Associate of Science in Criminal Justice

Associate of Science in Criminal Justice Overview

The need for well-trained law enforcement and security professionals is growing. If you're someone who feels a deep responsibility to help others—and to give back to your community—consider beginning your career by pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice.

The Associate of Science (AS) in Criminal Justice program online at South University can help you to pursue your educational and professional goals – enabling you to combine your professional opportunities with the chance to make the world a safer place. If you want to begin or further develop your career in law enforcement, security or corrections, we may have the degree for you.

At every level, the courses in South University’s online AS in Criminal Justice program have been developed by professionals in the field to bring you real-world insight into police, corrections, court and security operations – and more! Whether you are already working in law enforcement or just beginning to enter the field, our Associate of Science in Criminal Justice online degree program provides students with a strong academic foundation for transfer into the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program.

Graduates with Criminal Justice degrees commonly enter professions including:

• Airport Security
• Bailiff
• Body Guard
• Computer Forensics
• Corrections Officer
• Cyber Crime
• Law Enforcement
• Police Officer
• Private Security

Employment Opportunities

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 10 percent over the 2008–18 decade.” "Overall opportunities in local police departments will be excellent for individuals who meet the psychological, personal, and physical qualifications." "There will be more competition for jobs in Federal and State law enforcement agencies than for jobs in local agencies.” “Education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree or higher." “Applicants usually must have at least a high school education, and some departments require 1 or 2 years of college coursework or, in some cases, a college degree.” “Federal agencies require a bachelor's degree, related work experience, or a combination of the two.”

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Police and Detectives, on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos160.htm.

Academic Requirements

To be admitted to the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program online at South University, the prospective student must be a high school graduate OR have the equivalent GED (General Education Development certificate).

After meeting this qualification, applicants must:

1. Achieve a satisfactory score on either the SAT I, the ACT, or the CPTs OR
2. Meet the eligibility requirements for a transfer student.

Getting Started

Acceptance into a South University Criminal Justice program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain employment in the law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, or related fields. The student should contact the national, state, or local agency/institution in which the student intends to gain employment for specific requirements and the application process.

Study Criminal Justice and become a part of the solution in your community. Start investing in your future by taking the first step today!

Enroll in our AS in Criminal Justice program online. Click here to be contacted by an admissions representative.

Associate of Science in Criminal Justice - 92 Total Hours

Students pursuing the general study Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree are required to take a total of 23 courses as follows:

• 10 general education courses - 40 credits
• 5 foundation courses - 20 credits
• 8 major courses - 32 credits

All courses are 4 quarter credits in length.

Acceptance into a South University Criminal Justice program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain employment in the law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, or related fields. The student should contact the national, state, or local agency/institution in which the student intends to gain employment for specific requirements and the application process.

General Education – 36 credits
Students are required to take 9 general education courses as follows:

BIO1020 - Biology I

Principles of Biology I is the first in a two-course sequence in biology. The course introduces biology, scientific methods, biological chemistry, cells, energy for life, basic genetics, and biotechnology. The course also compares human and plant organization and function. The student will also complete writing assignments that will introduce the student to scientific literature.

Prerequisite(s): and ENG1001 Co/Pre-Requisite MAT0099

Credits: 4

ENG1001 - Composition I

Students will be introduced to college-level writing processes, including theme, composition, and research. Emphasis will be placed on refining individual skills, writing styles and voices, and on writing procedures. Selected readings in prose, drama, and poetry supplement the course and provide topics for discussion and writing assignments.

Prerequisite(s): ENG0099 or Exemption

Credits: 4

ENG1002 - Composition II / Literature

This course is designed to introduce the student to fiction, poetry, and drama and, through literary analysis and interpretation, to develop the life skills of critical thinking and written expression.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

ENG2001 - Composition III

The goal of this course is to refine the student's reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. By analyzing ineffective arguments and constructing effective ones, the student will discover how ambiguity, evasiveness, vagueness, and obscurity weaken his or her credibility as a writer.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

ITS1000 - Computer and Internet Literacy

This course is for students to obtain basic knowledge and skills in using computer office production software and Internet features. A broad range of software applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and database and Internet usage concepts will be covered.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MAT1001 - Intermediate Algebra

Concepts of algebra including linear and quadratic equations, polynomials, exponents, logarithms and functions. Emphasis on graphical representations of functions. This course is designed to build an adequate background for the college-level mathematics, science and business courses.

