Criminal Justice, AS

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Program Mission

The Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice provides the student with a basic foundation of the American criminal justice and corrections systems. It is designed primarily as a transfer program for students who plan to continue their studies in a baccalaureate program. The program also prepares individuals to go immediately to work in certain phases of law enforcement or corrections.

Program Goals

To enable students to acquire the general education competencies expected of an associate of science degree graduate
To provide the foundation courses that will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively in law enforcement and/or corrections in the criminal justice field
To provide the coursework that will allow for transfer of Criminal Justice and Corrections courses to the baccalaureate degree

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice will

Apply critical thinking abilities to modern criminal justice processes and policies
Articulate the role, function and mission of police in the criminal justice system
Blend ethical concepts into modern criminal justice practices
Exhibit an understanding of the impact of policing, courts and corrections on the individual, society and the community

Specific Degree Requirements

Students wishing to earn an Associates of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from South Louisiana Community College must:

Have a degree program adjusted SLCC cumulative average of 2.0.
Have earned at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree through SLCC courses.
Have earned at least a “C” in each course unless stated by a specific program.
Have earned two-thirds of credits in degree-required major courses at SLCC and have no more than 50 percent of total degree-required credits from non-traditional sources, Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), unless required by a specific program.
Have completed at least the number of credits stipulated in the degree program.

General Education Requirements

(36 Total credit hours)

English 6 Credits
Mathematics 6 Credits
Natural Science 6 Credits
Social/Behavioral Science 6 Credits
Fine Arts 3 Credits
Humanities 9 Credits

Other Requirements

(21 Total credit hours)

Criminal Justice/Corrections required courses 12 Credits
Criminal Justice/Corrections elective courses 9 Credits

Curriculum Guide

Semester 1

ENGL 1010 Rhetoric & Composition 3 Credits
PSYC 2010 Introduction to Psychology I 3 Credits
CJUS 1010 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credits
Fine Arts 3 Credits ¹
MATH 1105 College Algebra 3 Credits

Total: 15

Semester 2

ENGL 1020 Composition & Critical Thought 3 Credits
SFSE 1003 Seminar in First-Year Student Experience 3 Credits or Elective ⁵
Humanities 3 Credits ³
CJUS 2010 The Police Process 3 Credits
Science 3 Credits ^{4 (Lab Optional)}

Total: 15

Semester 3

MATH 2020 Introductory Statistics 3 Credits
CJUS 2040 The Criminal Courts 3 Credits
CORR 2030 Corrections Process 3 Credits
SOCI 2010 Introductory Sociology 3 Credits
Science 3 Credits ^{4 (Lab Optional)}

Total: 15

Semester 4

CJUS or CORR XXXX Major Elective 3 Credits
CJUS or CORR XXXX Major Elective 3 Credits
CJUS or CORR XXXX Major Elective 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits ⁵
Elective 3 Credits ⁵

Total: 15

Associate of Science Total Credits: 60

Must have a grade of “C” or higher in all course.

¹ Fine Arts options: ARTS, MUSC, THEA

² First time students with less than 24 prior credits (either through transfer or previously taken at SLCC) are recommended to take SFSE 1003 Seminar in First-year Student Experience, especially if intending to transfer to a baccalaureate institution. Students with 24+ credits and students not intending to transfer to a 4-year program should select an appropriate Elective in place of SFSE 1003.

³Humanities options: HIST, 2XXX ENGL (except ENGL 2045 and 2070), or CMCN (except CMCN 1170, 1270, and 2145)

⁴ Choose from BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, PHSC, PHYS. Most science lecture courses have an associated lab course, which may or may not be required for specific transfer programs but is not required for completion of the AS in Criminal Justice at SLCC - students should, with adviser, check needs and requirements of intended Criminal Justice pathways for appropriate decision concerning labs (i.e. students desiring a career in Forensics). Students planning to continue their education at a baccalaureate institution are encouraged to complete courses in the same science discipline (e.g. 2 BIOL in sequence or 2 CHEM in sequence).

⁵ Electives may be chosen from Arts & Humanities (ARTS, MUSC, THEA, CMCN, HIST, ENGL literature), Social Sciences (PSYC, SOCI, GEOG, POLI, ECON), English (ENGL lit or 2000 level courses), MCIS, ACCT, GBUS, SPCH, FREN or SPAN. Students should work with their adviser to determine the best elective courses for their individual course of study and to maximize transferability.

⁶ The total AS Degree credits must be 60, but if optional labs are taken or if student takes a 4-Credit Foreign language as elective the total number may exceed 60. If enrollment in labs and/or combination of one (1)-credit options adds up to 3 credits then one less elective may be taken so long as the total number of credits equals 60.