Criminal Justice Administration, Associate in Applied Science
Curriculum CJA.CJA.AAS (C243A)
The American system of Criminal Justice is comprised of three major components: law enforcement, courts and correctional systems at community, county, state and federal levels.
Criminal Justice Administration is a comprehensive field with career opportunities in several areas: law enforcement; probation, parole and corrections; social-justice services; and security and loss prevention. Prepares students for careers in public and private agencies in the social and criminal justice system. The two-year program includes the study of contemporary and advanced problems in modern law enforcement, as well as criminal justice systems, administration, criminal laws and procedures, police and community relations, and criminalistics.
Students who wish to become probation, parole or corrections officers will receive the necessary foundation through this program. The study of law, social and justice agencies, and criminal offenders is included, with emphasis on corrections.
Study of careers in the social-justice services includes such agencies as the Department of Children and Family Services, Public Aid, Corrections, and psychiatric and medical agencies.
Private Security is an emerging career field in need of personnel with qualified credentials. The Criminal Justice program provides courses to prepare students for entry-level security, armed and unarmed. Areas of employment include corporate, industrial and homeland security, hospital, airline, bank, railroad, as well as college and university security.
Students planning additional study at a four-year college or university should enroll in the Associate in Science (CJA.CJA.AS (U230A43)) or the Associate in Arts degree programs (CJA.CJA.AA, (U224A43), which requires a concentration of general education courses combined with selected core criminal justice courses and electives.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the successful completion of the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration program, the graduate will be able to:
- demonstrate the fundamental concepts regarding the operation of the criminal justice system in the United States;
- identify the fundamental elements of law and how they apply to the judicial process;
- discuss the procedures for the enforcement of law, the processing of an individual through the courts system, and the treatment of offenders within the correctional system;
- recognize the differences between the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems;
- apply historical and modern day theories to explain criminal behavior;
- demonstrate professional competencies to meet the needs of career opportunities and requirements for employment in the disciplines of the criminal justice system; and
- develop skills for critical thinking and professional writing.
Associate in Applied Science Degree
| CJA 111 ◊ Introduction to Criminal Justice | | 3 credits |
| CJA 121 ◊ Introduction to Corrections | | 3 credits |
| CJA 148 ◊ Police/Community Relations | | 3 credits |
| CJA 161 ◊ Administration of Justice | | 3 credits |
| RHT 101 ◊ # Freshman Rhetoric & Composition I | | 3 credits |
| Total Semester Credits: | 15 |
| CJA 171 ◊ Patrol Administration | | 3 credits |
| CJA 175 Report Writing for Criminal Justice | | 3 credits |
| CJA 181 ◊ Juvenile Delinquency & Law | | 3 credits |
| | | |
| RHT 102 ◊ # Freshman Rhetoric & Composition II | | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| SPE 101 ◊ # Principles of Effective Speaking | | 3 credits |
| | | |
| Electives | | 3 credits |
| Total Semester Credits: | 15 |
| CJA 201 ◊ # Criminology | | 3 credits |
| CJA 219 ◊ Criminal Law I | | 3 credits |
| CJA 257 ◊ # Law Enforcement Administration | | 3 credits |
| General education/Mathematics and/or Science | | 3-4 credits |
| | | |
| General education/Social and Behavioral Science | | 3 credits |
| PSY 100 ◊ Introduction to Psychology | | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| SOC 100 ◊ Introduction to Sociology | | 3 credits |
| Total Semester Credits: | 15-16 |
| CJA 236 ◊ # Criminal Law II | | 3 credits |
| CJA 241 ◊ Traffic Enforcement & Administration | | 3 credits |
| CJA 246 ◊ # Laws of Evidence | | 3 credits |
| CJA 290 # Criminal Justice Capstone | | 3 credits |
| | | |
| PHL 103 ◊ Ethics | | 3 credits |
| OR | | |
| PHL 105 ◊ World Religions | | 3 credits |
| Total Semester Credits: | 15 |
Total Credit Hours: 60-61
See CJA course descriptions.
See Humanities and Mathematics and/or Science General Education requirements.
Recommended electives (3): CJA 106◊, CJA 107◊, CJA 115◊, CJA 116◊, CJA 117◊, CJA 118◊, CJA 125◊, CJA 127◊, CJA 131◊, CJA 140◊ CJA 166◊, CJA 205◊, CJA 296◊, CJA 298◊, CIS 100◊, CIS 101◊; CWE 290◊, CWE 291◊; PED 106◊, PED 120◊; SOC 131◊, SOC 225◊; PHL 101◊, PHL 103◊
Note: Upon petition, students successfully completing professional-training courses sponsored or sanctioned by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, or an equivalent accrediting agency, may receive up to 24 hours of credit. All documentation, including official transcripts, course descriptions, and course outlines, will be reviewed by the program coordinator to determine the number of hours of credit to be granted toward the Associate in Applied Science degree or certificate.
Coordinator: Gregory Catena, Ext. 3327