Criminal Justice, A.A.S.
Major Code: 1100The Criminal Justice program is designed to prepare students for professional employment in the criminal justice, corrections, or security field.
In recent years, the need for police and security officers has increased significantly along with the professional expectations and performance standards. The Criminal Justice program is designed for students seeking entry level employment in the Criminal Justice field and for current employees interested in advancement. Students earning this degree may continue their education to the bachelor degree level or beyond.
The goal of this program is to help students develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success as criminal justice professionals. Program graduates will be eligible for employment in the full range of law enforcement careers including policing, corrections, security, criminal investigation, and related career areas. Graduates are expected to find a wide range of employment options with public and private agencies.
According to the US Department of Labor, opportunities for employment in Criminal Justice are expected to be well above the average for other career fields. Area Corrections and Police agencies have indicated a strong interest in this program and anticipate openings for graduates. Potential employers include: Municipal and State Police, County Sheriff’s Departments, NY State Department of Corrections, the Court System, Corporate Security and more.
Graduation Requirements
Students will be required to maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average to remain in the program. Students must complete all major course work with a 2.0 or above to be eligible for graduation in this major. A minimum of 20 credit hours is required in the humanities, mathematics or sciences and social sciences areas. Completion of MAGN 101 Elementary Algebra is required but this math does not meet the General Education requirement nor the Math/Science minimum requirement content area as stated above (MATH 102 Intermediate Algebra w Trig is highly recommended). Sixty-two credits in coursework, as described in curriculum tab, are required to graduate.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon Successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Effectively document investigations, incidents, and other information consistent with nationally recognized legal criterion
- Identify, collect, and preserve evidence according to standard police practice utilizing traditional, current, and technological methods in a manner that is mutually beneficial to all of the stakeholders in the criminal justice system
- Apply penal and criminal procedure laws in a law enforcement context
SUNY General Education Requirements: All SUNY Morrisville AAS degree programs require completion of at least 20 credits of SUNY GE, a minimum of seven (out of ten) knowledge and skills areas (including the four required knowledge and skills areas as indicated below), and completion of the two core competencies. The specific courses required within each knowledge and skills area/core competency for this degree program are outlined below.
Knowledge and Skills Areas:
| Field Name | Field Value |
|---|---|
| Communication Written & Oral (required) | COMM 105 |
| Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (required) | as advised |
| Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (required) | as advised |
| Nautral Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (required) | as advised |
| Humanities | COMP 102 |
| Social Sciences | PSYC 101 and SOCI 101 |
| The Arts | as advised |
| US History and Civic Engagement | as advised |
| World History and Global Awareness | as advised |
| World Languages | as advised |
Core Competencies:
| Field Name | Field Value |
|---|---|
| Information Literacy (required) | as advised |
| Critical Thinking and Reasoning (required) | as advised |
Curriculum Requirements
A minimum of 62 credits is required for degree completion.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Field Requirements | ||
| Student must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA in all major field requirement courses. | ||
| CJUS 101 | Intro Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| CJUS 201 | Corrections | 3 |
| CJUS 202 | Policing | 3 |
| CJUS 220 | Criminal Investigation I | 3 |
| CJUS 221 | Criminal Investigation II | 3 |
| CJUS 230 | Basics of Penal Law | 3 |
| CJUS 231 | Criminal Procedure Law | 3 |
| Liberal Arts & Science Requirements | ||
| COMM 105 | Research & Communication | 3 |
| COMP 102 | Writing About Literature | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| POLI 113 | American Judiciary System | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| MATH - SUNY General Education MATH as Advised | 3 | |
| CITA 101 | Principles Computer Apps | 3 |
| WELL 101 | Stress and Wellness (or PHED - Physical Education as advised) | 3 |
| GNED 100 | First Year Experience | 2 |
| SUNY General Education Courses in US History & Civic Engagement or World History & Global Awareness as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education World Languages as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education Natural Sciences as Advised | 3-4 | |
| Additional General Elective Credits | 2-3 | |
| Total Credits | 61-63 | |
Sample Course Sequence
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CJUS 101 | Intro Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| GNED 100 | First Year Experience | 2 |
| COMM 105 | Research & Communication | 3 |
| SUNY General Education Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) as Advised | 3 | |
| CITA 101 | Principles Computer Apps | 3 |
| WELL 101 or PHED 141 - Fitness 1 as Advised | 1-3 | |
| Credits | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CJUS 201 | Corrections | 3 |
| CJUS 202 | Policing | 3 |
| COMP 102 | Writing About Literature | 3 |
| General Elective as Advised | 3 | |
| POLI 113 | American Judiciary System | 3 |
| WELL 101 or PHED 141 - Fitness I as Advised | 1-3 | |
| Credits | 16-18 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CJUS 220 | Criminal Investigation I | 3 |
| CJUS 230 | Basics of Penal Law | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education World Languages as Advised | 3 | |
| WELL 101 or PHED 141 - Fitness I as Advised | 1-3 | |
| Credits | 16-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| CJUS 221 | Criminal Investigation II | 3 |
| CJUS 231 | Criminal Procedure Law | 3 |
| SUNY General Education courses in US History & Civic Engagement or World History & Global Awareness as Advised | 3 | |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SUNY General Education Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice as Advised | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 62-68 | |