Criminal Justice Studies

Important Information

Semester Sequence

This is a suggested full-time schedule for a student who has completed any developmental course work and has no transfer credits. Refer to the College catalog for specific requirements in selecting General Education Courses .

Courses Needed for This Program*

Total Number of Credits Required for Degree: 60*

Note:

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development: Transitioning to College . This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

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.

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.

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.