Criminal Justice, AAS

Major Code: 3506

Program Description

The field of criminal justice involves the three components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. The academic discipline also includes study of the juvenile justice system and the extent and causes of crime among adults and juveniles. Criminal Justice is an exciting and interesting discipline that can lead to attractive and worthwhile careers.

Program Goals and Objectives

• Students will have a fundamental knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• The student will know and understand the basic philosophies behind policing, corrections, juvenile justice, probation, parole and the court system.
• The student will have current information on trends in criminal justice.
• The student will understand the need for lifelong learning, as a result of the changing trends and laws in the U.S.
• The student will be exposed to a wide variety of situations in the criminal justice field and be able to use the knowledge to better understand the situation and develop the correct response of the criminal justice professional.

Transfer Baccalaureate Options

BVCTC has an articulation agreement that, upon completion of the Associate’s degree from BVCTC, college credits earned will transfer to West Virginia State University, Marshall University, and WVU Tech for students pursuing a Baccalaureate degree.

Careers

Criminal justice continues to provide employment opportunities and is predicted to do so in the future. Employment is available at the local, state, and federal levels of the criminal justice, and the juvenile justice system. An associate degree in criminal justice will provide students with a competitive advantage.