Public service programs

+ Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice

Timothy J. Jurkovac, Ph.D., program director

The associate degree in criminal justice focuses principally on the administrative and theoretical aspects of communication processes, ethnic relations, public administration, procedural justice, criminology, abnormal psychology, statistics and professional ethics. It is not oriented toward technical training, but is a logical sequence for further education for someone trained in police science.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates with this major will possess the following knowledge and skills:

• An orientation toward ethical practices in the pursuit of justice;
• An awareness and understanding of the criminal justice system and its role in a democratic society, from structural components of various institutions to problems confronted in the law enforcement and corrections agencies;
• A knowledge of the organizational structure and policy procedures of police agencies in contemporary society, as well as an appreciation for the issues and dilemmas the institution confronts;
• An understanding of the law—criminal, civil and personal liability/injury, due process, equal protection under the law and the role investigations play in the process, focusing on investigation techniques and the evaluation and preservation of data;
• A knowledge of the nature, causes, treatment and prevention of crime and evidence from the physiological, psychological and sociological perspectives.

First year

• General education
  
  • ENG 112 (3)
  • General education (9-11)
• Basic courses
  
  • MATH 115 (3)
  • PSYC 101 (4)
  • POLS 110 (3)
  • SOC 101 (3)
• Professional core
  
  • CRJU 210 (3)
  • CRJU 220 (3)

Second year

• General education
  
  • General education (3)
• Basic courses
  • PHIL 102 (3)
• Professional core
  
  • CRJU 230 (3)
• Professional electives
  
  • Select eight courses from: (24)
    CRJU 340, 395; PHIL 319; IPC 306; POLS 303, 331; PSYC 311 or SOC 301; PSYC 405; SOC 316, 340, 440; WS 200; or any course listed as a major core course or elective by the College of Health and Human Services.