Criminal Justice Transfer Major
Students studying criminal justice will gain knowledge of the criminal justice and corrections systems, ethics, criminology, juvenile behaviors, and the court system.
This transfer major is ideal if you plan to work at the state or federal level in probation, parole, law enforcement, juvenile court services, or the Department of Human Services.
If you are interested in completing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice you should consider taking 12 credit hours from the courses listed below as part of your AA degree in Liberal Arts.
Career Opportunities
Skills gained in the Criminal Justice transfer major can be easily applied to careers in county and municipal-level corrections, juvenile corrections, and law enforcement.
After completing a four-year degree, graduates can find careers at the state and federal level in the court system, law enforcement, juvenile court services, probation and parole systems, Department of Human Services, and more.
The ability to be hired by a law enforcement agency may be impaired by any arrest record, juvenile or adult. Learn how your criminal history matters.
Explore local data on wages, employment, job postings, and more!
Planning Your Class Schedule
Students should consult with an advisor in Student Services to select courses, make a transfer plan, and periodically review their progress towards their degree completion.
Students are also encouraged to contact the admissions office at the college to which they plan to transfer during their first year at Hawkeye in order to obtain specific program and transfer requirements.
Not all courses may be required for or transfer to your future major.
Award: Associate of Arts (AA)
Required number of credits: 62
Courses and course cost calculations are subject to change.
Legend
| ◆ |
General education course. |
| ► |
Course has a prerequisite and/or corequisite. |
| O |
Course meets 100% online. |
| E |
Course meets face-to-face after 5:00pm. |
Course Descriptions: Show All | Hide All
| Criminal Justice Transfer Courses |
| CRJ-100 |
Introduction to Criminal Justice
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O
E
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3 |
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$586.50 |
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This course examines the day-to-day operation of criminal justice in our society. Emphasis is on the inter-relationships of the components of law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and the juvenile justice system.
Lecture Hours: 48
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| CRJ-200 |
Criminology
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O
E
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3 |
◆
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$586.50 |
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This course explores theories of factors that influence criminal behavior, and analyzes criminal behavior in relationship to other social problems.
Lecture Hours: 48
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| CRJ-201 |
Juvenile Delinquency
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O
E
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3 |
◆
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$586.50 |
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This course is an investigation of the social and legal definitions of juvenile delinquency and its causes. It also focuses on the administration of juvenile court, probation and parole, and assessment of present and potential prevention programs.
Lecture Hours: 48
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| MAT-156 |
Statistics
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O
E
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3 |
◆
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$586.50 |
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This course is a study of descriptive statistics including graphical representation, central tendency, correlation and regression, intuitive treatment of probability and inferential statistics including hypothesis testing.
Lecture Hours: 48
Prerequisite(s): MAT-063.
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| POL-111 |
American National Government
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O
E
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3 |
◆
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$586.50 |
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The study of the United States national government, specifically its institutions, the process of governing, the means by which individual citizens and groups influence that process, and the output of that governing process.
Lecture Hours: 48
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| SOC-110 |
Introduction to Sociology
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O
E
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3 |
◆
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$586.50 |
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This course surveys the basic principles, concepts, and research findings of social life from small groups to societies. The course examines a range of sociological explanations for the various forms of social behaviors and establishes a basis for reflection and further study in the field.
Lecture Hours: 48
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Total Credits 24
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| Criminal Justice Electives |
| CRJ-120 |
Introduction to Corrections
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O
E
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3 |
◆
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$586.50 |
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This course will provide an introductory examination of corrections in the United States. The central theme of the course will be to critically analyze corrections as an integral part of the overall criminal justice system in America.
Lecture Hours: 48
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| CRJ-141 |
Criminal Investigation
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3 |
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$586.50 |
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This course examines the techniques and procedures used to investigate crimes.
Lecture Hours: 48
Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CRJ-100.
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| CRJ-233 |
Probation, Parole, Community-Based Corrections
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O
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3 |
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$586.50 |
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This course examines probation and parole practices related to community-based corrections programs throughout the United States. Emphasis is placed on community-based programs for offenders, administration and legal issues of the programs, trends in probation, parole and related community-based programs.
