The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree offers an option for a 2-year degree that encompasses all aspects of the criminal justice system including:
- Law enforcement
- Corrections
- Court systems
Students graduating with an AS in Criminal Justice can find entry-level employment with local and state policing agencies, jails and prisons, local and state court systems, victim’s advocacy offices and counseling and rehabilitation facilities.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum includes 60 total hours and requires a minimum of 21 criminal justice credits (CJ prefix). All CJ students are encouraged to meet with a CJ faculty advisor annually for course and program advisement. The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences General Education Advisors can answer questions about general education requirements for an associate's degree.
Grade Requirements: A grade of “C” or better in all CJ courses is required in addition to an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Program Requirements: Students obtaining an associate's degree in criminal justice are required to complete 21 credit hours in courses with a CJ prefix.
PDF version of program requirements
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Required Core Courses (12 credit hours)
- CJ 1010 - Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- CJ 1300 - Corrections: History, Theory and Practice (3)
- CJ 1330 - Criminal Law and Courts (3)
- CJ 2300 - Policing: History, Theory and Practice (3)
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Elective Courses (9 credit hours)
In addition to 12 credit hours of core courses, students are required to complete an additional 9 credit hours of criminal justice courses offered at WSU with CJ prefixes or other courses approved by the Department Chair. You may select any CJ course offered so long as the prerequisites for the course are satisfied (EXCEPT CJ 4830 and CJ 4950).
Criminal Justice Course Offerings (not necessarily a comprehensive list)
- CJ 1340 - Criminal Investigation
- CJ 1350 - Introduction to Forensic Science
- CJ 2330 - Juvenile Justice
- CJ 2340 - Crime Scene Investigation
- CJ 2350 - Laws of Evidence
- CJ 3020 - Criminal Justice Management
- CJ 3040 - Community Policing
- CJ 3060 - Corrections in the Community
- CJ 3120 - Professional Practice for the Forensic Expert
- CJ 3130 - Investigation of Computer Crime
- CJ 3340 - Crime Scene Photography
- CJ 3344 - Advanced Forensic Photography
- CJ 3350 - The American Jail
- CJ 3360 - Prisons: Contemporary Issues and Dilemmas
- CJ 3370 - Death Penalty
- CJ 3400 - Drugs and Crime
- CJ 3700 - Women and Criminal Justice
- CJ 3800 - White Collar Crime
- CJ 4000 - Critical Legal Studies
- CJ 4065 - Law and Society
- CJ 4110 - Physical Methods in Forensic Science
- CJ 4115 - Friction Ridge Analysis
- CJ 4116 - Friction Ridge Development
- CJ 4125 - Research Methods in Forensic Science
- CJ 4165 - Constitutional Rights
- CJ 4300 -History of Law Enforcement
- CJ 4700 - International Criminal Justice
- CJ 4710 - Race, Crime and Justice
- CJ 4810 - Experimental Course (Taught as various topics. Look for specific course title in class schedule)
- CJ 4830 - Directed Readings and Special Projects (Requires faculty mentor and approval from CJ department chair)
- CJ 4860 - Criminal Justice Internship (For more information, visit the CJ Internship website)
- CJ 4900 - Current Issues in Criminal Justice (Taught as various topics. Look for specific course title in class schedule)
- CJ 4920 - Short Courses, Workshops, Institutes and Special Programs
- CJ 4950 - Field Trips/Travel Study
