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2024 - 2025 Catalog Year
Criminal Justice Science/Law Enforcement (Full-time)

Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Division: Business and Public Services

This Sample Program Pathway is designed to provide an example of course selections in a term by term sequence. Please see an Academic Advisor for a plan specific to your academic needs.

Fall Semester (First Year)
Elective course signified by
Hours
 

Description: Overview of the criminal justice system and an analysis of the interdependence of its components, including legislative, law enforcement, prosecution, court and correctional systems. Examination of responsibilities of professionals in each of these systems, including ethical and legal responsibilities.

Description: In English Composition I students learn reflective, analytical and argumentative writing strategies, incorporating sources and personal experience. Students will negotiate between public and private rhetorical situations and purposes to achieve academic literacy. They will write multiple drafts using a recursive writing process as they work toward fluency in style and mechanics. Note: Students who have not successfully completed the pre-requisites listed can register for ENG 1101 together with the co-requisite course ENG 0101 - English Composition I Booster.

Prerequisites: DEV 0035 or Other (Placement Test Score)

Description: Mathematics of finance, mathematics of trade, payroll, taxes, insurance, elementary statistics. Traditional testing (proctored or in Testing Center) is used in all online sections.

Notes: Math elective. Choose MAT 1120 or Any Mathematics, Statistics & Logic elective from the approved Ohio Transfer 36 List. View electives at www.https://sinclair.edu/ot36

Description: A critical analysis of contemporary American society with review of major sociological theories, research methods, culture, socialization, groups, social structure, social institutions, deviance, social inequalities, social processes and social change.

Description: Management and leadership of law enforcement agencies, including investigations, patrol, internal affairs, traffic enforcement and an overview of community based and problem-oriented policing theory and practice. Emphasis on crime analysis and prevention, community partnerships to reduce crime and community education. Principles of organization, staffing, budgeting, controlling, training and planning.

Notes: Fall Only

 

Term hours subtotal:

15

Spring Semester (First Year)
Hours
 

Description: Survey and interpretation of the Federal Constitution, and an overview of state and federal law and court systems. Emphasis on the Bill of Rights with particular attention to the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteen amendments. Study, analysis, and application of the Rules of Evidence and Rules of Criminal Procedure from investigation to arrest, trial, and the appellate process. Additionally, ethical guidelines for Criminal Justice professionals in the detection, apprehension, and prosecution of the accused and constitutional restrictions on government actions.

Prerequisites: CJS 1101 or CIS 1107

Description: Overview of homeland security threats, statutes, resources and the role of law enforcement as first responders with the emphasis on inter-agency cooperation. Examination of contemporary security issues in public and private spaces including risk analysis, critical incident management, inter-agency collaboration, specialized security fields, intelligence gathering and litigation. Exploration of the career opportunities in homeland security.

Notes: Spring Only

Prerequisites: CJS 1101

Description: Examination and analysis of legal and ethical obligations of criminal justice professionals in law enforcement, corrections and the courts. Study and assessment of policy and actions of individuals and organizations within the criminal justice system regarding conformity to accepted ethical and legal standards.

Prerequisites: CJS 1101 or CIS 1107

Description: Examination of cultural differences and the handling of special needs population by the criminal justice system, including current trends in meeting community needs. Emphasis on development of the knowledge and skill sets required of the criminal justice professional to address the needs and issues of diverse clientele throughout the criminal justice process. Strategies for mediation, conflict resolution and critical incident management.

Prerequisites: CJS 1101

Description: This course presents a framework for studying the nature and the causes of crime and criminal behavior. Focus is provided through criminal typologies and the myriad of theories using multi-disciplinary perspectives.

Prerequisites: SOC 1101

 

Term hours subtotal:

15

Summer Semester (First Year)
Elective course signified by
Hours
 

Description: Basic concepts of Criminal Law and analysis of state and federal criminal statutes. Elements of crimes, criminal liability, jurisdiction over criminal offenses and criminal defenses and criminal responsibility will be examined. Additionally, crimes against property, crimes against persons and alcohol and drug crimes will be covered.

