Associate of Science/Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice (ASCJ/AASCJ)

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Students seeking to enroll in the ASCJ/AASCJ will be required to meet special employment criteria prior to being admitted. For specific requirements please check with the Admissions Office.

(Please see the Undergraduate Program Offerings by Campus chart in the catalog or on the Herzing Website at www.herzing.edu/career-programs/downloads for a list of Herzing campuses offering this program.)

Program Description

This program provides students with comprehensive academic knowledge of criminology, law enforcement, corrections, and the criminal justice system as well as the skills and techniques used in these disciplines. This degree can also provide advancement opportunities for law enforcement personnel requiring an associate’s degree when applying for or advancing within the profession. (Some states, including but not limited to Minnesota, require additional certification, licensing, and/or training academy completion to be eligible for employment in a law enforcement capacity.)

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student should be able to:

Demonstrate a basic knowledge of law enforcement practices.
Explain investigative techniques and evidence collection procedures for various criminal offenses.
Explain the inter relationship between law enforcement, our judicial system, and correctional agencies.
Articulate organizational and ethical issues affecting public safety personnel.

Potential Occupational Titles

Potential occupational titles for this program include, but are not limited to, security guards and first-line supervisors of protective service workers.

Program Content

A minimum of 60.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.

Required Courses

All courses, 34.00 semester credit hours, are required.

CJ 105 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 115 - Criminal Law 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 130 - Introduction to Law and Judicial Process 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 140 - Report Writing and Communication 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 200 - Introduction to Corrections 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 205 - Multicultural Issues in Criminal Justice Management 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 210 - Law Enforcement Security 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 220 - Ethics in Law Enforcement 3.00 semester credit hours
CJ 230 - Evidence Forensics 4.00 semester credit hours
CJ 250 - Juvenile Justice 3.00 semester credit hours
HS 100 - Introduction to Homeland Security 3.00 semester credit hours

General Education Requirements

Students enrolled in this associate’s degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for Herzing University courses that would satisfy these requirements. *

4.00 Semester Credit Hours in Computer Applications ♦
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in English Composition
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in General Education Electives ♦
1.00 Semester Credit Hours in Information Literacy
4.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics (College Algebra or Above)
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Natural Science or Humanities With a Critical Thinking Focus ** ▲ ♦
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social or Behavioral Science
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Speech

* Transfer students may transfer courses that are within 1.00 semester credit hour of the courses listed above to meet these discipline requirements. Any resulting deficiency in the total of 24.00 semester credit hours required in general education may be made up with general education electives from any of the listed disciplines.

** A course with a critical thinking focus would be a course that addresses the theories and application of critical analysis with an emphasis on developing sequential reasoning skills. Examples may be courses in critical thinking, philosophy, logic, or science.

▲ Students in the state of Georgia must take a science course to fulfill this requirement.

♦ The state of Minnesota requires a minimum of 20.00 semester credit hours of general education for associate’s degrees, not counting computer applications. However, all Herzing University students in the AASCJ program must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education, including computer applications, to complete the requirement for graduation from this associate’s degree program. Minnesota students must complete at least 2.00 semester credit hours of general education in the humanities.

Personal and Professional Development Courses

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

PD 121 - Professional Development I (Semester Credit Hour Course) 1.00 semester credit hour
PD 202 - Professional Development II (Semester Credit Hour Course) 1.00 semester credit hour