Criminal Justice Studies

General Education - 23 Credits

Program Requirements - 38 Credits

Total Number of Credits Required for Degree: 61**

*Students should consult the program coordinator for determining the selection of program electives.

**A new college orientation requirement, completion of the one-credit ACDV 101  course, Transitioning to College, went into effect spring 2010. If you are a credit student who is new to college (meaning you have not successfully completed college coursework at another institution(s)), you are required to take ACDV 101  during your first semester at CCBC, thereby increasing the number of credits required for the degree to 62 credits. Students are required to provide an official transcript(s) to document successful completion of college coursework at another institution(s) in order for this requirement to be waived.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this degree, students will be able to:

1. distinguish between the components of the criminal justice system and the branch of government they are responsible to;
2. identify and explain the procedural steps faced by an accused in the criminal justice system;
3. analyze the elements of the “Due process of law” clause guaranteed by the United States Constitution and enforced by American courts for both juvenile and adult offenders, as well as explain how “Case law” originates and affects such “Due process”; and
4. evaluate the importance of ethical behavior in the criminal justice professions and give examples of both ethical and non-ethical behaviors.

Program Description:

The CCBC Criminal Justice Studies degree program is designed to prepare students for service to the community in the fields of law enforcement, homeland security, juvenile services, private security, parole and probation, corrections and law.

In-service criminal justice professionals are encouraged to seek guidance from their campus Criminal Justice Studies program coordinator concerning credit-by-examination for selected academy courses. Credit for prior learning may also be available.

All students are encouraged to discuss their career plans with their campus Criminal Justice Studies program coordinator in order to be better prepared to meet the continuing challenges presented by these rewarding careers. Course work may be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis as well as online.

Because transfer institutions vary widely in their requirements, it is strongly recommended that students who plan to pursue Criminal Justice Studies courses for transfer to four-year colleges or universities speak with their campus program coordinator before registering for any courses.

All Criminal Justice Studies courses leading to the A.A.S. degree are designed to enhance understanding of the criminal justice field, but they do not have to be taken in the exact order listed.

Note:

Forensic Science:

Students interested in pursuing a career in Forensic Science should consider the Forensic Science  program listed in the Programs of Study section of this catalog. The CCBC Forensic Science transfer pattern is a science major designed for students seeking to transfer into upper division programs such as the University of Baltimore’s Forensic Science program. The four-year university programs prepare professionals to work in a crime laboratory and evidence collection settings and thus require a strong background in the physical sciences.

Semester Sequence

Criminal Justice Studies Semester Sequence