Criminal Justice - Police A.A.S.

School: Business and Professional Careers
Academic Dept: Professional Careers
HEGIS: 5505

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2023 to Summer 2024. 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 law enforcement.
Demonstrate skills that will allow independent learning of new and emerging theories and technologies and their application to the law enforcement field of Criminal Justice
Demonstrate an understanding of the applicable terminology, case law, procedural law, and policies in regard to law enforcement and their roles in the criminal justice field.
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.
Demonstrate the ability to recognize technology and the use of such for law enforcement purposes.
Demonstrate an understanding of the three components of the criminal justice system and the process by which they work together.
Demonstrate an understanding of report writing and showcase writing techniques used in the field of criminal justice and academia.

Program Requirements

63 credits are required for the degree:

General Education - 28 credits
Required Degree Courses - 35 credits

General Education Requirements - 28 Credits

Basic Communication - Written and Research (6 credits): ENG 101 - Writing and Research and COMM 109 - Speech Communication
Humanities - Writing and Literature (3 credits): ENG 102 - Writing and Literature
Natural Sciences (4 credits): Choose from BIOL 103 - Human Biology (and Lab) , BIOL 143 - Environmental Science with BIOL 144 - Environmental Science (Lab) , OR CHEM 127 - Introduction to Forensic Science (and Lab)
Mathematics (3 credits): Choose from this category of general education courses
American History (3 credits): Choose from POLSC 102 - American Government and Issues , POLSC 102H - American Government and Issues-Honors OR POLSC 107 - State and Local Government
Social Sciences (6 credits): PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology and choose ONE: PSYCH 103 - Abnormal Psychology , SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology , ANTHR 102 - Intro to Archaeology OR HSERV 200 - Diversity & Social Justice
The Arts, Foreign Language or Other World Civilizations (3 credits): choose from any category, The Arts OR Foreign Language OR Other World Civilization

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all General Education Courses .

Required Degree Courses - 35 credits

CJ 101 - Intro to the Criminal Justice System in the U.S.
CJ 111 - Introduction to Criminology
CJ 221 - Criminal Justice Seminar
PE 116 - First Aid/CPR/AED
POL 120 - Police Organization and Management
POL 203 - Principles of Investigation
POL 211 - Basic Criminal Law and Procedure
Major Elective (9 credits): select THREE of the following
Free Elective (6 credits): select any college course
Physical Education Elective (1 credit): select ONE of the following

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Course	Credits
ENG 101 - Writing and Research	3
CJ 101 - Intro to the Criminal Justice System in the U.S.	3
COMM 109 - Speech Communication	3
The Arts , Foreign Language or Other World Civilization Gen Ed Course	3
American History Gen Ed Course: choose from POLSC 102 - American Government and Issues , POLSC 102H - American Government and Issues-Honors OR POLSC 107 - State and Local Government	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 2

Course	Credits
ENG 102 - Writing and Literature	3
PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology	3
CJ 111 - Introduction to Criminology	3
POL 120 - Police Organization and Management	3
Mathematics Gen Ed Course	3
Major Elective	3
Semester Total Credits	18

Semester 3

Course	Credits
Social Sciences Gen Ed Course: choose from PSYCH 103 - Abnormal Psychology , SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology , ANTHR 102 - Intro to Archaeology OR HSERV 200 - Diversity & Social Justice	3
Natural Sciences Gen Ed Course: choose from BIOL 103 - Human Biology (and Lab) , BIOL 143 - Environmental Science with BIOL 144 - Environmental Science (Lab) , OR CHEM 127 - Introduction to Forensic Science (and Lab)	4
CJ 221 - Criminal Justice Seminar	3
POL 211 - Basic Criminal Law and Procedure	3
Major Elective	3
Semester Total Credits	16

Semester 4

Course	Credits
PE 116 - First Aid/CPR/AED	1
Physical Education Elective	1
POL 203 - Principles of Investigation	3
Major Elective	3
Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3
Semester Total Credits	14

Minimum Total Credits: 63

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

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