Lecture Hours: 48
Prerequisite(s): CRJ-100 and CRJ-120.
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| CRJ-237 |
Criminal and Constitutional Law
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3 |
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$682.50 |
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This course will review the historical development of constitutional law, the philosophy of law, and the current impact on law enforcement officials. The judicial process will be examined to better understand the societal and political influences that impact current day constitutional decisions. A review of the current constitutional protections afforded to an individual. The course will also provide an examination of the elements of common offenses and the procedural safeguards in the criminal process.
Lecture Hours: 48
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| CRJ-316 |
Juvenile Justice
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3 |
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$586.50 |
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This course examines the juvenile justice system from a practitioner perspective. It provides operational knowledge of how law enforcement, the courts, and correctional facilities navigate the juvenile offender.
Lecture Hours: 48
Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CRJ-100.
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| CRJ-317 |
White Collar Crime
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O
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3 |
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$586.50 |
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This course examines white collar crime as a social and criminal justice problem, the costs to society, explanations for behavior, and investigative techniques.
Lecture Hours: 48
Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CRJ-100 and CRJ-237.
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| CRJ-318 |
Crime Analysis
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3 |
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$586.50 |
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This course enables the student to use intelligence and analytic data to identify and inform tactical, strategic, and administrative crime analysis functions.
Lecture Hours: 48
Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CRJ-100.
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| CRJ-320 |
Criminal Justice Ethics
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O
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3 |
◆
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$586.50 |
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An examination of ethical issues in the criminal justice system with an emphasis on reasoning and decision making for professional competence.
Lecture Hours: 48
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| Remaining Liberal Arts Coursework |
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Total Credits 38
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Course Cost Calculation
Resident tuition and fees x course credits + course fee if applicable.
The course cost calculation does not include:
Your Criminal History Matters
As a future criminal justice professional, students need to use good judgment in all areas of their personal, professional, and scholastic interactions and activities; and must keep their records clean. Criminal justice organizations require background checks for internships, volunteer placements, and employment; which will include adult and juvenile civil and criminal issues, official and informal contacts with police, and character references. Employment will also hinge on the successful completion of a polygraph, credit check, and psychological evaluation.
Be aware that character counts and your behavior can sabotage your ability to graduate from this program and your ability to work in the field. Consider what your actions and criminal history says about you….i.e. an OWI conviction indicates that you demonstrate poor judgment by drinking to excess and deciding to drive, which may kill or injure you or another person. Remember your personal behaviors (what you didn’t get caught for) will be revealed during the polygraph, and what you do privately (when no one is watching or supervising) speaks volumes as to the true content of one’s character.
If you want to work in criminal justice avoid these issues:
- Acquiring speeding tickets or safety violation citations.
- Acquiring a suspended driver’s license or citations for driving with a suspended license.
- Participating in underage drinking, using fake ID’s, or buying alcohol for underage persons.
- Use or abuse of prescription drugs, street drugs, club drugs (ecstasy), marijuana, or synthetic drugs.
- Engaging in theft of property, goods, or services.
You will not be employable in criminal justice if you have:
- Felony convictions.
- Domestic abuse convictions.
- Placement on an abuse registry (Sex offender, child/elder abuse).
- Drug convictions, or history of drug use or abuse (methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, etc.) Each agency (city, county, state, or federal) sets their own limits on marijuana use from zero tolerance to a limited amount of use, and factors in how recent the use was.
- Weapons violations.
Ultimately, criminal justice employers will rationalize your behavior by this criteria: If you know or reasonably believe an action is illegal or will cause harm then the best candidate will take responsibility, demonstrate self-control, and not do it.
Lastly, employers will ask our faculty for references. Students need to know that full time faculty and adjunct faculty members are constantly formally and informally assessing students in terms of academic performance, attendance, honesty, professionalism, social skills, maturity, and appearance so that we can make objective assessments when asked. Your interactions count, and we are here to mentor you.