Cerritos College
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
Cerritos College Administration of Justice majors currently have two options from which to choose: an A.A. Degree option and a University Transfer option. These options are not mutually exclusive. A student can satisfy the requirements of both options at the same time.
The A.A. Degree option satisfies the requirements for obtaining a two-year Associate in Arts degree in Administration of Justice at Cerritos College. It may lead directly to entry-level employment in the criminal justice field for those who do not want to continue their education beyond the Community College level.
The University Transfer option satisfies the lower division (freshman/sophomore) requirements for transfer to the California State University system with junior year standing and leads to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Criminal Justice. The transfer student may also receive an A.A. degree at Cerritos College, while, at the same time, meeting the requirements for transfer to the university.
Many students complete their A.A. Degree, obtain entry-level employment in a criminal justice agency, and then continue on to a State University to complete their education as a part-time student, while at the same time working in a good-paying professional job.
The University Transfer option is recommended for students who hope to eventually seek promotion to supervisory or management positions (Sergeant, Lieutenant and above) in local law enforcement agencies, or to obtain a professional position in a state or federal law enforcement agency, or in probation, parole, juvenile counseling, or corrections. Most of these positions require at least a bachelor’s degree.
Transfer option students take fewer criminal justice courses at Cerritos. Instead, they complete a greater number and a more advanced level of general education classes than those required for the A.A. degree. More advanced criminal justice classes will then be taken at the university level.
Non-transfer A.A. degree students take more, and a greater variety, of Administration of Justice courses, while meeting less strenuous general education requirements.
Some of the general education courses that satisfy the requirements for an A.A. degree do not apply toward the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Be sure you have decided on your goals and have consulted with a counselor before choosing your general education courses.
For an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in Administration of Justice, the following A.J. courses are required in addition to the courses necessary to meet the general education degree requirements for either the transfer or non-transfer degree:
All A.J. majors (transfer and non-transfer) must complete the following A.J. courses:
AJ 101 Introduction to Administration of Justice
AJ 102 Concepts of Criminal Law
AJ 202 Substantive Criminal Law
AJ 103 Criminal Procedures
AJ 104 Criminal Evidence
AJ 105 Community Relations/Multi-Cultural Issues
AJ 220 Criminal Investigation
A.A. Degree (non-transfer) majors must also complete both of the following courses:
AJ 110 Concepts of Enforcement Services
AJ 91 Police Report Writing
A.A. Degree (non-transfer) majors must select at least two courses from the following list of electives to complete a minimum of 33 units of A.J. classes:
AJ 71 Police First Aid
AJ 221 Narcotics and Vice Control
AJ 222 Juvenile Law and Procedures
AJ 130 Traffic Enforcement
AJ 150 Introduction to Corrections
(Provides transfer credit to CSULB in
Parole, Probation and Corrections)
AJ 173 Occupational Work Experience (Internship) – 3 units
University Transfer majors are not required to take any additional A.J. courses, but may complete any of the non-transfer courses listed above. Particularly recommended are:
AJ 91 Police Report Writing
AJ 173 Occupational Work Experience (Internship)
In addition, non-transfer majors must also complete one course in psychology and one course in sociology from the following list:
Psyc. 101 General Psychology or
Psyc. 261 Social Psychology or
Psyc. 271 Abnormal Psychology
and
Soc. 101 Introduction to Sociology or
Soc. 2 01 Social Problems
The following courses are recommended as additional electives for Administration of Justice majors:
BASS 131 Beginning Typing
Span. 101 Elementary Spanish
Span. 223 Spanish for Careers
Journalism 101 Beginning News Writing and Reporting
Photo. 100 Introductory Photography
BL 101 Introduction to Law and Legal Careers
BL 100 California Civil Procedures
BL 103 Legal Research
Administration of Justice courses recommended for students in other majors:
For Court Reporting, Para-Legal, Pre-Law, Legal Studies, Legal Assisting, Journalism and Legal Secretary majors:
AJ 102 Concepts of Criminal Law
AJ 202 Substantive Criminal Law
AJ 103 Criminal Procedures
In addition, the following courses are recommended for Para-Legal, Legal Studies, Journalism, and Pre-Law majors:
AJ 220 Criminal Investigation
AJ 104 Criminal Evidence
