Police Science A.S. Degree
Our rigorous Criminal Justice-Police Science program is highly regarded throughout the tristate area. Criminal Justice, the study and application of laws regarding criminal behavior, is studied by those preparing to become law enforcement officials, defense and prosecution lawyers, or others looking to advance their careers within the criminal justice system. Our graduates go on to work in law enforcement, probation, law, private security, and other rewarding fields.
Upon completion of this program, students will:
- Analyze the institutional and legal processes of criminal law and the administration of justice in the United States, and how police, courts and the correctional system interact in a constitutionally protected arena.
- Evaluate important legal and ethical dilemmas in the administration of justice.
- Summarize key issues in constitutional law, the New Jersey Court System, judicial treatment, contemporary police procedures, and community policing.
- Appraise ongoing problems in policing, court systems, and evaluating alternative suggestions for effective reform.
- Use appropriate tools of research and analysis to produce effective written and oral communication.
SEMESTER I
Short Title : English Composition I
Course Code : ENG-121
Department Description : English
Course Description :
Through a variety of writing projects requiring competence in clear, correct, and effective English, students use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing documented essays. Extensive reading materials serve as structural models and as the bases for discussion and for the writing of essays involving response, analysis, and synthesis.
Prerequisites :
A passing score on the College Placement Test; or a grade of "C" or better in ENG-010 and RDG-011 (RDG-011 can be a co-requisite; or a grade of "C" or better in ESL-097 and ESL-098.
Co requisites :
RDG-011 may be taken as a co-requisite if not previously completed with a grade of "C" or better.
- Credit : 3
- Lecture Hours : 3
Short Title : Introduction to Criminal Justice
Course Code : CJU-123
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
Examines both the substantive and procedural criminal law with a special focus on the administration of justice. Particular attention will be given to the role of the police, courts and correctional systems and how each separate entity must function with the framework of Constitutional law. Special emphasis will be on New Jersey statutory law, court rules and corrections policy.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : GE Math Elective
Course Code : MAT-EL1
Department Description : Mathematics
- Credit : 3
Choose one math course designated in the course descriptions as General Education (GE MST).
MAT-123 - Statistics I is recommended.
Short Title : Introduction to Psychology
Course Code : PSY-123
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
Provides a psychological basis for the understanding of human behavior. A survey of fundamentals that are necessary for subsequent psychology courses. Topics include but are not limited to: learning, motivation, cognition, personality, abnormal behavior, development and social psychology.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Introduction to Sociology
Course Code : SOC-121
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
Sociology is the systematic study of social behavior and human groups. This course covers basic sociological theories and methods of social research, with special attention to the following topics: culture, values and norms, socialization, social structure, deviance, stratification, social institutions and differentiation by region, race, ethnicity, gender, age and class.
- Credit : 3
SEMESTER 2
Short Title : English Composition II
Course Code : ENG-122
Department Description : English
Course Description : Through a variety of writing projects requiring competence in clear, correct, and effective English, students use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing argument synthesis essays. Students engage in formal written argumentation based on extensive reading and analysis of complex texts. Through the research process, students will locate, analyze, and synthesize scholarly sources to advance their own informed positions on relevant issues in the composition of a formal research paper.
Prerequisites :
A grade of “C” or better in ENG-121
- Credit : 3
- Lecture Hours : 3
Short Title : Introduction to Criminology
Course Code : SOC-140
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description : The nature and sources of criminal law, incidences and trends of criminology, relationship of culture and social systems to criminology, biological, psychological and sociological theories of criminology.
- Credit : 3
- Lecture Hours : 3
Short Title : Police Administration
Course Code : POL-201
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
The administrative and organizational structures and major functions of representative law enforcement agencies. Allocating responsibility, support functions, command coordination, recruitment and career advancement.
Prerequisites :
Co requisites :
CJU 123
- Credit : 3
Short Title : GE Science Elective
Course Code : BIO-EL1
Department Description : Biology
- Credit : 3
A 3-credit General Education Lab Science is required. Students may choose to take a 4-credit GE lab science elective in consultation with an academic advisor. Choose one 3-credit lab science course designated in the course descriptions as General Education (GE MST).
SCI-206 - Introduction to Forensic Science is recommended.
Short Title : United States National Government
Course Code : POS-220
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
The organization, powers and procedures of the United States national government are presented along with such topics as the role of political parties, electorate behavior and interest groups as a continuing process of United States politics.
- Credit : 3
SEMESTER 3
Short Title : Police Operations
Course Code : POL-202
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
Administration of police line operations, including patrol as the basic police function, investigation, juvenile, traffic and special operational units. Liaison between units, enforcement policy, manpower distribution and analysis of operations.
