The Criminal Justice Option Degree curriculum is designed to prepare
students for entry-level employment in local, state, federal, or private
sector criminal justice agencies that do not require bachelor’s degrees,
and to provide students who wish to transfer to a four-year academic
institution with 27 units of criminal justice course work. This degree
prepares students for careers in the fields of law enforcement,
probation, corrections, courts, and private security
Required Courses (21 units):
CJ 101
-or-
CJ 101H | Introduction to Criminal Justice
Honors introduction to Criminal Justice | 3
3 |
CJ 102 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
CJ 103
-or-
CJ 103H | Concepts of Criminal Law
Honors Concepts of Criminal Law | 3
3 |
CJ 105 | Legal Aspects of Evidence | 3 |
CJ 107
-or- Paralegal 107 | Principles & Procedures in the Criminal Justice System
Principles & Procedures in the Criminal Justice System | 3
3 |
CJ 109
-or-
CJ 109H | Community Interaction
Honors Community Interaction | 3
3 |
CJ 148 | Writing Skills for Criminal Justice Personnel | 3 |
Elective Courses (6 units):
| CJ 104 | Prison Experience | 3 |
| CJ 106 | Coroner Death Investigation | 3 |
| CJ 108 | Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| CJ 110 | Street Gangs | 3 |
| CJ 205 | Criminal Investigation Principles | 3 |
| CJ 209 | Organized Crime | 3 |
| CJ 210 | Drug Abuse & Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 220 | Juvenile Delinquency & Control | 3 |
*Completion of Criminal Justice Academies 99A, Basic Police Academy, will satisfy the requirements in lieu of the above 6 units of electives. All students must complete the basic seven course core curriculum to qualify for the degree.
Suggested Course Sequence for Criminal Justice AS Degree
| CJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice | CJ 105: Legal Aspects of Evidence | *CJ 103: Concepts of Criminal Law | ***CJ 102: Introduction to Corrections |
| | CJ 107: Principles and Procedures in The Criminal Justice System | **CJ 148: Writing Skills for Criminal Justice Personnel | CJ 109: Community Interactions |
| | CJ Elective | CJ Elective | |
*Students are advised to complete CJ101 before (however CJ101 is not a prerequisite)
**Due to the amount of writing involved, students pursuing the AS degree are advised not to wait until the last semester to take CJ 148
***recommended for students interested in the field of corrections or probation
