Criminal Justice, A.A.S.

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Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Criminal Justice
CIP Code: (27) 43.0104.00
SOC Code: 33-3011.00

For more information, visit the Social Science and Education Department webpage or contact the Social Science and Education division at 615-230-3231 or ssed@volstate.edu.

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree is for students wanting to complete an associate degree and find employment after graduation, with no intention of transferring to a four-year university or college. The AAS is a multi-disciplinary degree program with courses in criminal law, investigation, corrections, terrorism, policing, and report writing; preparing students for entry level careers in the criminal justice field.

Embedded Certificates
Courses in the following certificates may be used to award this degree.

Correctional Officer Technical Certificate
Criminal Justice Technical Certificate

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge, and abilities to accomplish the following:

Demonstrate effective communication and problem-solving skills necessary for an entry-level position in the criminal justice field.
Demonstrate an understanding of the organizational structure, common legal terms, definitions, concepts, and roles of law enforcement, the courts, or corrections.
Identify individual rights as they relate to law enforcement, the courts, or corrections.
Critically analyze evidentiary and investigative procedures.

Graduation Requirement

All students graduating with an A.A.S. degree in Criminal Justice are required to take the Criminal Justice Exit Exam.

General Education Core Requirements - Credits (15-16)

COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)
OR COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking (3)
ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts Credits: (3)
Mathematics Credits: (3-4)
OR Natural Science Credits: (3-4)
Social/Behavioral Sciences Credits: (3)

Major Core Course Requirements - Credits (36)

CRMJ 1010 - ^Introduction to Criminal Justice Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1020 - Introduction to the Legal Process Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1311 - Criminal Law Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1340 - Criminal Investigation Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1355 - Understanding Terrorism Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1360 - Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2010 - Introduction to Law Enforcement Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2020 - Introduction to Corrections Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2311 - Juvenile Justice Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2312 - ^Criminology Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2340 - Investigative Report Writing Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2390 - Probation and Parole Credits: (3)

CRMJ Electives - Credits (9)

CRMJ Electives (Choose any CRMJ course or from the following list. CRMJ courses are preferred and will help ensure that embedded certificates are earned as part of the A.A.S. in Criminal Justice.) Credits: (9)
CITC 2352 - *Digital Forensics (3)
HED 200 - First Aid and Safety/CPR (3)
INFS 1010 - Computer Applications (3)
SOCI 1010 - ^Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOCI 1040 - ^Social Problems (3)
SOCI 2010 - Marriage and Families (3)

Total Degree Requirements - Credits (60-61)

Recommended Schedule

This is a recommended schedule. Learning Support, pre-requisites and other academic factors may impact this schedule.

See your advisor to create a degree plan. DegreeWorks, along with the correct catalog, should be utilized by students for all of their educational planning. Students can monitor their progress toward a degree or certificate and view missing requirements with the DegreeWorks audit, which is accessible through My Volstate.

First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (15)

Social/Behavioral Sciences (PSYC 1030 or SOCI 1010 Preferred - See General Education Core Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1010 - ^Introduction to Criminal Justice Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2010 - Introduction to Law Enforcement Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2020 - Introduction to Corrections Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2340 - Investigative Report Writing Credits: (3)

First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (15)

ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1020 - Introduction to the Legal Process Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2311 - Juvenile Justice Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2390 - Probation and Parole Credits: (3)
CRMJ Elective (Choose any CRMJ course (CRMJ 2191 Preferred) or from list above) Credits: (3)
Note: Once a student has completed the first-year courses above, including all preferred courses, they qualify to receive the Criminal Justice Technical Certificate and the Correctional Officer Technical Certificate. To receive the Technical Certificates, students should complete a graduation application. Contact the Criminal Justice department for assistance.

Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (15-16)

CRMJ 1311 - Criminal Law Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1360 - Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation Credits: (3)
CRMJ 2312 - ^Criminology Credits: (3)
CRMJ Elective (Choose any CRMJ course (CRMJ 1325 or CRMJ 1341 Preferred) or from list above Credits: (3)
Mathematics (See General Education Core Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3-4)
OR Natural Science (BIOL 1030 Preferred - See General Education Core Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3-4)

Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (15)

COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)
OR COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking (3)
CRMJ 1340 - Criminal Investigation Credits: (3)
CRMJ 1355 - Understanding Terrorism Credits: (3)
CRMJ Elective (Choose any CRMJ course (CRMJ 1350 or CRMJ 2396 Preferred) or from list above) Credits: (3)
Note: Students may need to take 5 credit hours of CRMJ electives this semester if following the preferred sequence for earning the Technical Certificates.
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (ENGL 2860 or THEA 1030 Preferred - See General Education Core Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)