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Criminal Justice - Program Description
Students in this Major:
- Acquire basic knowledge of law enforcement and corrections.
- Gain an understanding of forensic investigations.
- Acquire basic knowledge of criminal investigations.
- Obtain a basic knowledge of the criminal court system.
Career Outlook:
- U.S. Department of Labor forecasts faster than average growth for protective service occupations through the year 2016.
Employers of SUNY Canton Graduates:
- Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
- Secret Service
- U.S. Border Patrol
- U.S. Customs
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- New York State University Police
- New York State Police
- New York Department of Corrections
- Military Police of the Armed Forces
- United States Air Force
- United Parcel Service
- Pinkerton Security
- Sheriff's Department
- Municipal Police Departments
- Vermont State Police
Transfer Opportunities:
Fifty to sixty percent of AAS graduates seek baccalaureate degrees. Most of those students remain at SUNY Canton and pursue one of our baccalaureate degrees.
Bachelor’s Degree Opportunities in Public Service:
- B. Tech in Criminal Investigation
- B. Tech in Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Leadership
- B. Tech in Homeland Security
Admission Requirements:
- Refer to the table of high school course prerequisites for admission.
- Students must be prepared to take Intermediate Algebra (MATH 106)
- Students must be prepared to take Expository Writing (ENGL 101) or Oral and Written Expression (ENGL 102).
- Transfers require a minimum of 2.0 GPA.
Program Requirements (Curriculum 0640)
The following shows the typical course sequence and program requirements.
Semester I Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CITA 110 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and the Spoken Word (GER 10) | 3 |
| FYEP 101 | First Year Experience | 1 |
| PSYC 101 | Introductory Psychology (GER 3) | 3 |
| Math Elective1 | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16 |
Semester II Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 112 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER) | 3 | |
| Lower Level Program Elective2 | 3 | |
| Natural Science w/ Lab (GER 2) | 3-4 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15-16 |
Semester III Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 201 | Critical Issues in Criminal Justice** | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER) | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER) | 3 | |
| Lower Level Program Elective2 | 3 | |
| Lower Level Program Elective2 | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
Semester IV Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER) | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER) | 3 | |
| Lower Level Program Elective2 | 3 | |
| Lower Level Program Elective2 | 3 | |
| Lower Level Program Elective2 | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
A minimum of 60 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA is required to receive the AAS degree in Criminal Justice. Students planning to enter one of the Bachelors Degree programs should take a GER course. These students must have seven GERs.
** Fulfills writing intensive requirement (JUST 201)
GER = General Education Requirement
1MATH 106 Intermediate Algebra is the minimum level acceptable toward AAS degree
2Program Electives - JUST, EADM, CYBR, CITA.
Suggested Program Electives
Law Enforcement
- JUST 111, Criminal Procedure
- JUST 207, Police Services
- JUST 209, Law Enforcement Communications
- JUST 210, Introduction to Forensic Science
Corrections
- JUST 105, Correctional Philosophy
- JUST 211, Introduction to Probation & Parole
Homeland Security / Intelligence
- JUST 111, Criminal Procedure
- JUST 230, Fundamentals of Homeland Security
- JUST 232, Intelligence Analysis
- JUST 233, Crime Analysis
Review the Index of Course Descriptions
Criminal Justice - A.A.S.
Kelly Peterson
Assistant Professor
dehautk@canton.edu