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Criminal Justice student collecting forensic evidence

Criminal JusticeRequirements

Criminal Justice Associate Degree Requirements

Aims offers two degree tracks for the criminal justice associate degree. The degree with designation track is for students who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a participating four-year public Colorado school. The associate of applied science degree track is for students who want to enter the workforce after completing their criminal justice degree.

Associate of Arts (A.A.) Liberal Arts Degree With Designation in Criminal Justice

The coursework for this degree track will prepare you to successfully transfer to a participating four-year Colorado school to complete your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Study a core criminal justice curriculum with subjects including:

  • Policing systems
  • Crime scene investigation
  • Judicial function
  • Criminal investigations
  • Criminology
  • Forensic Science

This degree program track has a strong liberal arts emphasis, with course requirements in:

  • Communication
  • Mathematics
  • Arts and humanities
  • Literature and humanities
  • Ways of thinking
  • World languages
  • History
  • Behavioral and social sciences
  • Physical and life sciences
  • Public speaking or interpersonal communications

See requirements for the criminal justice liberal arts associate of arts degree.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Criminal Justice

Explore the classes that will teach you about the three main facets of the criminal justice system--law enforcement, the judicial system and corrections--and the associated disciplines that connect to it, such as psychology and sociology. 

Gain knowledge and skills in:

  • Criminal law and procedure
  • Constitutional law
  • Law enforcement
  • Criminology
  • Human relations in social conflict
  • Juvenile law

Delve deeper into a specific area of interest in criminal justice by choosing elective course requirements in subjects including:

  • Crime scene investigation
  • Forensic science
  • Delinquent behavior
  • Criminal profiling
  • Forensic anthropology
  • Victimology
  • General and abnormal psychology
  • Sociology

General education requirements round out your learning experience and reinforce the practical soft skills employers want. Study subjects including math, statistics, interpersonal communications, American state and local government, and English composition.

Row Groupings Major Requirements: Credits
required

Introduces the basic components of the criminal justice system in the United States. Concepts of crime, crime data, victimization, perspectives, and views of crime, theory, and law are discussed. Particular attention to the criminal justice process, interaction and conflict between criminal justice agencies, and current criminal justice issues are examined. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Covers constitutional and procedural considerations affecting arrest, search and seizure, post-conviction treatment, origin, development, philosophy, and constitutional basis of evidence. Focuses on degrees of evidence and rules governing admissibility, judicial decisions interpreting individual rights, and an analysis of case studies from arrest through final appeal. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Examines policing in the United States, including historical foundations, emerging issues, and the relationship between law enforcement and the community. The various types of law enforcement agencies, their administrative practices, and the behavior of those involved in the delivery of police services are examined from the perspective of democratic values, racial and ethnic diversity, and societal perceptions of police effectiveness. Career requirements, including current and future trends, are also presented. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Provides an overview of the structure and function of the dual American judicial system and the behavior of actors (judges/justices, lawyers, law clerks, interest groups, etc.) within the system. Emphasis is placed on the organization and administration of state and federal courts, criminal court procedures, juries, selection of judges, decision-making behavior of juries, judges and justices, and the implementation and impact of judicial policies. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Examines the history of corrections in America from law enforcement through the administration of justice, probation, prisons, correctional institutions, and parole. This course examines the theories, rationales for punishment, and the political system in which corrections, as a component part of the criminal justice system, needs to operate. The course emphasizes legal, sociological, psychological, and other interdisciplinary approached that effect the operation of a correctional system. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Focuses on common law and statutory law crimes, the Model Penal Code, elements defining crimes and penalties, defenses to criminal accusations, and definitions and distinctions between criminal and civil law. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Focuses on the powers of government as they are allocated and defined by the United States Constitution. The course includes intensive analysis of United States Supreme Court decisions. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Conduct an in-depth analysis of the socio-legal operation of the Juvenile Justice System emphasizing the substantive and due process rights of minors. Analysis of legal reasoning underlying the juvenile law as it operates all levels of government. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Exploration of the environmental, organizational and socio-psychological dimensions of social control. Includes the study of individual attitudes, beliefs and behavior involved in role conflicts, community relations and conflict management in the social structure. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Provides an introduction to the study of crime, understanding the causes of crime, and examines, theoretical frameworks and theories to explain criminal behavior. Examination of the nature of crime, crime victimization, crime patterns, types of crime, crime statistics, and criminal behavior is also included. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
Total Major Credits 30
Row Groupings General Education Requirements: Credits
Note Choose one of the following: 
required

