Criminal Justice - Corrections A.A.S.

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School: Business and Professional Careers
Academic Dept: Behavioral/Social Science
HEGIS: 5505
Curriculum Chair: Prof. David Wedlick
Telephone: 914-606-6792
Email: david.wedlick@sunywcc.edu

A Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program in Fall 2016. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

The need for a college education in the field of criminal justice has grown dramatically. Agencies engaged in law enforcement, the judicial process, corrections, probation, and parole have recognized the value of a college education for their employees. Individuals completing these programs are prepared to enter many law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as private sector insurance and security technology companies.

In addition to courses in the areas of specialization, the two options—Corrections and Police—include extensive course work in the social and behavioral sciences which provides the student with an opportunity to transfer to a four-year baccalaureate degree program upon graduation. Transfer agreements exist between Westchester Community College and four-year colleges in the region.

Full-time students can complete the requirements for the Associate in Applied Science degree in two years. Police and corrections officers attending on a part-time basis may select an appropriate credit load each semester until the degree requirements are completed. Elective courses in either curriculum may be selected from police, corrections, social science, behavioral science, mathematics, science, arts or humanities courses. All students will be guided by faculty and counselors in appropriate course selection and sequences.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively and efficiently at the entry-level of employment within the corrections field.
Demonstrate skills that will facilitate independent learning of new and emerging theories and technologies and their application to the criminal justice system with respect to the corrections field.
Demonstrate a comprehension of current trends, evidence-based practices, and program implementation in the correctional field of criminal justice.
Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of gender, race, social class, and ethnicity of inmates and current issues in regards in the correctional field of criminal justice.
Demonstrate an understanding of the three components of the criminal justice system and the process by which they work together.
Demonstrate the ability to recognize technology and the use of such for correctional purposes.
Demonstrate an understanding of report writing and showcase writing techniques used in the field of criminal justice and academia.
Demonstrate appropriate quantitative and qualitative skills which include data organization, analysis, and interpretation for the purpose of analyzing and solving problems in the criminal justice field.

General Education Requirements - 24 Credits

Students are required to fulfill a certain number of credits within the specific categories shown below. Where specific courses are not listed within these categories, courses must be selected from the list of SUNY General Education Courses .

Basic Communication (6 credits)

The Arts, Foreign Language, or Other World Civilizations (3 credits)

Select a course from ONE of the following categories:

                   The Arts – see SUNY General Education Courses
                    Foreign Languages – see SUNY General Education Courses
                    Other World Civilizations – see SUNY General Education Courses

American History (3 credits)

Select ONE of the following courses:

Degree Requirements - 29 Credits

CJ 101 - Intro to the Criminal Justice System in the U.S.
CJ 111 - Introduction to Criminology
CJ 221 - Criminal Justice Seminar *
COR 103B - Introduction to Corrections
COR 111 - Institutional Treatment of the Criminal and Delinquent
COR 121 - Probation and Parole
COR 125 - Critical Issues in Corrections
POL 211 - Basic Criminal Law and Procedure
Criminal Justice Electives (6 credits, see below)
Physical Education Courses (2 credits, see below)
Free Elective (3 credits, any college course)
and select ONE of the following:
CHEM 127 - Introduction to Forensic Science (and Lab)
BIOL 103 - Human Biology (and Lab)
BIOL 143 - Environmental Science (and Lab BIOL 144 )
* Before taking the Criminal Justice Seminar, students should complete a minimum of 45 credits, which should include CJ 101 , CJ 111 , and COR 103B .

Criminal Justice Electives

Select TWO of the following courses:

Physical Education Courses

PEH 116 - First Aid/CPR/AED
and select ONE of the following courses:
PEC 136 - Fitness - Soccer
PEC 137 - Fitness-Softball
PEC 138 - Fitness-Tennis
PEC 139 - Fitness - Volleyball
PEC 140 - Fitness - Golf
PEC 142 - Fitness-Badminton
PEC 143 - Fitness-Basketball
PEC 158 - Introduction to PE Activities

Minimum Total Credits - 63

Educational Plan: The Educational Plan is an advisement tool that provides important information to students about how to complete this degree. Click here to Download the Educational Plan .