Criminal Justice, A.A.

Program Description

This program is also available completely online. 

Students in the Criminal Justice, A. A. program learn about the various areas in the field of criminal justice. These areas encompass law enforcement, investigations, court and administrative services, corrections, private security, and juvenile justice. Students learn about investigative techniques and analysis of data and how to use critical thinking to interpret crimes and crime scenes. Additionally, students learn effective communication skills to use with colleagues and the community. The Criminal Justice, A.A program transfers to four-year colleges and universities that offer a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Criminal Justice, AA 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 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

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)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement: Critical Course)
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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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 Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Requirement)
• CJT-1530 Community Policing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing for Business Credits: 3

• (English General Education Requirement)

• CJT-2510 Criminal Law Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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

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• CJT-2800 Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PSY-1010 General Psychology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement)

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

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

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

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

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• SOC-2030 Criminology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• BIO-1100 Forensic Biology Credits: 4 (General Education Science w/ Lab Elective) or
• BIO-1010 General Biology Credits: 4 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective)

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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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• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image Credits: 1 (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.