Criminal Justice - A.A.S. Degree/A.A. Degree/Certificate
Start Your Career in Law Enforcement or Other Criminal Justice Fields
The public depends on law enforcement and criminal justice professionals to protect life and property and to uphold the law. The opportunity to serve and protect the public attracts many to this challenging job, which requires honesty, sound judgment, integrity, and a sense of responsibility.
ACC offers three options to help you enter this rewarding and demanding field including:
- An AAS degree in Law Enforcement and Police Administration that prepares you for careers in law enforcement related occupations.
- An AA degree in Criminal Justice that enables you to transfer to a four-year university to pursue other types of criminal justice careers.
- A Certification in Basic Law Enforcement is earned by students who complete the basic police academy.
Career Opportunities
A degree in criminal justice opens the path to a wide variety of careers in various sectors. With this degree, you can find career opportunities in state and local law enforcement, the federal government, corrections, forensics, courtrooms, law firms, nonprofit organizations, corporations, higher education and many other industries.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for police and detectives is projected to grow 7 percent nationally through 2026. The average salary for Law Enforcement Officers in Texas is over $62,000. Salary levels will vary depending on the place of employment, job title and level of experience.
Once graduates become certified by passing the TCOLE, they are eligible for employment in any law enforcement agency in the state of Texas.
For more information on career opportunities in Criminal Justice, please visit Career Coach where you can explore the local job market, take a career assessment, and build a resumé.
What Will I Study?
The AAS degree will prepare you for a career in law enforcement occupations. You will take courses in a wide variety of topics such as:
- Court Systems and Practices
- Correctional Systems and Practices
- Crime in America
- Criminal Investigation
- Police Systems and Practices
- and more!
The AA degree will provide you with a solid foundation to take with you to a four-year university as you major in Criminal Justice.
You will take courses in a wide variety of topics such as:
- Fundamentals of Criminal Law
- Correctional Systems and Practices
- Court Systems and Practices
- Federal Government
- Texas Government
- and more!
The Certification in Basic Law Enforcement prepares you for a career in Texas law enforcement. You will receive hands-on and realistic training in this program. Our staff includes police officers, administrators, judges, lawyers and college professors. They will prepare you for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) – the state licensing exam. The Day Academy can be completed in one long semester and one mini or summer semester and the Night Academy can be completed in two semesters enabling you to quickly start on your new career path.
|
LAW ENFORCEMENT & POLICE ADMINISTRATION |
|
| FIRST YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER | CREDITS |
|
CRIJ 1301 - Introduction to Criminal Justice |
3 |
|
CRIJ 1306 - Court Systems & Practices |
3 |
|
CRIJ 1307 - Crime in America |
3 |
|
CJLE 1327 - Interviewing & Report Writing for Criminal Justice |
3 |
|
+SPCH 1315 - Public Speaking or |
3 |
| SECOND SEMESTER | |
|
CRIJ 1313 - Juvenile Justice System or Select course from Elective Group Below |
3 |
|
CRIJ 2313 - Correctional Systems & Practices |
3 |
|
+ENGL 1301 - Composition I |
3 |
|
+Select from Social & Behavorial Science Core Curriculum - |
3 |
|
+Select from Language, Philosophy & Culture Core Curriculum - |
3 |
| THIRD SEMESTER | |
|
CRIJ 2314 - Criminal Investigation |
3 |
|
CRIJ 2323 - Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement or |
3 |
| SECOND YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER | |
|
CRIJ 2301 - Community Resources in Corrections |
3 |
|
CJSA 2323 - Criminalistics II or |
3 |
|
CJSA 2365 - Practicum or Select course from Elective |
3 |
|
+Select from Mathematics Core Curriculum (MATH 1332 recommended) |
3 |
| SECOND SEMESTER | |
|
*CRIJ 2328 - Police Systems & Practices |
3 |
|
CRIJ 1310 - Fundamentals of Criminal Law or |
3 |
|
CJSA 2364 - Practicum or |
3 |
|
GOVT 2306 – Texas Government or |
3 |
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE (A.A.S.) DEGREE – CREDIT HOURS | 60 |
+Denotes core requirement. Speak with Department Chair or Academic Advisor for proper
course selection.
