Serving and Protecting
Analyzing evidence, investigating crimes, working with at-risk youth and working with criminal offenders are some of the duties of individuals employed in the criminal justice field. The Justice program provides you with the knowledge and skills used to protect the public, and work within the court and corrections systems. Taught by experienced faculty, your courses will focus on the needs, operations and administration of the criminal justice system.
The Justice program, designed in conjunction with justice leaders from the Philadelphia area, provides essential knowledge and skills for people new to or already working in the justice field. In addition, employees and their family members of the Philadelphia Police Department and the Department of Corrections may enjoy the following benefits offered by the Justice program:
➢ 15 credits toward a Justice degree for Philadelphia Police Academy graduates
➢ 6 credits toward a Justice degree for Philadelphia Prison Training graduates
Careers
Find your path.
Criminal Investigator – est. salary $82,174
Police Patrol Officer – est. salary $77,196
Police Detective – est. salary $82,174
Police Identification and Records Officer – est. salary $82,174
Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff – est. salary $77,196*
**EMSI Data, 2019; Philadelphia County, PA; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Transfer Opportunities
Videos & Multimedia
Courses and Completion Sequence
Semester 1
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| FYE 101 – First Year Experience | 3 credits | Major Course | |
| ENGL 101 – English Composition I | 3 credits | ENGL 101 | |
| JUS 101 – Survey of Criminal Justice | 3 credits | JUS 101 and JUS 131, along with DF 101, DF 201, JUS 221, and JUS 261 will enable students to also earn the Digital Investigations Proficiency Certificate. | Major Course |
| SOC 101 – Intro. To Sociology | 3 credits | Social Science Writing Intensive, Interpretive Studies, AM/Global Diversity | |
| JUS 131 - Technology in Criminal Justice | 3 credits | JUS 101 and JUS 131, along with DF 101, DF 201, JUS 221, and JUS 261 will enable students to also earn the Digital Investigations Proficiency Certificate. | Major Course, Technological Competency |
- This program is designed to provide students with the option of entering the workforce or transferring to a bachelor's degree program after earning their associate's degree
- Follow this course schedule each semester and you’ll earn your associate’s degree in two years
- Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register.
Semester 2
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 102 - The Research Paper | 3 credits | ENGL 102 – Info Literacy | |
| PSYC 101 - Intro. To Psychology | 3 credits | Major Course | |
| JUS 241 - Criminal Law | 3 credits | Major Course | |
| FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra (or higher) | 3 credits | Mathematics | |
| JUS 171 - Juvenile Justice | 3 credits | Major Course |
- Don’t forget to meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
- Start planning for transfer:
- Did you know our dual admissions partnerships include scholarship opportunities?
- Learn more about our transfer agreements and use our interactive search tool for your program’s transfer options
- Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
- Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
- Now is a good time to start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship— You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships
Semester 3
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Elective (choose three): any Criminal Justice course (JUS) and/or DF 101- Introduction to Digital Forensics |
9 credits | Prerequisite for JUS courses: JUS 101
Prerequisite for DF 101: JUS 101 or PLS 101 |
Criminal Justice Elective |
| BIO 104 - Forensic Biology or EASC 111 - Environmental Conservation |
3 credits | Natural Sciences | |
| ENGL 115 - Public Speaking or ENGL 116 - Interpersonal Communication or ENGL 118 - Intercultural Communication or Foreign Language |
3 credits | Humanities |
- Meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
- Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
- Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
- Start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship—You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships
Semester 4
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUS 291 - Contemporary Issues in Justice | 3 credits | Prerequisites: JUS 101, JUS 171, JUS 241 | Major Course |
| POLS 111- American Government or BHHS 121 - Addiction Studies Foreign Language or DF 201 - Digital Forensics II |
3 credits | Prerequisite for DF 201: DF 101 JUS 101 and JUS 131, along with DF 101, DF 201, JUS 221, and JUS 261 will enable students to also earn the Digital Investigations Proficiency Certificate. |
|
| Criminal Justice Elective (choose two): any Criminal Justice course (JUS) and/or DF 101 - Introduction to Digital Forensics |
6 credits | Prerequisite for JUS courses: JUS 101 Prerequisite for DF 101: JUS 101 or PLS 101 |
Criminal Justice Elective |
| SOC 215 - Criminology | 3 credits | Major Course |
- Congratulations, this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
- Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
- Finalize your transfer plans:
- Meet with a counselor at your selected dual admissions transfer college
- Meet with one of our College’s counselors or an advisor to review transfer requirements
- Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
- Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities
General Education Requirements:
All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College’s general education requirements is also available.
Featured Career
Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff
Enforce law and order in rural or unincorporated districts or serve legal processes of courts. May patrol courthouse, guard court or grand jury, or escort defendants.
$77,196
6,273
in the region
6%
Typical Tasks
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
- Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
- Take control of accident scenes to maintain traffic flow, to assist accident victims, and to investigate causes.
- Execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody.
How well does it pay?
New workers generally start around $50,267. Normal pay for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs is $77,196 per year, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $88,125.
Program Information
Criminal Justice
Degree Type:
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)Credits Needed to Graduate:
60