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Criminal Justice AAS
Education, Human Services and Criminal Justice Department | A.A.S. Associate of Applied Science Degree | 2 years
Earn your Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice at Clackamas Community College and gain the skills needed to work in the criminal justice field.
Are you interested in law enforcement, the legal system and crime prevention? The Criminal Justice program at Clackamas Community College is a great place to start your career.
Criminal Justice AAS
You will develop some exciting new skills in this program. Among these new skills, you should be able to:
- Identify the major steps of the criminal justice process
- Communicate effectively
- Critically analyze how a case proceeds through the criminal justice system
Careers
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.
Job Market
Search related careers and regional data on wages and job outlook on Career Coach.
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.
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-296 Health and Fitness for Criminal Justice)
- 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;
- recognize 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.
Criminal Justice Core Requirements
Complete 3 credits of CJA-280
- CJA-280
- Criminal Justice/Corrections/CWE
- 3
Complete CJA-101 or CJA-201
- CJA-101
- Criminology
- 4
- CJA-201
- Juvenile Delinquency
- 4
Complete CJA-206 or HS-206
- CJA-206
- Trauma Informed Practices
- 3
- HS-206
- Trauma Informed Practices
- 3
Complete the following Core Requirements
- CJA-110
- Introduction to Law Enforcement
- 3
- CJA-120
- Introduction to Courts
- 3
- CJA-122
- Criminal Law
- 4
- CJA-130
- Introduction to Corrections
- 3
- CJA-170
- Careers in Criminal Justice
- 3
- CJA-200
- Community Policing
- 3
- CJA-203
- Crisis Intervention
- 3
- CJA-210
- Criminal Investigation I
- 3
- CJA-211
- Criminal Investigation II
- 3
- CJA-212
- Criminal Investigation III
- 3
- CJA-213
- Interview & Interrogation
- 3
- CJA-214
- Intimate Partner Violence
- 3
- CJA-216
- Implicit Bias and Policing
- 3
- CJA-222
- Procedural Law
- 3
- CJA-223
- Criminal Justice Ethics
- 3
- CJA-270
- Criminal Justice Capstone
- 3
- FYE-101
- First Year Experience Level I
- 2
- HDF-260
- Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect
- 3
- PSY-219
- Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
- 4
- WR-122Z
- Composition II
- 4
Computation Related Instruction
Complete MTH-098
- MTH-098
- College Math Foundations
- 4
Communication Related Instruction
Complete WR-121Z
- WR-121Z
- Composition I
- 4
Human Relations Related Instruction
Complete CJA-250
- CJA-250
- Reporting, Recording & Testifying
- 4
PE/Health/Safety Related Instruction
Complete HPE-296
- HPE-296
- Health and Fitness for Criminal Justice
- 3
Program Electives
Complete 6-7 credits of Criminal Justice Program Electives. This may consist of any CJA course not included in the Criminal Justice Program. See catalog for a complete list of Criminal Justice Program electives.

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Sharron Furno