Criminal Justice Studies, Associate of Applied Science
The CCBC Criminal Justice Studies degree program is designed to prepare students for service to the community in the fields of law enforcement, homeland security, juvenile services, private security, parole and probation, corrections and law.
In-service criminal justice professionals are encouraged to seek guidance from their campus Criminal Justice Studies faculty concerning credit-by-examination for selected academy courses. Credit for prior learning may also be available.
All students are encouraged to discuss their course selections and career plans with their campus Criminal Justice Studies faculty in order to be better prepared to meet the continuing challenges presented by these rewarding careers.
Because transfer institutions vary widely in their requirements, it is strongly recommended that students who plan to pursue Criminal Justice Studies courses for transfer to four-year colleges or universities speak with their campus faculty before registering for any courses.
All Criminal Justice Studies courses leading to the A.A.S. degree are designed to enhance understanding of the criminal justice field, but they do not have to be taken in the exact order listed. Program requirements are offered each semester; however, they are not offered on every campus each semester. It is strongly encouraged that students speak with their campus faculty before registering for any courses. Course work may be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis, as well as online.
Program objectives
Upon successful completion of this degree, students will be able to:
- distinguish between the components of the criminal justice system and the branch of government they are responsible to;
- identify and explain the procedural steps faced by an accused in the criminal justice system;
- analyze the elements of the "Due process of law" clause guaranteed by the United States Constitution and enforced by American courts for both juvenile and adult offenders, as well as explain how "Case law" originates and affects such "Due process"; and
- evaluate the importance of ethical behavior in the criminal justice professions and give examples of both ethical and non-ethical behaviors.
