Criminal Justice, A.A.S.

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 prepares students to directly enter the workforce, and also satisfies most of the requirements for transfer to four-year institutions. 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 32 college credits toward their associate degree when they enroll at the college.

This program is also available completely online. 

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Criminal Justice A.A.S. will be able to:

• Analyze 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 basic theories of police operations and community-oriented policing
• Apply the critical thinking skills needed for appropriate ethical decision-making in law enforcement-related fields
• Discuss the appropriate skills needed in communication, observation, investigation, evaluation and personal safety in law enforcement situations
• Analyze appropriate professional standards, ethics, and leadership skills

General Education Courses

The list of general education courses appears in the General Education List . Some programs recommend or require specific courses to fulfill general education requirements. Please check your program’s sequence of study for this information.

Sequence of Study - Criminal Justice A.A.S.

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 Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• CJT-1510 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement; Critical Course)
• CJT-1520 Police Operations Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement; Critical Course)
• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Requirement)
• PSY-1010 General Psychology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement; Critical Course)
• CJT-1530 Community Policing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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

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• CJT-2510 Criminal Law Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing for Business Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)
• CJT-2530 Criminal Investigation Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (General Education Requirement Science, No Lab)
• CJT-2540 Criminal Evidence and Procedure Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• CJT-2580 Juvenile Delinquency Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• CJT-2800 Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• CJT-1700 Victimology and Violence Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• CJT-1730 Introduction to Security Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• CJT-1740 Security Operations Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• CJT-2560 Terrorism and Biosecurity Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• CJT-2570 Police Management Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• CJT-2900 Capstone Seminar in Criminal Justice Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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

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• CJT-2920 Criminal Justice Internship II Credits: 2 (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.