Prerequisite(s): and ENG1001 Co/Pre-Requisite MAT0099 or Exemption

Credits: 4

PSY1001 - General Psychology

The fundamental questions guiding this course are relatively simple. In what ways are we all alike and in what ways are we different? And why? Although these questions may be simple, the answers, as we shall see, are complex, interconnected, and too often invisible to the untrained eye. Different families... different backgrounds...different sexes... different cultures...different ethnic groups...different ways of looking at things...different behaviors...different values—how are we to understand this incredible diversity of human experience so that we can navigate successfully in an increasingly chaotic and shrinking world? The intent of this course is to examine the psychological foundations underlying the identity of the "self," "identity" and "world view" in an effort to understand the differences that exist from culture to culture, from generation to generation, from family to family, from profession to profession, and from individual to individual.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

SPC1026 - Public Speaking

Students will develop and refine presentation skills focusing on compiling, organizing and outlining the research material in preparation for the assignments.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

UVC1000 - Strategies for Success

Designed to help entering students develop a more effective approach to college success, this course emphasizes positive self-evaluation, goal-setting, and motivation; practical skills of successful students; effective use of the library and the many sources of information available; and the concepts and tools of critical thinking, and their applications.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Humanities Electives - 4 Credits

Students will select one course from the list of approved General Education Arts and Humanities courses

Foundation Curriculum – 20 credits
Students are required to take 5 foundation courses as follows

BIO1021 - Biology II

Principles of Biology II is the second in a two-course sequence. This course continues the study of biology detailing the roles of the endocrine and nervous systems in maintaining homeostasis. The course continues with the study of human development, chromosomal, inheritance, human evolution, and the environment. The student will also complete writing assignments that will advance the student's use of scientific literature.

Prerequisite(s): BIO1020 WITH "C" or better and ENG1001 Co/Pre-Requisite

Credits: 4

MAT1500 - College Mathematics

College Mathematics covers the fundamentals of several areas of mathematics, including set theory, logic, geometry, graph theory, probability, and statistics.

Prerequisite(s): MAT0099

Credits: 4

MAT2058 - Statistics

This course introduces the student to fundamental laws of probability, levels of measurement, measures of central tendency and variance, random variables, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression, small sample techniques and non-parametric methods.

Prerequisite(s): MAT1001 OR MAT1002

Credits: 4

POL2076 - American Government

This course is an introduction to American politics and government, focusing on political processes and institutions and on contemporary political issues.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1002 or ENG2001 Co/Pre-Requisite

Credits: 4

SOC1001 - Introduction to Sociology

This course, a scientific study of human social activity, will provide the student with a new way of looking at the world. In learning about the sociological perspective, the student will be challenged to see the general in the particular, the strange in the familiar, and the importance of the global perspective.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum - 32 Credits
Students are required to take 8 courses as follows:

CRJ1001 - Introduction to Criminal Justice System

The course introduces the criminal justice system with an overview of law enforcement, courts and corrections.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

CRJ1102 - Introduction to Criminal Courts and Corrections

This course provides a comprehensive look at the criminal court system and the correctional system in the United States and the interaction of the actors within these systems. Students will focus on the roles of prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys and the dynamics of their interactions as well as all aspects of corrections, including probation and parole.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

CRJ2002 - Criminal Law

This course will introduce students to the fundamental nature of law, give them an overview of general legal principles, and help them develop an understanding of the historical development of criminal law and its contemporary form and function in U.S. society.

Prerequisite(s): Introduction to Criminal Justice

Credits: 4

CRJ2003 - Juvenile Justice System

This course is a comprehensive look at the history, current state and future of juvenile justice system in America. The course will focus on juvenile justice system programs, processes, and prevention programs and will connect theory to practice.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

CRJ2004 - Ethics in Criminal Justice

This course examines ethical issues faced by actors in the criminal justice system. The focus will be placed on the philosophical and practical approaches to solve ethical dilemmas within the complicated criminal justice system.

