The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Criminology and Criminal Justice prepares students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, and other private and public organizations. This degree program emphasizes understanding the structure, operation, and organizational dynamics of the adult and juvenile justice systems; professional ethics; and the role of victims in the criminal legal process.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the Admission Requirements for Associate Degrees.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Associate of Applied Science Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Associate of Applied Science Degrees.
- Complete the following major requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST A110 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| JUST A175 | Introduction to Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| JUST A200 | Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| JUST A221 | Dynamics of Criminal Justice Organizations | 3 |
| JUST A251 | Theories of Crime and Criminal Offending | 3 |
| JUST A330 | Ethics in Criminal Justice Practice and Policy | 3 |
| JUST A333 | Crime Victimization and Justice | 3 |
| JUST A334 | Police and Society | 3 |
| JUST/LEGL A374 | The Courts | 3 |
| JUST A384 | Contemporary Corrections | 3 |
| LEGL A352 | Criminal Law: Murder, Robbery, and Other Crimes | 3 |
| Complete 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Data Analysis in Criminology and Criminal Justice | ||
| Crime Prevention | ||
| Rural Justice | ||
| Justice Theory and Policy Analysis | ||
| Total | 36 | |
A minimum of 60 credits is required for the degree.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an Associates of Applied Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice will be able to:
- Describe the structure and operation of the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
- Summarize the primary correlates and causes of crime and criminal offending.
- Evaluate competing perspectives on ethics and professional conduct within justice professions.
- Identify risk factors for criminal victimization and describe the role played by victims in the criminal legal process.
The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.
Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.
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Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
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GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
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Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
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Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
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Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
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Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| JUST A110 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| JUST A175 | Introduction to Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| GER Oral Communication Skills | 3 | |
| GER Written Communication Skills | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JUST A200 | Introduction to Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| JUST A221 | Dynamics of Criminal Justice Organizations | 3 |
| JUST A251 | Theories of Crime and Criminal Offending | 3 |
| GER Written Communication Skills | 3 | |
| GER Quantitative Skills | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| JUST A330 | Ethics in Criminal Justice Practice and Policy | 3 |
| JUST A334 | Police and Society | 3 |
| LEGL A352 | Criminal Law: Murder, Robbery, and Other Crimes | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JUST A333 | Crime Victimization and Justice | 3 |
| JUST A374 | The Courts | 3 |
| JUST A384 | Contemporary Corrections | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Program Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |