Associate of Science

Associates of Science in Criminal Justice

Catalog
Undergraduate

The requirements below pertain to this Undergraduate Catalog year and are intended as a guide for academic planning. Students should consult with their academic advisor to discuss their individual plan of study.

Program Length: 62 credit hours

Accepted Transfer Credits: Up to 45 Credit hours

The Associate's of Science in Criminal Justices curriculum covers law enforcement, courts, corrections, security, and crime scene investigation. Additionally, the program covers topics that include crime and criminal behavior. Attaining an associate's degree provides a solid foundation for further study and attaining a bachelor's degree or entry into various criminal justice professions. Your associate's degree in Criminal Justice can open up career opportunities in public safety, corrections, forensic science, investigation, and law enforcement.

The Associate's of Science degree program empowers students to cultivate their unique potential and talents and promote their mastery of the knowledge, skills, and aptitudes necessary for effective leadership. Leighton University believes that this balance enables graduates to make a difference by creating new opportunities and providing workable solutions to current and future 21st-century dilemmas.

Program Goals and Objectives

Upon successful completion of the Associate's of Science in Criminal Justice, the graduate will have acquired the ability to:

  • Evaluate state and federal constitutions and their respective criminal codes.
  • Communicate effectively within the criminal justice system and with the public and routinely respond to various problems, many of which may not be criminal.
  • Legally and with precision, enforce the laws which regulate public conduct.
  • Accurately identify, collect, verify, and preserve evidence.
  • Conduct preliminary traffic and criminal investigations, report findings, and testify effectively in court.
  • Promote security through the appropriate application of standard patrol practices and police interventions.
  • Understand and apply concepts of community-oriented policing.

Criminal Studies Program Curriculum

To satisfy the program's requirements, you will need 62 credits hours that sufficiently cover the designated program's course components. These may be earned through a combination of the general education CORE courses and any other University discipline area. Required courses may vary based on transferable credits. Specifically, the students must submit proof of successful completion of a minimum of 62 semester hours of credit, which includes the following:

  • Successful completion of the General Education Requirements (34 credit hours) occurs when the student begins continuous enrollment.
  • Successful completion of 24 credit hours of discipline-related courses.
  • Successful completion of 12 credit hours of electives.
  • Successful completion of LIBR 150 and an additional elective course

Note:

  • At least 15 credit total credit hours for the associate degree must be completed at Leighton University.
  • A minimum grade point average of C (2.0) on all Leighton credits and a grade of at least C in all discipline-related courses.
  • Course prerequisites must be observed. If the student anticipates pursuing a bachelor's degree, courses should be selected to advance that degree goal.

University CORE Program (13 Courses)

Code #
Title
Credits
9
3
7
Sub-Total Credits
34

Electives (3 Course)

Sub-Total Credits
3

University Requirement

Code #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
1
Total Credits
62