Criminal Justice Technology (AAS)

Program Description

A working knowledge of the criminal justice system is provided by the criminal justice courses in the curriculum, an understanding of human behavior is provided by the psychology and sociology courses, and the government courses provide knowledge of bureaucratic structure.

Students completing the required courses are prepared to compete for jobs in the criminal justice field at the local and state level. Those students desiring employment with federal law enforcement agencies usually need to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree. They are also qualified to enter the private security field.

The certificate program is basically designed for persons presently employed in the criminal justice system. Many people now working in that field received no formal training for their job, and this certificate program is designed to provide them with the basic skills necessary to perform their jobs.

Those interested in a four-year bachelor’s degree should enroll in the Associate in Science degree program in the Transfer Programs section of this catalog.


Students who complete this program will be able to:

  • Read, analyze, and apply criminal justice texts, laws, and cases.
  • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
  • Be prepared to work in the criminal justice field with sensitivity and recognition of cultural and socioeconomic differences
  • Be prepared to work in the criminal justice field with the ability to recognize common ethics-related situations encountered by criminal justice professionals, and will be prepared to respond appropriately
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the origins of criminal behavior, society’s response to crime, and the consequences of crime to our society, utilizing multiple perspectives.
  • Articulate ethical implications of decision making in a professional capacity.

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Suggested Courses

Course (Credit Hours):

First Semester

COMM 100 Communication Skills (3)
CRJU 109 Police Community Relations (3)
CRJU 151 Criminal Justice System (3)
SOC 101 Principles of Sociology (3)
SPEC 114 Interpersonal Communication (3)

Second Semester

CRJU 104 Police Administration (3)
CRJU 152 Criminology (3)
CRJU 153 Survey of Corrections (3)
POLS 122 American National Government (3)
SOC 102 Contemporary Social Problems (3)

Third Semester

CRJU 253 Probation and Parole (3)
CRJU 254 Criminal Investigation I (3)
CRJU 255 Criminal Law (3)
MATH 110/110C Mathematics for General Education (3)
SOC 261 Deviant Behavior (3)

Fourth Semester

CRJU 245 Applied Forensics (3)
CRJU 257 Ethics in Criminal Justice (3)
SOC 250 Social Inequality (3)
1CRJU Electives (3)
2CRJU 295 Topics in Criminal Justice (3)

Minimum total hours required for degree: 60

1This requirement may be fulfilled by any course approved by the program director.
2This requirement may be taken whenever a CRJU 295 Topics in Criminal Justice course is offered, including Minimester or Summer Session.
SOC 101 is pre-req for CRJU 152
CRJU 152 is pre-req for CRJU 247
CRJU 153 is pre-req for CRJU 253
COMM 100 & POLS 122 are pre-reqs for CRJU 255
COMM 100 & CRJU 109 are pre-reqs for CRJU 257

Minimum total hours required for degree: 60