Criminal Justice, AAS

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PURPOSE: This program provides students with opportunities to develop and improve skills necessary for success as local, state or federal law enforcement or correctional officers; commercial and industrial security officers; and private or government investigators.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Students must meet JTCC admission requirements. Students must also complete placements tests (or equivalent) in English and mathematics, and scores will be used for appropriate course placement. If students have deficiencies in English and/or mathematics, JTCC offers developmental and prerequisite courses to prepare students for the curriculum. Persons entering the public or private sectors of criminal justice employment will be subjected to intensive physical agility tests, background investigations, psychological testing, personal interviews, physical examinations and polygraph examinations.

By the completion of this program, students will be expected to demonstrate an introductory level of competency in the following skills:

Model appropriate and ethical behavior during criminal justice simulations.
Identify and describe each component of the criminal justice system (police, courts, corrections), giving at least 2 examples of each part of the system.
Explain the purpose of the juvenile justice system, including its history, rights of juveniles, and dispositional alternatives.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different theories for causation of crime.
Analyze interactive approaches of law enforcement agencies and the citizenry they serve.

Text in italics and parentheses indicates approved course substitutions. Pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements can be found in course details.

Required Courses

ADJ 100 - Survey of Criminal Justice 3 credits
ADJ 133 - Ethics and the Criminal Justice Professional 3 credits
ADJ 160 - Police Response to Critical Incidents 3 credits
ADJ 211 - Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedures I 3 credits
ADJ 227 - Constitutional Law for Justice Personnel 3 credits (ADJ 241 )
ADJ 229 - Law Enforcement and the Community 3 credits (ADJ 145 )
MILESTONE: Criminal Justice Career Studies Certificate
SDV 100 - College Success Skills 1 credit
ENG 111 - College Composition I 3 credits
ITE 115 - Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts 3 credits ¹
MTH 130 - Fundamentals of Reasoning 3 credits
PSY 200 - Principles of Psychology 3 credits
SOC 200 - Principles of Sociology 3 credits
CST 100 - Principles of Public Speaking 3 credits
PED 116 - Lifetime Fitness and Wellness 2 credits or
HLT 160 - Personal Health and Fitness 3 credits
ADJ 105 - The Juvenile Justice System 3 credits
ADJ 107 - Survey of Criminology 3 credits
ADJ 111 - Law Enforcement Organization and Administration I 3 credits (ADJ 245 )
ADJ 236 - Principles of Criminal Investigation 3 credits
ADJ 247 - Criminal Behavior 3 credits
ADJ 170 - Street Gangs and Law Enforcement 3 credits ² or
ADJ 228 - Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs 3 credits ²

Philosophy or Religion Elective (choose 1): 3 Credits

PHI 220 - Ethics 3 credits
REL 100 - Introduction to the Study of Religion 3 credits
REL 230 - Religions of the World 3 credits

Total Minimum Credits to Complete: 60-61

NOTES:

¹Students with strong computer skills may seek to satisfy this requirement by CLEP.

²Approved Course Substitutions listed above (ADJ 145 , ADJ 241 , and ADJ 245 ) may be used as an elective if not used as course substitution.

³Students are strongly encouraged to take their SDV, ENG, and MTH requirements first.

⁴Part-time students should consult their faculty advisors regarding appropriate course sequences.

⁵Transfer to Four-Year Colleges and Universities – Students should consult their academic advisors and their intended transfer institutions for specific direction in course selection. Required courses for any major at four-year institutions may vary.

⁶Students should regularly check their advisement report in MyTyler-SIS.