Business & Technology: Criminal Justice

Degree/Hours to Complete
Associates Degree; 64 hours to complete.

General information
As the Criminal Justice field has experienced strong and rapid growth in the past decade, it is anticipated that the need for skilled workers will continue to increase.  Students completing the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice will:

• Understand and be able to function within federal and state legal systems.
• Possess the basic skills of writing, reading for information, critical thinking, and applied mathematics necessary to be successful in the Criminal Justice field.
• Successfully complete entry level or pre-employment examinations for law enforcement agencies and correctional institutions.
• Successfully obtain employment or promotion within the criminal justice field including but not limited to:
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Correctional institutions
  • Court systems
  • Private security agencies 

Students in the Criminal Justice Program are subject to the Community and Technical College’s requirements for admissions, basic skills testing, and appropriate course placement, including mandated remedial courses, which are not counted toward completion of the program.  Blue Ridge Community and Technical College requirements regarding academic standards, student conduct, and graduation procedures also apply.

Curriculum for an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice

General Education Core	Credit Hours
CGEN 100 Critical Thinking & Learning	3
ENGL 101 Written English 1	3
OFTC 102 Microsoft Office Applications	3
MATH 100+ Math 100 or above	3
COMM 202+ COMM 202	3
SOCI 203 General Sociology	3
PSYC 203 Introduction to Psychology	3
CGEN 101 Career Transition	1
Total Credit Hours Required	22

 

Criminal Justice Core	Credit Hours
CJST 200 Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CJST 210 Introduction to Forensic Science	3
CJST 220 Criminal Investigation	3
CJST 251 Ethics in Criminal Justice	3
CJST 292 Criminal Justice Internship	3
Total Credit Hours Required	15

Restricted Electives
The two tracks within the AAS Criminal Justice degree offers flexibility for you and your advisor to design your own Criminal Justice program. You must select one of the following concentration tracks:

Law Enforcement and Corrections	Credit Hours
CJST 230 Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure	3
CJST 240 Police Organization and Management	3
CJST 250 Juvenile Justice System	3
CJST 260 The Correctional System	3
CJST Electives	6
Electives Specialty Electives	9
Total Credit Hours Required	27

 

Homeland Security	Credit Hours
CJST 215 Introduction Homeland Security	3
CJST 225 Terrorism	3
CJST 232 Immigration Law	3
CJST 245 Bioterrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction	3
EMSP 101 Introduction to EMS	3
EMSP 104 EMS Practicum 1	1
EMSP 100 First Responder	3
Specialty Electives	8
Total Credit Hours Required	27