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 2030.
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 1/2) | 3 |
| MATH 106 | Intermediate Algebra* | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introductory Psychology (GER 7) | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
Semester II Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 105 | Correctional Philosophy | 3 |
| JUST 112 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GER 7) | 3 |
| Humanities Elective (GER 6) | 3 | |
| Natural Science w/ Lab (GER 5) | 3-4 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15-16 |
Emphasis A: Law Enforcement
Semester III Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 201 | Critical Issues in Criminal Justice** (GER 3) | 3 |
| JUST 209 | Law Enforcement Communications | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| American History Elective (GER 9) | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course) | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
Semester IV Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 203 | Criminal Investigations | 3 |
| JUST 204 | Crime and Media | 3 |
| JUST 207 | Police Services | 3 |
| JUST 210 | Introduction to Forensic Investigation | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course) | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
Emphasis B: Corrections Professions
Semester III Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 201 | Critical Issues in Criminal Justice ** (GER 3) | 3 |
| JUST 204 | Crime and Media | 3 |
| JUST 211 | Diagnostic Evaluation of the Offender | 3 |
| American History Elective (GER 9) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
Semester IV Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 215 | Community Based Corrections | 3 |
| JUST | Program Elective | 3 |
| JUST | Program Elective | 3 |
| PSYC 275 | Abnormal Psychology (GER 7) | 3 |
| SSCI 181 | Alcohol, Drugs & Society (GER 7) | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
Emphasis C: Criminal Justice Generalist
Semester III Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST 201 | Critical Issues in Criminal Justice** (GER 3) | 3 |
| JUST 209 JUST 211 |
Law Enforcement Communications OR Diagnostic Evaluation of the Offender |
3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| American History Elective (GER 9) | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course) | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 |
Semester IV Credits
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JUST | Program Elective | 3 |
| JUST | Program Elective | 3 |
| JUST | Program Elective | 3 |
| JUST 204 | Crime and Media | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course) | 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 must take all of the PROGRAM courses and all courses in Emphasis A, B, OR C (NOT ALL THREE).
GER = General Education Requirement
* MATH 106 Intermediate Algebra is the minimum level acceptable toward AAS degree
** Writing intensive course
Review the Index of Course Descriptions
Criminal Justice - A.A.S.
Kelly Ficner
Associate Professor
dehautk@canton.edu