Criminal Justice - Program Description

Students in this Major:

  • Acquire basic knowledge of law enforcement and corrections.
  • Gain an understanding of forensic investigations.
  • Acquire basic knowledge of criminal investigations.
  • Obtain a basic knowledge of the criminal court system.

Career Outlook:

  • U.S. Department of Labor forecasts faster than average growth for protective service occupations through the year 2016.

Employers of SUNY Canton Graduates:

  • Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
  • Secret Service
  • U.S. Border Patrol
  • U.S. Customs
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • New York State University Police
  • New York State Police
  • New York Department of Corrections
  • Military Police of the Armed Forces
  • United States Air Force
  • United Parcel Service
  • Pinkerton Security
  • Sheriff's Department
  • Municipal Police Departments
  • Vermont State Police

Transfer Opportunities:

Fifty to sixty percent of AAS graduates seek baccalaureate degrees. Most of those students remain at SUNY Canton and pursue one of our baccalaureate degrees.

Bachelor’s Degree Opportunities in Public Service:

Admission Requirements:

  • Refer to the table of high school course prerequisites for admission.
  • Students must be prepared to take Intermediate Algebra (MATH 106)
  • Students must be prepared to take Expository Writing (ENGL 101) or Oral and Written Expression (ENGL 102).
  • Transfers require a minimum of 2.0 GPA.

Program Requirements (Curriculum 0640)

The following shows the typical course sequence and program requirements.

Semester I Credits

Semester II Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
JUST 105 Correctional Philosophy 3
JUST 112 Criminal Law and Procedure 3
SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology (GER 3) 3
  Humanities Elective (GER 6) 3
  Natural Science w/ Lab (GER 5) 3-4
  TOTAL CREDITS 15-16

Emphasis A: Law Enforcement

Semester III Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
JUST 201 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice** 3
JUST 209 Law Enforcement Communications 3
  General Elective 3
  American History Elective (GER 9)  3
  Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course) 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Semester IV Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
JUST 203 Criminal Investigations 3
JUST 207 Police Services 3
JUST 210 Introduction to Forensic Investigation 3
  DEISJ Elective (GER 3) 3
  Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course)  3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Emphasis B: Corrections Professions

Semester III Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
JUST 111 Criminal Procedure 3
JUST 201 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice ** 3
JUST 211 Diagnostic Evaluation of the Offender 3
  American History Elective (GER 9) 3
  DEISJ Elective (GER 3) 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Semester IV Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
JUST 215 Community Based Corrections 3
JUST Program Elective 3
JUST Program Elective 3
PSYC 275 Abnormal Psychology 3
SSCI 181 Alcohol, Drugs & Society 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Emphasis C: Criminal Justice Generalist

Semester III Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
JUST 201 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice** 3
JUST 209
JUST 211
Law Enforcement Communications OR
Diagnostic Evaluation of the Offender
3
  General Elective 3
  American History Elective (GER 9) 3
  Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course)  3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Semester IV Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
JUST Program Elective 3
JUST Program Elective 3
JUST Program Elective 3
  DEISJ Elective (GER 3) 3
  Liberal Arts Elective (any GER course)  3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

A minimum of 60 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA is required to receive the AAS degree in Criminal Justice. Students must take all of the PROGRAM courses and all courses in Emphasis A, B, OR C (NOT ALL THREE).

GER = General Education Requirement

* MATH 106 Intermediate Algebra is the minimum level acceptable toward AAS degree

** Writing intensive course

Review the Index of Course Descriptions

Criminal Justice - A.A.S.
Kelly Peterson
Assistant Professor
dehautk@canton.edu