Combines the basic theories of communication with public speech performance skills. Emphasis is on speech preparation, organization, support, audience analysis, and delivery. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Examines the communication involved in interpersonal relationships occurring in family, social, and career situations. Relevant concepts include self-concept, perception, listening, nonverbal communication, and conflict. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
Note  Choose one of the following: 
required

Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a wide variety of compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Develops skills one can apply to a variety of technical documents. Focuses on principles for organizing, writing, and revising clear, readable documents for industry, business, and government. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
Blank Space
required

Covers material designed for career and technical students who need to study particular mathematical topics. Topics include measurement, algebra, geometry, statistics, and graphs. These are presented at an introductory level and the emphasis is on applications. Course readiness is determined by review of high school transcripts, assessment, and/or meeting with an Aims Academic Advisor. Course is not repeatable for credit.

*
3
Math *or any higher level Math course. MAT 1260 or MAT 1340 is recommended for transfer to a bachelor program.
required

Emphasizes the structure and function of state, county, and municipal governments including their relations with each other and with national government. Includes a study of Colorado government and politics. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Explores differences based on race, ethnicity, social class, gender, age, ability status, and sexual identity. Critically examines the dynamics of intergroup relations and how social construction of these differences can lead to patterns of prejudice, discrimination, and inequality nationally and globally. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
Total General Education Credits 15
Row Groupings Elective Requirements: Credits
Elective Requirements:

Choose five (5) from the list below, for a total of 15-16 credits:

required

Covers the basic principles of forensic anthropology, an applied field within the discipline of biological anthropology. The course includes the study of the human skeleton, practical application of biological anthropology and archaeology, and judicial procedure, as they relate to the identification of human remains within a medico-legal context. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SC1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

4
required

Focuses on basic procedures in crime scene management to include photography and preparing initial reports and sketches. Includes processing evidence and related criminalistic procedures. Covers interviewing suspects, witnesses and victims to include the recording of identifications and descriptions. Incorporates lab and lecture. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Exploration of the fundamentals of forensic science that are essential for gathering evidence at the crime scene and analyzing it in the crime laboratory. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Focuses on the adolescent who violates social and legal norms and the consequences for the individual and society. Emphasizes the social and psychological factors influencing individual delinquent patterns. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Demonstrates to the student the role the crime victim plays in the criminal justice system. The traditional response that a crime victim receives from the system will be studied and the psychological, emotional and financial impact these responses have on victimization will be analyzed. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Examines the theories of crime causation in relationship to criminal profiling. Studies include the investigation of serial killers, their motivations, behaviors, and identification of psychological and sociological explanations related to criminal acts. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Provides a demonstrated culmination of learning within a given program of study. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please contact the criminal justice program coordinator for more information at crj@aims.edu. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 12 credit hours.

0 to 12
required

Focuses on the scientific study of behavior including motivation, emotion, physiological psychology, stress and coping, research methods, consciousness, sensation, perception, learning, and memory. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Examines abnormal behavior and its classification, causes, treatment, and prevention. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

PSY 1001 or PSY 1002 with a grade of "C" or better

3
required

This course examines the basic concepts, theories, and principles of sociology, including topics of culture, race, class, gender, sexuality, social groups, and deviance through a local and global lens. Analyzes and interprets socio-historic as well as contemporary issues by using critical thinking skills and linking individual experiences to social structures. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
Total Elective Credits 15-16
Total credits for A.A.S. Degree 60-61