Criminology and Criminal Justice, A.S.

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The Associate of Science degree with a major in Criminology and Criminal Justice is viewed as the first step toward earning a baccalaureate degree. Courses in this associate degree program fulfill many of the course requirement in the baccalaureate program. Beyond the required courses, students are allowed to select 18 credit hours of CCJ course work of their choosing. As a result, students develop a broad understanding of the criminal justice system and criminal behavior.

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

Program-Specific Degree Requirements: To be eligible for graduation, students pursuing an Associate of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, must earn a 2.0 or higher in all CCJ courses.

General Education Requirement

First Year Seminar

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundations Requirements

Choose 3 credits of the following Global Citizenship courses or students have the option to complete this requirement by successfully completing 6 credits of the same foreign language:

ECO 200 Principles of Economics (Macro) 3 credit hours
G 100 World Regional Geography 3 credit hours
HIS 102 The West in the World 3 credit hours
PS 102 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit hours

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirement

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 200 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours crosslisted as WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:

ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
ENT 150 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 credit hours
MKT 100 Principles of Marketing 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
REC 101 Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Natural and Physical Sciences courses:

BIO 204 Exploring Biology 3 credit hours
CHM 240 Perspectives on the Molecular World 3 credit hours
CHM 241 Perspectives on the Molecular World Lab 0 credit hours
G 151 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 credit hours
G 152 Introduction to Physical Geography Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 252 Science and Sustainability 3 credit hours

Required Courses

Required Major Courses

CCJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credit hours
CCJ 203 Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice 3 credit hours

Criminology and Criminal Justice Electives

Students must complete 18 credits of CCJ elective courses.

General Elective Courses

Students must complete 6 credits of free elective courses.

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshmen Year (30 credits)

CCJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credit hours
CCJ 203 Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice 3 credit hours
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
Foundations course 3 credit hours
Foundations course 3 credit hours
Foundations course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Criminology and Criminal Justice Elective courses 6 credit hours

Sophomore Year (30 credits)

Criminology and Criminal Justice Elective courses 12 credit hours
Foundations course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours