Criminal Justice, AAS

Program of Study

The Criminal Justice program is designed for students who are interested in the criminal justice field, but do not want to pursue the traditional roles of Police Officer or Sheriff’s Deputy. Graduates of the program will learn the technical skills needed to enter or advance in a wide variety of positions in the criminal justice field.

Graduates earning a two-year Criminal Justice degree from Terra State can transfer to four-year institutions to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Requirements vary depending on the student’s ultimate goal. Students interested in bachelor’s completion should contact an advisor or a representative from the Allied Health, Nursing and Public Services Division.

The faculty has identified the following Learning Outcomes for all graduates:

Explain and analyze the origins and evolution of the criminal justice system, including policing, corrections, and criminology.
Differentiate and explain roles and practical functions of law enforcement officers, courts and corrections facilities.
Explain and apply different theories of crime, sentencing, and corrections.
Identify and demonstrate the ability to use technologies used in various aspects of the criminal justice system.
Define and discuss applications of ethical behavior within the criminal justice system.
Define forensic psychology and analyze the major issues surrounding the applications of psychological studies to the criminal justice system.
Identify and classify psychoactive drug and analyze the effects of these drugs and the challenges of intervention, enforcement, and treatment.

POTENTIAL OCCUPATIONS:

Communication Officer
Correctional Officer
Guard
Probation Officer
Parole Officer
Juvenile Corrections Officer

Technical Concentration

LEN 1090 - Psychoactive Drugs 3 Credit
LEN 1100 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credit
LEN 1210 - Criminal Code 3 Credit
LEN 1400 - Policing 3 Credit
LEN 1700 - Practicum 1 Credit
LEN 2040 - Investigation Techniques 3 Credit
LEN 2090 - Report Writing 3 Credit
LEN 2150 - Community Relations 3 Credit
LEN 2200 - Corrections 3 Credit
LEN 2240 - Psychology and the Criminal Justice System 3 Credit
LEN 2400 - Criminology 3 Credit

Total Technical Credit Hours: 31

General Education and Related Courses

DLS 1090 - Digital Literacy and Applications 3 Credit
GEN 1000 - First-Year Seminar 1 Credit
English Composition
3 Credits
PHL 1010 - Introduction to Ethics 3 Credit
PLS 1000 - American Government 3 Credit
PSY 1210 - General Psychology 3 Credit
SOC 2010 - Fundamentals of Sociology 3 Credit
SPE 2200 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit
Natural Science Electives
6 Credits
OTM-approved Mathematics
(choose one from the list) 3-5 Credits*

Total General Education and Related Credit Hours: 31

Total Credit Hours: 62

*Students should complete a 2000 level mathematics course if transferring.

See your advisor for appropriate course selection.