Prerequisites :
Co requisites :
CJU 123
- Credit : 3
Short Title : United States State and Local Government
Course Code : POS-201
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
A comparative analysis of the state, county and municipal levels of government in the United States is offered. Particular attention is given to New Jersey government and politics, state party organizations, interest groups and electorate behavior, as well as the formal governmental structure.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : GE Humanities Elective
Course Code : HUM-EL2
Department Description : Humanities
- Credit : 3
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).
PHI-123 - Ethics is recommended.
Short Title : Social Psychology
Course Code : PSY-222
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description : The behavior and development of the individual in society, the functions of social attitudes and the emergence of social awareness. Also, the character of group conflict and group solidarity.
Prerequisites :
- Credit : 3
- Lecture Hours : 3
OR
Short Title : Contemporary Social Problems
Course Code : SOC-131
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
An introduction to the study of social problems in American society. Emphasis is given to social problems related to stratification and inequity of social groups and institutions. Students will analyze social problems from general, theoretical, and research-based point of view, as well as investigate why particular issues become defined as "problems".
- Credit : 3
- Lecture Hours : 3
Short Title : Constitutional Law
Course Code : POS-231
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
Examines the principal methods by which United States Supreme Court Justices give meaning to Constitutional provisions in the context of individual cases. Particular attention paid to the fundamental importance of a full and coherent understanding of the principles, precedents and problems of America’s democratic system.
Prerequisites :
- Credit : 3
SEMESTER 4
Short Title : Juvenile Delinquency
Course Code : SOC-225
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description : Examines the nature and extent of juvenile crime, juvenile delinquency as a social and cultural problem, social and cultural factors in the explanation of delinquent behavior, types of offenders, theories of delinquency and treatment and prevention of delinquency.
- Credit : 3
- Lecture Hours : 3
Short Title : Law Enforcement and the Community
Course Code : POL-204
Department Description : History and Social Science
Course Description :
The relationship between professional police officers and the community they serve with emphasis on ethical standards, human relations, civil rights and community service. The attitudes and actions of the police and the public that lead to both positive and negative relationships between them.
Prerequisites :
Co requisites :
CJU 123
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Principles of Investigation
Course Code : POL-205
Department Description : History and Social Sciences
Course Description :
This course introduces crime investigation and detection including basic and practical methods, technologies, and processes. Historical, fundamental, and practical theories of crime detection and sound criminal investigations are covered through scientific and behavior-related principles.
Prerequisites :
- Credit : 3
Short Title : GE Technology Elective
Course Code : GE-MST
Department Description : General Education
- Credit : 3
Short Title : GE Humanities Elective
Course Code : HUM-EL2
Department Description : Humanities
- Credit : 3
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Program will be able to:
- Discuss the institutional legal processes of criminal law and the administration of justice in the United States, and how police, courts and the correctional system interact in a constitutionally protected arena.
- Identify and analyze important legal and ethical dilemmas Identify and analyze important legal and ethical dilemmas in the administration of justice.
- Summarize key Issues Summarize key issues in constitutional law, the New Jersey Court System, and judicial treatment; relevant trends in correctional institutions and correctional management philosophies; and contemporary police procedures and community policing.
- Identify and analyze ongoing problems in policing, court systems and correctional institutions, evaluating alternative suggestions for effective reform.
- Use appropriate tools of research and analysis to understand and produce effective written and oral communication about criminal justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will students learn if they study Criminal Justice?
Students examine both the substantive and procedural aspects of criminal law. Particular attention will be given to the functions of the courts and special emphasis will be placed on major U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Students who choose the Correction Administration degree option or certificate will learn about relevant trends with regard to correctional institutions, as well as sentencing, judicial treatment and correctional management philosophies. With the Police Science degree option, students will learn police procedures, constitutional law and community policing.
Are there any requirements that must be satisfied taking courses in the major?
Can students transfer to a four-year college or university?
The Statewide Transfer Agreement for New Jersey ensures that students who earn an A.A. or A.S. degree at a community college will have those credits fully transferable to a New Jersey public four-year institution, will have completed half of the credits required for a basic four-year degree and will have completed all of the lower division general education requirements. In addition, articulation agreements with private institutions may provide similar transfer provisions. Students should discuss the transfer process with an advisor.
How long will it take to complete this degree?
Once students complete developmental coursework (if needed), the degree can be completed in two years of full-time study. They can shorten the amount of time by taking courses in the summer and winter sessions.
Transfer Information
Our students transfer to 4-year colleges and universities around the globe. We’ve had students transfer to every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.
The Statewide Transfer Agreement for New Jersey ensures that students who earn an A.A. or A.S. degree at a community college will have those credits fully transferable to a New Jersey public four-year institution, will have completed half of the credits required for a basic four-year degree and will have completed all lower division general education requirements. In addition, articulation agreements are being worked out with institutions granting baccalaureate degrees to facilitate the transfer process. Students should discuss the transfer process with an advisor.
Are you interested in transferring to a school in New Jersey? You can use the tools at NJTransfer.org to see which of your MCC courses will transfer to a specific college.