*Capstone Course
Elective Group for A.A.S Degree
Students who plan on attending the ACC Police Academy prior to completion of this
degree should take the police academy block.
BCIS 1305 - Business Computer Applications
CJLE 1211 - Basic Firearms
CJLE 1327 - Interviewing & Report Writing
CJLE 1506 - Basic Peace Officer I
CJLE 1512 - Basic Peace Officer II
CJLE 1518 - Basic Peace Officer III
CJLE 1524 - Basic Peace Officer IV
CJLE 1329 - Basic Peace Officer V
CRIJ 1310 - Fundamentals of Criminal Law
CRIJ 1313 - Juvenile Justice System
CRIJ 2323 - Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
CJSA 2323 -Criminalistics II
CJSA 2364 - Practicum - Criminal Justice /Safety Studies
CJSA 2365 - Practicum - Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
GOVT 2306 - Texas State & Local Government
|
CRIMINAL JUSTICE |
|
| FIRST YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER | CREDITS |
|
+Select from American History Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
+Select 6 hours from Component Area Options Core Curriculum |
6 |
|
ΔCRIJ 1301 - Introduction to Criminal Justice |
3 |
|
+ENGL 1301 - Composition I |
3 |
| SECOND SEMESTER | |
|
+Select from American History Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
ΔCRIJ 1310 - Fundamentals of Criminal Law |
3 |
|
ΔCRIJ 2313 - Correctional Systems & Practices |
3 |
|
+ENGL 1302 - Composition II or |
3 |
|
+Select from Language, Philosophy & Sciences Culture |
3 |
| SECOND YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER | |
|
+Select from Creative Arts Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
ΔCRIJ 1306 - Court Systems & Practices |
3 |
|
ΔElective - Select any CRIJ course |
3 |
|
+GOVT 2305 - Federal Government |
3 |
|
+Select from Life & Physical Sciences Core Curriculum |
3 |
| SECOND SEMESTER | |
|
ΔCRIJ 2328 - Police Systems & Practices |
3 |
|
+GOVT 2306 - Texas Government |
3 |
|
+Select from Life & Physical Sciences Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
+Select from Mathematics Core Curriculum (MATH 1332 recommended) |
3 |
|
+Select from Social & Behavorial Core Curriculum |
3 |
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE (A.A.) DEGREE – CREDIT HOURS | 60 |
+Denotes core requirement. Speak with Department Chair or Academic Advisor for proper
course selection.
ΔDenotes Field of Study (FOS) courses.
*Capstone Course
| BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY CERTIFICATE 25 credit hours |
|
| FIRST SEMESTER | CREDITS |
|
CJLE 1211 - Basic Firearms |
2 |
|
CJLE 1506 - Basic Peace Officer I |
5 |
|
CJLE 1512 - Basic Peace Officer II |
5 |
|
CJLE 1518 - Basic Peace Officer III |
5 |
|
CJLE 1524 - Basic Peace Officer IV |
5 |
|
CJLE 1329 - Basic Peace Officer V |
3 |
| BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY CERTIFICATE – CREDIT HOURS |
25 |
Approximate yearly costs for the A.A.S. Degree program are $4,200 for in-district students and $6,960 for those out-of-district. This includes tuition and fees. Additional fees for books and supplies may vary.
Yearly costs for the A.A. Degree program are approximately $3,996 for in-district students and $6,750 for those out-of-district. This includes tuition and fees. Additional fees for books and supplies may vary.
Approximate yearly costs for the Basic Law Enforcement Academy Certificate program are $2,549 for in-district students and $3,699 for those out-of-district. This includes tuition and fees. Additional costs will be incurred for books, supplies and special fees.
For more information on education costs, payment options, payment plans, deadlines and more, visit our Tuition and Fees section.
Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. For more information, visit our Financial Aid section.
*Alvin Community College may change tuition rates and other fees without notice or when so directed by the Board of Regents.
COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS
Criminal Justice is part of our Law, Government & Public Service Career Pathway. Click the box below to see other programs that may interest you.