Prerequisite(s): CRJ1001 or CRJ1101 and CRJ1102

Credits: 4

CRJ2006 - Criminal Procedures

This course will cover the legal aspects of police investigatory practices, criminal procedure law, and constitutional cases as they pertain to the criminal justice system. Focus will be on U.S. Supreme Court cases and lower court cases setting out the requirements for arrest, search and seizure, confessions, and pretrial identifications, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the legal rights, duties, and liabilities of criminal justice professionals.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

CRJ2065 - Introduction to Police Organizations

This course covers current research and theory in policing and provides comprehensive presentation of police operations, patrol techniques, cultural diversity, and changes in police administration policy.

Prerequisite(s): CRJ1101 CRJ1102

Credits: 4

EDM2010 - Fundamentals of Emergency and Disaster Management

This course provides students with fundamental knowledge of emergency and disaster management. Students examine the historical context for emergency and disaster management, then explore topics such as risk assessment, preparedness, mitigation, recovery, and communications. Topics also include emergency and disaster management in the international domain as well as approaches to terror threats.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits:

Software Requirements:

PC:

• Adobe Acrobat Professional
• Microsoft Office Standard 2007 (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Norton Antivirus 9.0 corporate edition

Mac:

• Adobe Acrobat Professional
• Microsoft Office Standard 2008 (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Norton Antivirus 10.0 corporate edition

Minimum Technology Requirements:

• PC: As a general guideline, students should not have computer specifications less than a Pentium III CPU, Windows XP with Service Pack 2, and 512 MB of RAM.
• Mac: As a general guideline, students should not have computer specifications less than a G3, G4, or G5 processor, MAC OS, and 512 MB of RAM.

Internet Requirements:

56K or faster Internet connection is required for online courses, however broadband is strongly encouraged.

Web Browser Requirements:

PC: At least one of the following browsers with Java enabled:

• Internet Explorer 6.0 (supported)
• Internet Explorer 7.0 (recommended)
• Internet Explorer 5.5 (supported)
• Firefox 1.x (supported)
• Firefox 2.0 (recommended)
• Firefox 3.0 (supported)

Mac: At least one of the following browsers with Java enabled:

• Safari 3.0 (supported for OS X)
• Safari 2.0 (recommended for OS X)
• Safari 1.2 (supported for OS X)
• Firefox 1.x (supported)
• Firefox 2.0 (supported)
• Firefox 3.0 (supported)

Software may be purchased through JourneyEd.

Mr. Michael Whalen

Mr. Whalen recently completed his EdD, with the acceptance of his study and dissertation "Identifying the Needs and Preferences of Highly-Intelligent College Students." He is interested in pursuing further research in gifted education at the college level as well as learning more about the relationship between personality and learning styles.

Mr. Whalen currently teaches Criminal Justice courses for South University Online, after having served for 14 months as Online Program Director for Criminal Justice & Legal Studies. He has written two textbook supplements for Cengage. Prior to coming to South, Mr. Whalen helped create the Criminal Justice programs at Keiser University in Florida, including conceptualizing most of their courses. He worked for the Florida Department of Revenue and the State Attorney's Office in Miami before beginning to teach in 2000. He lives in a West Virginia town near Pittsburgh.

Dr. Lori Kepford

Dr. Kepford received a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology and a Master of Arts from Bowling Green University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Bluffton University. Recognizing teaching as her vocation, Dr. Kepford has taught in some capacity since she was 6 years old.

Today, Dr. Kepford teaches in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program for South University Online. Most of her experience in the criminal justice system has been research in the field of corrections. Creating and facilitating online courses for more than 10 years, Dr. Kepford credits the online medium with improving her students' cognition and communication.

Dr. Robert J. Frye

Dr. Robert J. Frye earned his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona. He has worked as a private consultant in statistics and ecology; a statistician for the University of California, San Diego; and Senior Research Scientist and Associate Professor at the University of Arizona. His teaching experience includes biology, ecology, environmental science, field methods and statistics.

Dr. Frye's research experience covers most areas of ecology and biology. He worked on the Biosphere II project for six years. This work involved development of biogeochemical models, population models and research related to various 'Green' technologies. His current research focuses on the population dynamics of rare species.