Criminal Justice (A.A.S.)
HEGIS: 5505
SUNY CODE: 0640
The Criminal Justice A.A.S. program is designed to prepare students for careers in criminal justice agencies as paraprofessionals in law enforcement, criminal investigation, probation, parole and similar fields. A three-credit internship experience is designed to integrate the theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom with the practical knowledge of working in the field
The goals of this program are to:
- introduce students to the proactive and reactive approaches in crime deterrence, investigation, and apprehension of those who break the law, and how race, class and gender impacts those approaches.
- introduce students to the field of corrections with a focus in the areas of detention, supervision, administration and rehabilitation of incarcerated persons and alternatives to justice; and
- provide students with an overview of different types of law and provide knowledge of different crime control philosophies currently and historically used within the criminal justice system.
Successful graduates from this program will be able to:
- compare and review proactive and reactive approaches in crime deterrence, investigation and apprehension of those who break the law. Students will also identify and analyze how approaches to crime deterrence, investigation and apprehension are affected by race, class, and gender at the policy administrative and operational levels.
- identify issues that arise in the workplace environment of corrections as they relate to the detention, supervision, and rehabilitation of offenders.
- distinguish between different types of law and describe different crime control philosophies currently and historically used within the criminal justice system.
Career Opportunities/Transfer Information
Graduates find employment as police officers, criminal investigators, IRS agents, customs agents, park rangers, environmental conservation officers, state troopers, corrections officers, corrections counselors, bailiffs, court administrators, criminalists, alarm investigators, credit investigators, security detectives and loss prevention specialists. While not designed as a transfer program, many of our graduates go on to four-year colleges and universities such as SUNY Brockport, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Albany, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Utica University.
Program of Study
1st Year
1st Semester
| CJ 120 | Intro Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 123 | Criminal Substantive Law | 3 |
| EN 111 | College Writing | 3 |
| FS 100 | First Year Student Seminar | 1 |
| SS 151 | Intro Psychology | 3 |
| SS 161 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
2nd Semester
| CJ 124 | Criminal Procedure Law | 3 |
| CJ 125 | Intro to Law Enforcement | 3 |
| EN 112 | College Literature | 3 |
| | Criminal Justice Elective | 3 |
| | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning Selective | 3 |
| | Physical Education Activity | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Mathematics Selective: Must be MA 124 or higher and must be chosen from the General Education category.
2nd Year
3rd Semester
| CJ 151 | Intro Corrections | 3 |
| SS 122 | American History Since 1865 | 3 |
| | OR | |
| SS 141 | American Government | 3 |
| SS 167 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| SS 241 | American Minorities | 3 |
| | Natural Sciences and Scientific Reasoning | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
4th Semester
| IS 115 | Computer Applications I | 3 |
| SS 136 | Criminology | 3 |
| | Electives | 3-4 |
| | EN/HU Elective | 3 |
| CJ 271 | Criminal Justice Internship | 3 |
| | OR | |
| | Criminal Justice Elective | 3 |
| | OR | |
| | Social Science Elective | 3 |
| | Physical Education Activity | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-17 |
Recommended Social Science Electives
Students should consult with their academic advisor for appropriate course selections.
Total Credit Hours: 62
Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of this program. For more information, visit www.herkimer.edu/felony.
This program may be completed entirely online. For more information access Herkimer College's Internet Academy website: www.herkimer.edu/ia
For more information, contact the Academic Division at (315) 866-0300, ext. 8240 or toll free 1-844-GO-4-HERK, ext. 8240.