Degree Offered
- Associate of Arts
Nature of the Program
The Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Studies Program provides students with the opportunity to complete the first two years of a criminal justice program and to transfer those credits into a four-year program. The program also allows students to earn a degree that will improve their employability in the law enforcement and corrections areas of criminal justice. The program can also be used by existing law enforcement and corrections personnel for the purpose of job enhancement.
Career Opportunities
Students with this degree often secure positions in municipal, county, or state law enforcement; and in institutional (jails and prisons) and community corrections. Entry-level federal law enforcement positions can be secured with completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Faculty
Chair
- Jeff Jones - M.S. Forestry
Year @ PSC (2003)
Professor
- Heidi B. Samuels - Ed.D Educational Leadership & M.S. Criminal Justice
Year @ PSC (2006)
Assistant professor
- Danielle Lessard - Ph.D., Criminal Justice
Year @ PSC (2018)
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEF Elective Requirements (2 and 6) | 6 | |
| ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1) | 6 |
| Select one of the following (GEF 3): | 3 | |
| Intro Concepts Of Mathematics | ||
| Algebra with Applications | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| COMM 104 | Fundamentals of Public Communication (GEF 5) | 3 |
| CS 101 | Intro to Computer Applications (GEF 2) | 4 |
| HIST 101 | European History: Antiquity to 1600 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| or HIST 152 | Growth of the American Nation to 1865 | |
| HIST 102 | European History since 1600 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| or HIST 153 | Making of Modern America: 1865 to the Present | |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology (GEF 8) | 3 |
| PSYC 281 | Introduction to Psychological Disorders (GEF 7) | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GEF 4) | 3 |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CJ 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Police Operations | ||
| Introduction to Corrections | ||
| Adjudication Process | ||
| Elective | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| CJ 101 | 3 | COMM 104 (GEF 5) | 3 |
| Select one of the following (GEF 3): | 3 | CS 101 (GEF 2) | 4 |
| PSYC 101 (GEF 8) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SOC 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| WVUE 191 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | HIST 102 or 153 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| GEF Elective (GEF 6) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| HIST 101 or 152 (GEF 8) | 3 | Elective | 1 |
| PSYC 281 (GEF 7) | 3 | ||
| GEF Elective (GEF 2A) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total credit hours: 60 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Criminal Justice, A.A.
- The student will be able to identify the role and responsibilities of a criminal justice professional in all areas of criminal justice.
- The student will be able to identify the basic components of the criminal justice system.
- The student will be able to identify behaviors which violate the criminal code.
- The student will be able to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal formats.
- The student will be able to perform individually and within groups
- The student will be able to identify and evaluate the theories of criminal behavior in both adult and juvenile criminal arenas.
- The student will be able to demonstrate the investigative techniques.
- The student will be able to work well with others and be understanding of personal differences.
- The student will be able to analyze and explain the adjudicatory process.
- The student will be able to evaluate issues of Constitutional law and identify individual rights.
- The student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of criminal procedures.