Prerequisites: CJS 1101 or PAR 1101

Description: This course examines the role of technology in the modern society. It explores the opportunities and dangers faced by humankind in the evolution of new technologies. It inquires into such questions as whether the human quest for mastery of nature has made us masters or slaves of the machine.

Notes: Any Arts and Humanities elective from the approved Ohio Transfer 36 List. View electives at: https://sinclair.edu/about/offices/provost/articulation-transfer/ohio-transfer-36/

Description: Use word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software applications to create reports, spreadsheets, databases and presentations for business and other applications.

Description: Exploration of the development, maintenance and termination of interpersonal relationships. The focus is on effective verbal and nonverbal interactions between two people, highlighting methods of initiating and maintaining effective communication with, and understanding of, others through learning and applying interpersonal communication theory.

Notes: Communication Elective: Choose from COM 2206 or COM 2211

Description: The survey course studying the structure and function of the human body. Topics include introductory terminology, cytology, the integumentary system, the skeletal system, the muscular system, the nervous system, the endocrine system, the cardiovascular system, (blood, heart and blood vessels), the lymphatic system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, the urinary system and the reproductive system. Two classroom, two lab hours per week.

Notes: Program elective: Choose BIO 1107 or any Natural & Physical Science elective from the approved Ohio Transfer 36 List. View electives at: https://sinclair.edu/about/offices/provost/articulation-transfer/ohio-transfer-36/

Prerequisites: MAT 0050 or MAT 1120 or MAT 1130

Corequisites: BIO 1108

Description: The lab component of a survey course that studies the structure and function of the human body. Lab work topics include histology, cytology and the anatomy of the skeleton, muscles, nervous system structures, blood components, the heart, blood vessels and structures within the respiratory, digestive, urinary and male and female reproductive systems. Summarization is achieved through the dissection of a preserved fetal pig.

Notes: Lab for science elective

Corequisites: BIO 1107

 

Term hours subtotal:

15

Fall Semester (Second Year)
Elective course signified by
Hours
 

Description: Development of communication skills applicable to criminal justice professionals. Emphasis on interviewing, interrogation, documentation of evidence in various documents, forms, reports and oral testimony.

Prerequisites: ENG 1101 and CJS 1101

Description: Survey of legal, technical and ethical aspects of criminal investigation. Common principles and techniques of criminal investigation, including crime scene procedures, collection and preservation of evidence, development of leads and criminalistics (current terminology for forensics). Skills necessary to investigate crimes and obtain legally admissible evidence. Basic science of physical, chemical and biological evidence.

Prerequisites: CJS 1101

Description: Overview of criminal investigation of crimes committed in conjunction with computer technology. Types of crimes, prosecution and prevention strategies.

Prerequisites: CJS 1101 or CIS 1107

Description: University-parallel course covering history and systems of psychology, behavioral research methods, physiology of behavior, sensation, perception, learning, memory, consciousness, cognition, personality, lifespan development, gender, social psychology, motivation, emotion, stress, mental disorders and therapies.

Description: Analysis of issues associated with communicating across cultures, including the study of communication norms, communication characteristics of major contemporary cultures and effective cross-cultural communication in interpersonal and organizational contexts.

Description: Capstone experience for Criminal Justice Science students that focuses on the integration of learning throughout the program through case study analysis, research and service learning. Additionally, attention will be given to the preparation for employment in the field of criminal justice.

Notes: Program elective. Choose from one of the following courses: CJS 2295 or CJS 2270.

Prerequisites: Approval of Department

 

Term hours subtotal:

18

This information is for planning purposes only. Sinclair College will make every effort to offer curriculum listed above but reserves the right to change, add and cancel curriculum offerings for unforeseen circumstances. View current catalog.