AY24 Academic Catalog/Handbook

Criminal Justice Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree

The Criminal Justice associate degree program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for criminal justice professions. Learning opportunities develop academic, occupational, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement.

The program emphasizes a combination of Criminal Justice theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Program graduates receive a Criminal Justice Technology associate degree. Graduates who are current practitioners will benefit through enhancement of career potential. Entry-level persons will be prepared to pursue diverse opportunities in the corrections, security, investigative, and police administration fields. Completion of the Criminal Justice Technology associate degree does not ensure certification of officer status in Georgia. Students must seek such certification from the Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Council.

Students desiring to be employed in the public protection sector upon graduation must meet the requirements established by Georgia Code 35-8-8.

Students who intend to become certified Peace Officers or Corrections Officers in the State of Georgia should understand that according to the Georgia Peace Officer and Standards Training (P.O.S.T.) Council, each applicant, "shall not have been convicted by any state or by the federal government of any crime the punishment for which could have been imprisonment in a federal or state prison or institution nor have been convicted of sufficient misdemeanors to establish a pattern of disregard for the law, provided that, for purposes of this paragraph, violations of traffic laws and other offenses involving the operation of motor vehicles when the applicant has received a pardon shall not be considered." This means that the Council will require that a thorough Criminal and Traffic History be completed to include but not limited to: a Certified Driver’s History, a Georgia Crime Information Center and a National Crime Information Center printout. Qualifications for peace officer/corrections officer may be found at the P.O.S.T. web site.

Students can enter the Criminal Justice Technology degree program any semester. A full-time student can complete this program in 6 semesters. To graduate, a student must earn a minimum of 60 semester credit hours.

Offered at the Following Campuses/Delivery Mode:

  • North Campus (Sandersville)
  • South Campus (Dublin)
  • Online (Distance Education)
  • Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center

Articulation Agreements

For information on further advancing your education after completing your Associate of Applied Science Degree, see our Articulation (Transfer) Agreements.

Employment Outlook

Career Traits/Requirements

Individuals wanting to enroll in the Criminal Justice degree program must be able to deal with a wide array of situations with a level head.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the Criminal Justice Technology degree program are prepared for positions in law enforcement, corrections or security such as: Community Police Officer, Detention Officer, EMS Coordinator, Police Officer, Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, Dispatcher, Jailer, Private Probation Officer, Game Warden and Records Manager. Instruction and practical application of learned skills provide a broad occupational background which appeals to prospective employers. A criminal background investigation with a satisfactory determination is required of all persons working in the criminal justice field.

Program Costs

Tuition & Fees: $7,986.00

Books & Supplies: $2,035.00

(Costs are estimated and are subject to change.)

Admission Requirements

OFTC may accept a student’s official entrance score on the following validated assessment instruments if the scores meet the required minimums:

  • COMPASS/ASSET,
  • SAT,
  • ACT,
  • PSAT,
  • PACT,
  • Accuplacer/Accuplacer Next Generation/Companion,
  • HOPE GPA after completion of 10th grade of 2.6 or higher, or High School GPA of 2.6 (for occupational programs), or 2.0 for Workforce Entry Level programs, or GED.

The College may accept transfer credit for other courses according to the College’s transfer policy.

Curriculum

Area I - Language Arts/Communication

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
ENGL 1101Composition and Rhetoric

3

45

Area II - Social/Behavioral

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
PSYC 1101Introductory Psychology

3

45

Area III - Natural Sciences/Mathematics

Choose one of the following:
Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
MATH 1103Quantitative Skills and Reasoning

3

45

MATH 1111College Algebra

3

45

Area IV - Humanities/Fine Arts

Choose one of the following:
Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
ENGL 2110World Literature

3

45

ENGL 2130American Literature

3

45

Program-Specific General Education Core Requirements

To meet the minimum required 15 semester credit hours in General Core Courses, students must take an additional 3 semester credit hours.

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
ENGL 1102Literature and Composition

3

45

HIST 2111U.S. History I

3

45

HIST 2112U.S. History II

3

45

POLS 1101American Government

3

45

SOCI 1101Introduction to Sociology

3

45

Occupational Courses

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
COLL 1060Introduction to College and Computers

3

50

CRJU 1010Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 1030Corrections

3

45

CRJU 1040Principles of Law Enforcement

3

45

CRJU 1068Criminal Law for Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 1400Ethics and Cultural Perspectives for Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 2020Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 2050Criminal Procedure

3

45

CRJU 2070Juvenile Justice

3

45

XXXX XXXXOccupational Electives

13

Choose one of the following:
Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
CRJU 2090Criminal Justice Practicum

3

135

CRJU 2100Criminal Justice Externship

3

135

Program Pathway

Semester 1

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
COLL 1060Introduction to College and Computers

3

50

CRJU 1010Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 1030Corrections

3

45

CRJU 1040Principles of Law Enforcement

3

45

Semester 2

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
ENGL 1101Composition and Rhetoric

3

45

CRJU 2020Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 2070Juvenile Justice

3

45

CRJU 1043Probation and Parole

3

45

Semester 3

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
PSYC 1101Introductory Psychology

3

45

CRJU 1068Criminal Law for Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 1400Ethics and Cultural Perspectives for Criminal Justice

3

45

CRJU 1052Criminal Justice Administration

3

45

Semester 4

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
CRJU 2050Criminal Procedure

3

45

CRJU 2060Criminology

3

45

Choose one of the following:
Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
MATH 1103Quantitative Skills and Reasoning

3

45

MATH 1111College Algebra

3

45

Choose one of the following:
Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
ENGL 1102Literature and Composition

3

45

HIST 2111U.S. History I

3

45

HIST 2112U.S. History II

3

45

POLS 1101American Government

3

45

SOCI 1101Introduction to Sociology

3

45

Semester 5

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
CRJU 1062Methods of Criminal Investigation

3

45

CRJU 2201Criminal Courts

3

45

Choose one of the following:
Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
CRJU 2090Criminal Justice Practicum

3

135

CRJU 2100Criminal Justice Externship

3

135

Choose one of the following

Course NameCourse TitleCreditsContact
ENGL 2110World Literature

3

45

ENGL 2130American Literature

3

45