statistics - Honors
4
COUN 160
Strategies for College Success
or Pathways to Careers in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
3
 Units14
Winter Term 1
POLI 103
American Government and Politics
or American Government and Politics - Honors
3
 Units3
Spring Term 1
AJ 102 Concepts of Criminal Law 3
AJ 103 Legal Aspects of Evidence 3
ENGL 103
Composition and Critical Thinking
or Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking - Honors
3
SPCH 100
Interpersonal Communication
or Interpersonal Communication - Honors
or Public Address
or Public Address - Honors
or Small Group Communication
3
 Units12
Summer Term 1
ARCH 250
History of Architecture: Prehistory to Mannerism
or History of Architecture: Baroque to the Present Day
or Art History - Fundamentals of Global Art History
or Art History - Topics in Contemporary Art
or History of Photography
or Introduction to the Visual Arts
or Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
or History of Dance
or History of Rock and Roll
or Introduction to Theatre Arts
or Introduction to Theatre Arts - Honors
3
ETHN 101
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
or Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
3
 Units6
Fall Term 2
AJ 109 Criminal Court Process 3
AJ 112 Community and the Justice System 3
BIOL 105
General Biology
or General Biology - Honors
4
KIN 170
Fitness for Life
or Health and Wellness
or Health and Wellness - Honors
or Introduction to Nutrition
3
 Units13
Winter Term 2
HIST 107
History of the United States before 1877
or History of the United States before 1877 - Honors
or History of the United States since 1877
or History of the United States since 1877 - Honors
or History of Women in the United States
3
 Units3
Spring Term 2
AJ 105 Criminal Investigation 3
ANTH 210
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
or Introduction to Psychology
or Introduction to Sociology
3
ASL 101
American Sign Language I
or Chinese I
or Ethnic Voices in Film
or Children's Literature
or Children's Literature - Honors
or Literature of the Bible
or American Food And Culture: Global Origins, History, and Current Impacts
or Great Religions of the World
or Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
or Spanish I
or Spanish I - Honors
3
ASTR 115
Planetary Astronomy
or Planetary Astronomy - Honors
or Life In The Universe
or Physical Oceanography
or Introduction to Forest Ecology
or Physical Geography
or Introduction to Weather and Climate
3
 Units12
 Total Units63

Career Opportunities

There are a variety of careers you can do with this major.

 

To explore more about this major, schedule an appointment with a career counselor.