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Criminal Justice
    2010 - 2011 Criminal Justice Field of Study Program Information

    60 credit hours


    The Associate of Arts  - Criminal Justice Field of Study degree provides general academic courses and electives which enable students who intend to major in criminal justice to transfer to a college or university which offers baccalaureate degrees in criminal justice. Students planning to transfer will have a solid foundation upon which to build as they pursue further studies in criminal justice.

    Upon completion of the Field of Study Curriculum, a certificate will be awarded to acknowledge completion and readiness to transition from an associate level to a baccalaureate (BA/BS) level, at any Texas public institution.

    The FOS includes the five specified courses listed below. Students may also add an additional six credit hours of course work from the “Recommended Electives” which may be transferred by local agreement to the university or which may be required by the receiving university, as long as the additional course work does not duplicate content already covered in the other FOS courses.

    Career Options
    Criminal Justice graduates are academically prepared for entry-level positions in law enforcement, court services, and corrections at the local, state, and federal levels of government. Through classroom and laboratory experiences, students acquire the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to understand the criminal justice system and its agencies, personnel and functions. Challenging career opportunities await graduates at all levels of government such as:

         Corrections Officers, Law Enforcement Officers and Investigators
         Probation Officers and Parole Officers
         Victim Services Counselors
         Youth Service and Juvenile Court Officers



    Criminal Justice Field of Study                        15 credit hours

    CRIJ 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
    CRIJ 1306 Court Systems and Practices
    CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law
    CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices
    CRIJ 2328 Police Systems and Practices


    To complete the AA degree, in addition to the Field of Study Certificate, complete the following core requirements and recommended elective credit hours:

     CORE CURRICULUM                                42 credit hours

    (Below are component areas of the Texas Core not included in the FOS.  Please be sure to complete one of the courses listed below to meet the Humanities component area, to fulfill the AA degree requirement. The full Texas Core can be found here.)

    COMMUNICATION

    9 CREDIT HOURS

    Must take both: ENGL 1301 and 1302 6 credit hours
    Select one: SPCH 1311, 1315, or 1321 3 credit hours
    HUMANITIES

    3 CREDIT HOURS

    Select one of the following courses:
    (Please Note: Only the courses that will meet the AA degree requirements are listed below.
    See Texas Core for additional options)

       English ENGL 2322, 2323, 2327, 2328, 2332, 2333, 2342, 2343, 2351
    MATHEMATICS

    3 CREDIT HOURS

    Select one: MATH 1314, 1316, 1324, 1325, 1332 1, 1342, 1350, 1351, 1414, 2305, 2312, 2318, 2320, 2413, 2414, 2415, 2417, 2419
    NATURAL SCIENCES

    8 CREDIT HOURS

    Select two from the following areas
    (a two-course sequence is recommended):

       Biology BIOL 1406, 1407, 1408, 1409, 1411, 1414, 1415, 2401, 2402, 2404, 2406, 2416, 2421
       Chemistry CHEM 1405, 1411, 1412, 2401, 2423, 2425
       Environmental
       Science
    ENVR 1401, 1402
       Geology GEOL 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1445, 1447
       Physics PHYS 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1410, 1415, 2425, 2426
    SOCIAL / BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

    3 CREDIT HOURS

    Select one from the following areas:

       Anthropology ANTH 2346*, 2351
       Economics ECON 2301, 2302
       Psychology PSYC 2301
       Sociology SOCI 1301
    SOCIAL SCIENCES

    12 CREDIT HOURS

    Must take both: GOVT 2301 and 2302 6 credit hours
    Select two: HIST 1301, 1302 or 2301 6 credit hours
    VISUAL / PERFORMING ARTS

    3 CREDIT HOURS

    Select one of the following:

       Dance DANC 2303
       Humanities HUMA 1311
       Music MUSI 1306, 1307
       Theatre DRAM 1310, 2361, 2362
       Visual Arts ARTS 1301, 1303, 1304, 1313
    INSTITUTIONAL OPTION

    1 CREDIT HOUR

    Select one of the following:

       Dance DANC 1101, 1110, 1111, 1141, 1142, 1145, 1146, 1147, 1148, 1151, 1152, 1222, 1223, 2141, 2142, 2145, 2146, 2147, 2148, 2151, 2152, 2301, 2325
       Physical Education PHED 1100, 1102. 1104, 1106, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1120, 1121, 1123, 1124, 1125, 1126, 1127, 1129, 1130, 1131, 1133, 1136, 1137, 1140, 1147, 1148, 1253, 1338

    1 Before taking MATH 1332, check with an academic adviser regarding the transferability. Some majors or institutions may require a higher-level mathematics course.

    * Please Note:  You may take either ANTH 2346 as a core option under Social / Behavioral Sciences or HUMA 2323 as a core option under Humanities.  HUMA 2323 is not listed above because it will not meet the AA degree requirement.  Students may take either ANTH 2346 or HUMA 2323, but not both.


    Recommended Electives               minimum of 3 credit hours

    CRIJ 1307 Crime in America
    CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System
    CRIJ 2301 Communication Resources in Corrections
    CRIJ 2314 Criminal Investigation
    CRIJ 2323 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement




    Note: The second digit in a course number indicates the number of credit hours
    for that course.

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    Contact Information

    Department Chair:
    David Marble
    SCC-BB211
    972.516.5051

    Academic Advisor:
    Keyona McClellan
    SCC-G146
    972.516.5069