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  • Criminal Justice Studies, A.A.
WVU Potomac State College Catalog

Criminal Justice Studies, A.A.

  • Overview
  • Faculty
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes

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

  • Dr. 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)

Admissions

Entering freshmen are admitted directly into the major.

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.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

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

Course List
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
MATH 121
Intro Concepts Of Mathematics
MATH 124
Algebra with Applications
MATH 126
College Algebra
COMM 104Fundamentals of Public Communication (GEF 5)3
CS 101Intro to Computer Applications (GEF 2)4
HIST 101European History: Antiquity to 1600 (GEF 8)3
or HIST 152 Growth of the American Nation to 1865
HIST 102European History since 1600 (GEF 8)3
or HIST 153 Making of Modern America: 1865 to the Present
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology (GEF 8)3
PSYC 281Introduction to Psychological Disorders (GEF 7)3
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology (GEF 4)3
WVUE 191First Year Seminar1
CJ 101Introduction to Criminal Justice3
Select one of the following:3
CJ 111
Police Operations
CJ 206
Introduction to Corrections
CJ 245
Adjudication Process
Elective16
Total Hours60

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3
CJ 1013COMM 104 (GEF 5)3
Select one of the following (GEF 3):3CS 101 (GEF 2)4
MATH 121
 PSYC 101 (GEF 8)3
MATH 124
 Elective3
MATH 126
  
SOC 101 (GEF 4)3 
Elective3 
WVUE 1911 
 16 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Select one of the following:3HIST 102 or 153 (GEF 8)3
CJ 111
 GEF Elective (GEF 6)3
CJ 206
 Elective3
CJ 245
 Elective3
HIST 101 or 152 (GEF 8)3Elective1
PSYC 281 (GEF 7)3 
GEF Elective (GEF 2A)3 
Elective3 
 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.
  • Agribusiness Management
  • Agricultural and Extension Education
  • Animal Science
  • Business Administration, A.A.
  • Business Technology, A.A.S.
  • Business Management, B.A.S.
  • Computer Information Systems, A.A.S.
  • Computer Information Systems, B.A.S.
  • Criminal Justice Studies, A.A.
  • Criminal Justice Studies, A.A.S.
  • Criminal Justice, B.A.S.
  • Economics
  • Forest Resource Management
  • General Agriculture
  • General Technical Studies
  • Horticulture
  • Hospitality, A.A.S.
  • Pre-​Veterinary Medicine
  • Recreation, Parks, &​ Tourism Resources
  • Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship, A.A.S.
  • Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship, B.A.S.
  • Technical Studies: Carpentry Technology
  • Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
  • Wood Science and Technology

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