Criminal Justice (A.S.)

If you picture yourself playing a positive role in the criminal justice system, Onondaga Community College’s Criminal Justice A.S. degree can help you develop the skills you will need in this challenging environment.

This degree lays the foundation for a four-year degree in a related field. If you are already employed in the criminal justice system, the degree can sharpen your skills and advance your career. If you have a special interest in issues related to juvenile justice, Onondaga offers a 12-credit minor in this critically important and relevant area.

The CRJ A.S. program provides an overview of the entire criminal justice system, including the court system, criminal law, police-community relations, ethics, juvenile justice, probation, parole, law, evidence, and criminology. If you plan to continue your studies in a related field, the A.S. degree is designed for a seamless transition into a four-year college or university program. If your plans change and you decide to enter the workforce after finishing your A.S. degree in Criminal Justice, you will be prepared for a variety of challenging positions.

We have highly experienced faculty which includes criminal justice experts from throughout Central New York, including professionals from the Syracuse Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, DeWitt Police Department and the New York State Police. Prominent local attorneys teach criminal law courses. In addition, experts in the field of criminalistics, juvenile delinquency and the investigation of child abuse serve on our faculty.

Program Prerequisites

All students will be required to achieve placement at the ENG 103  and RDG 153  levels or concurrently be enrolled in ENG 099  and RDG 093  if placement is not at the college level to enroll in any CRJ course.

Transfer Credit

Only credit from institutions that are accredited by their regional higher education accrediting body is accepted for transfer into the Criminal Justice program. No academic credit is awarded by the Criminal Justice program for life experience or for military, or other professional training. No credit toward graduation is awarded for pre-collegiate level or remedial work designed to prepare the student for collegiate study. No criminal justice major credits are to be completed through knowledge-based examinations (e.g., CLEP).

Graduation Requirements

A final grade of C or better must be achieved in every criminal justice course to earn the A.S. degree in Criminal Justice.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge of core content areas within the field.
2. Demonstrate critical-thinking skills by evaluating and synthesizing primary theories and concepts underlying the criminal justice field.
3. Articulate ethical issues and describe appropriate responses for practitioners or criminal justicians in a diverse society.
4. Demonstrate information literacy by preparing research reports using electronic databases and online academic sources.