Criminal Justice, AAS

Program Code: AAS.CRIMJUSTICE

The course work for this two-year program is designed to develop students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of law enforcement, courts and corrections. Areas emphasized include community policing, criminal investigation, routine patrol and criminological theory. Students gain an appreciation of the various parts of the criminal justice system and how they function as a whole. Students may enter this program any term.

The course work for this program includes cooperative work experience which affords the student opportunity for hands-on experience with many local, federal and state law enforcement agencies.

For information, contact Tim Musgrave, tim.musgrave@clackamas.edu.

Related Instruction Outcomes

Computation

• 1 course - MTH-098 College Math Foundations
• Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems

Communication

• 1 course - WR-121Z Composition I
• Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for professional audiences

Human Relations

• 1 course - CJA-250 Reporting, Recording & Testifying
• Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals

Physical Education/Health/Safety/First Aid

• 1 course - HPE-295 Health & Fitness for Life
• Use effective life skills to improve and maintain mental and physical wellbeing

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• identify and define each step in the criminal justice process, and critically analyze how a case proceeds through the system, including landmark U.S. Supreme court decisions;
• explain the functions of law enforcement and corrections in the United States in terms of historical roots, structure and contemporary issues;
• demonstrate knowledge of ethical practices in educational and professional settings; 
• describe how criminal justice professionals work effectively within a diverse society;
• identify causes and indicators of crime and their effect on the criminal justice system’s response;
• demonstrate effective verbal communication skills in a criminal justice setting;
• demonstrate effective written communication skills in a criminal justice setting.

Electives

Any CJA course not included in the program, or any of the following:

Career opportunities include:

• law enforcement officer at the local, state or national level
• loss prevention officers
• Homeland Security officers

Many departments require college course work or degrees in addition to civil service requirements