General Studies A.A. with Area of Concentration in Criminal Justice

Program Description

The field of criminal justice encompasses law enforcement, investigations, court and administrative services, corrections, private security, and juvenile justice. Each area requires individuals who can speak and write well, and who can work well with colleagues and the community. The individuals need to be skilled in management, investigative techniques, analysis of data, and critical thinking. This degree option readily transfers to four-year colleges and universities that offer a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Prince George’s Community College has a partnership with the Prince George’s County Police Department. Graduates who complete their training at the county’s Police Academy may receive up to eighteen college credits toward their associate degree when they enroll at the college.

Graduates of the Criminal Justice Transfer Concentration will be able to:

• Categorize the history of the criminal justice, courts, and corrections systems in the United States
• Analyze the United States criminal justice system, criminal laws, and the rules of evidence
• Apply the concepts of community-oriented policing
• Apply the critical thinking skills needed for appropriate ethical decision-making in law enforcement-related fields

Sequence of Study - Criminal Justice Transfer Concentration A.A.

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not  include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience 1 Credit (Institutional Requirement)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology 3 Credits (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement; Critical Course)
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology 3 Credits (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing 3 Credits (English General Education Requirement; Critical Course)

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• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics 3 Credits (Mathematics General Education Requirement)
• CJT-1510 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credits (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing For Business 3 Credits (English General Education Requirement)

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• PHL-1010 Introduction to Philosophy: The Art of Questioning 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• SPN-1010 Spanish for Beginners 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• PSY-1010 General Psychology 3 Credits (Social Science General Education Requirement)
• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition 3 Credits (General Education Requirement Science, No Lab)

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• HST-1410 History of the United States to 1877 3 Credits (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• HST-1430 History of the United States since 1877 3 Credits (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• HST-1510 History of African Americans to 1877 3 Credits (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• HST-1530 History of African Americans since 1877 3 Credits (Social Science General Education Elective)

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• CJT-1530 Community Policing 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• CJT-2510 Criminal Law 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• CJT-2800 Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• BIO-1100 Forensic Biology 4 Credits (Science w/ Lab General Education Requirement)

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• CJT-2530 Criminal Investigation 3 Credits (Program Elective) or
• CJT-2540 Criminal Evidence and Procedure 3 Credits (Program Elective) or
• CJT-2580 Juvenile Delinquency 3 Credits (Program Elective)

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• SOC-2010 Social Problems 3 Credits (Program Elective) or
• PSY-2130 Forensic Psychology 3 Credits (Program Elective)

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• SOC-2030 Criminology 3 Credits (Program Requirement)

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• POS-1010 American National Government 3 Credits (Program Elective) or
• POS-1020 State and Local Government 3 Credits (Program Elective)

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• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image 1 Credit (Program Requirement)

Program Total: 60 Credits

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the  same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.