Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice

This course is an introduction to the philosophy, history, and constitutional limitations of law enforcement. The course will focus on the nature and functions of public agencies responsible for law enforcement. The development of law is discussed from primitive and ancient law, through early English law and law enforcement to the beginnings of law enforcement in the U.S. Also addressed is the development of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

This course is an introduction to the collection, preservation, and basic crime scene investigations. The course will also focus on the laws and court decisions relating to the admissibility of evidence. Additionally, there will be distinctions made between the interview and interrogation methods and their appropriate uses. The essential qualities of an investigator will be identified and explained.

An examination of the American criminal justice system as an interdisciplinary social science involving aspects of criminology, sociology, law, and political science.This course will enable the student to grasp the complexity of the American Criminal Justice System. As we study the Administration of Criminal Justice, we will see how the several components work, their goals, organizations and how they may have different or competing philosophies.

This course is intended to introduce the students to the principles of delinquency. It provides a historical overview of delinquency in America. The course will look at the psychological, social, and environmental theories of delinquency. The course will also cover the juvenile court system and treatment options.

This course develops interpersonal, group, and presentational communication skills that are applicable in personal and professional cross-cultural relationships, and focuses on differences in values, message systems, and communication rules across cultural boundaries and in multicultural settings.

The course identifies the fundamental and underlying reasons why America is a target for terrorists as it compares and contrasts various international terrorist groups and their respective ideologies. A review is made of the origins of modern terrorism, religion and terror, typologies of terrorism, and distinctions between terrorism and serious crimes. Additionally, the course will address the various definitions of terrorism including the influences of religion, ethnic, and geographical distinctions. From an historical perspective students will come to appreciate the ideological basis for terrorism, begin to understand the differences between the various “active” terrorist organizations, and acquire a basic framework for discussing WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) issues. Finally, this course will also lay the foundation for the student to undertake further intermediate terrorism-related curriculum.

This course is an introduction to the structure of the American court system. Topics include prosecution, right to counsel, pretrial release, grand jury process, and sentencing concepts. The course will assess the U.S Courts System and how it relates to the criminal justice system in America. Students will become familiar with the chronological events from the arrest process to sentencing and appeals. Students will be able to explain concepts of stop and frisk arrest, searches under warrant, and presentation of the case to the magistrate. Assessments of the criminal trial process and phases of pretrial and trial proceedings will be examined.

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

This course is a culminating course for the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice degree. It is designed to allow the student to review, analyze and integrate the work the student has completed toward a degree in Criminal Justice. The student will complete an approved academic project or paper that demonstrates your grasp of criminal justice study. This is a culminating course to be taken after all other Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice courses have been satisfactorily completed. Student must have SOPHOMORE standing to register. This course is to be taken as the LAST course in the AA in the Criminal Justice program.