Austin Community College

FY 2007 Degree Plan

Criminal Justice

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice includes courses in the Arts & Sciences curriculum as well as a wide array of Criminal Justice courses designed to prepare the student for further attainment of their educational goals and/or employment within the Criminal Justice System.

In order to graduate and receive an endorsement to take the peace officer licensing examination students enrolled under the certificate plan titled "Texas Peace Officer Sequence" must successfully pass a comprehensive examination during the last semester of their program. This exam will be prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and will serve as the "capstone experience" for the certificate. Students should contact the CRJ Program Coordinator to obtain exam dates and locations. Students entering the Texas Peace Officer Certificate program must comply with all TCLEOSE requirements listed in current TCLEOSE rules (see rule 217.1 and other rules located at www.tcleose.state.tx.us). Students must review and understand TCLEOSE rules regarding education and eligibility requirements for endorsement.

Each degree plan is also required by the THECB to contain a "capstone experience." Students satisfy this requirement for the AAS Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement degree plan by taking CRIJ 2328 Police Systems and Practices and by taking CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices in the AAS Criminal Justice/ Corrections degree plan.

Commissioned peace officers may be granted up to thirteen credit hours for completion of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education Basic Peace Officer Course. Licensed county jail officers may obtain four credit hours provided they have completed the 80 contact hour TCLEOSE County Correctional Officer Course. Additionally, students that have attended a high school tech-prep program articulated with Austin Community College will be eligible to transfer approved courses to ACC. Students should contact the CRJ Program Coordinator to obtain information on how to receive these credits.

LAW ENFORCEMENT
Associate of Applied Science Degree

The law enforcement emphasis includes elements of criminal law, police systems, court systems, criminal procedure, and criminal investigation.

Semester I

	CRIJ	1301		Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
	CRIJ	1307		Crime in America	3
	ENGL	1301		English Composition I	3
	SOCI	1301		Introduction to Sociology	3
	PSYC	2301		Introduction to Psychology	3
					------- 15

Semester II

	CRIJ	1310		Fundamentals of Criminal Law	3
	CRIJ	1306		Court Systems and Practices	3
+	GOVT	2306		Texas State and Local Government	3
	HIST	1301		United States History I	3
	CRIJ	1313		Juvenile Justice System	3
					------- 15

Semester III

	CJSA	1348		Ethics in Criminal Justice	3
	CRIJ	2323		Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement	3
+				Mathematics1	3
	HIST	1302		United States History II	3
+	GOVT	2305		United States Government	3
					------- 15

Semester IV

	CRIJ	2314		Criminal Investigation	3
	SPCH	1315		Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3
#	CRIJ	2328		Police Systems and Practices	3
	COSC	1301		Personal Computing	3
+				Humanities/Fine Arts1	3
				Unrestricted Elective	3
					------- 18
				TOTALS	------- 63

¹ Select from the appropriate section of the General Education Course List.

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CORRECTIONS
Associate of Applied Science Degree

The corrections emphasis includes elements of juvenile procedures, probation and parole, and institutional and community-based corrections.

Semester I

	CRIJ	1301		Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
	CRIJ	1307		Crime in America	3
	ENGL	1301		English Composition I	3
	SOCI	1301		Introduction to Sociology	3
	PSYC	2301		Introduction to Psychology	3
					------- 15

Semester II

	CRIJ	1310		Fundamentals of Criminal Law	3
	CRIJ	1306		Court Systems and Practices	3
+	GOVT	2306		Texas State and Local Government	3
	HIST	1301		United States History I	3
	CRIJ	1313		Juvenile Justice System	3
					------- 15

Semester III

	CJCR	1304		LE -- Probation and Parole	3
	CJSA	1348		Ethics in Criminal Justice	3
+				Mathematics1	3
	HIST	1302		United States History II	3
+	GOVT	2305		United States Government	3
					------- 15

Semester IV

	CRIJ	2301		Community Resources in Corrections	3
	SPCH	1315		Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3
#	CRIJ	2313		Correctional Systems and Practices	3
	COSC	1301		Personal Computing	3
+				Humanities/Fine Arts1	3
				Unrestricted Elective	3
					------- 18
				TOTALS	------- 63

¹ Select from the appropriate section of the General Education Course List.

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TEXAS PEACE OFFICER SEQUENCE
Certificate

This program is the academic equivalent to the "Basic Peace Officer Training Course" required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) for all Texas Peace Officers.

Completion of at least 12 semester hours of the "Law Enforcement Core Curriculum" is required before students are eligible to be admitted to the "Peace Officer Sequence" classes. CRJ Program Coordinator approval is required to take each of the "Peace Officer Sequence" classes. Students must have, at minimum, an associates degree and successfully complete the 21 semester hours of "Core Curriculum", the 13 semester hour of the "Peace Officer Sequence", and pass a comprehensive department examination before the CRJ Program Coordinator will issue students an "Academic Endorsement of Eligibility." The degree does not have to be in the criminal just field so long as the above courses are completed. After September 2006, a fourth "Peace Officer Sequence" course will be added and required for students entering the program after that date. Students that have completed the program and have been issued an "endorsement" are eligible to take the "Peace Officer Licensing Examination" which is prepared and administered by TCLEOSE.

Core Curriculum

	CRIJ	1301		Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
	CRIJ	1313		Juvenile Justice System	3
	CRIJ	1310		Fundamentals of Criminal Law	3
	CRIJ	1306		Court Systems and Practices	3
	CRIJ	2323		Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement	3
	CRIJ	2314		Criminal Investigation	3
	CRIJ	2328		Police Systems and Practices	3
					------- 21

Peace Officer Sequence

	CJLE	2420		Texas Peace Officer Procedures1	4
	CJLE	2421		Texas Peace Officer Law1	4
	CJLE	2522		Texas Peace Officer Skills1	5
#	CJLE	2424		Texas Peace Officer Capstone1	4
					------- 17
				TOTALS	------- 38

¹ Requires department approval.

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Degree Plans updated September 30, 2008 04:36am
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