Associate in Science for Transfer | SC Program: AS-T.1003

Many individuals choose to study criminal justice because they want to make a difference. They desire to help those in need, protect the greater good, and serve the people above all else. Within criminal justice, you can work with victims of crime, assist in solving crimes, or help prevent crime in your community.

This course of study prepares students for transfer to complete work for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or economic crime investigation. Students will be able to describe the individual functions and components of the modern criminal justice system; use introductory concepts of legal research to locate, analyze, and discuss the content of statutory and case law; and explain the underlying cause of antisocial and criminal behavior.

Proper selection of curriculum electives further enables students to study other academic disciplines, such as political science, sociology, and public administration. This program is appropriate for students considering law school as well as certain careers in law enforcement.

Choose your path

Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.

A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.

Fall Semester, First Year

13 Units Total
ENGL 1A
GE 4
College Composition
ENGL 1A
Units 4
This course develops the reading, critical thinking, and writing skills necessary for academic success, emphasizing expository and argumentative writing as well as research and documentation skills. As a transferable course, it presupposes that students already have a substantial grasp of grammar, syntax, and organization, and that their writing is reasonably free from errors. A research paper is required for successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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PSYC 1A
GE 3
General Psychology
PSYC 1A
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course provides an introduction to psychology as a science and as an applied field. The course provides an integration of physiological, cognitive, social-behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, cultural, and evolutionary perspectives. Topics include research methods, the nervous system, perception, learning, thinking, memory, human development, social behavior, emotions, motivation, personality, abnormal behavior, and psychotherapy. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CMST 60
GE 3
Public Speaking
CMST 60
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course is an introduction to the process of human communication with emphasis on public speaking. The subjects covered are speech topic selection, audience analysis, information competency (e.g. researching, evaluating and using supporting materials), presentation outlining, principles of effective speech delivery, critical evaluation of speeches, and presentation of informative and persuasive speeches. Most students will have the opportunity to be recorded and to use presentational technology. College level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines and short essays. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ADJU 10
M 3
Intro to Admin of Justice
ADJU 10
Units 3
This course presents a critical exploration of historical and contemporary issues in Administration of Justice. This includes the studyand analysis of the core principles and components of the American criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections), theevolution of Administration of Justice, criminal behavior theory, crime categories, policing models, challenges in policing, and careeropportunities. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, First Year

17 Units Total
MATH 14
GE M 4
Introduction to Statistics
MATH 14
Units 4
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

An introductory course in statistics designed to show the role of modern statistical methods in the process of decision making. Concepts are introduced by example rather than by rigorous mathematical theory. The following topics will be covered: measures of central tendency and dispersion, regression and correlation, probability, sampling distributions including the normal, t, and chi-square, statistical inference using confidence intervals and hypotheses testing. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ENGL 1C
Pre. GE 3
Critical Reasoning, Reading, and Writing
ENGL 1C
Units 3
This course focuses on critical thinking skills, close textual analysis, and expository and argumentative writing. Students apply critical thinking skills in reading non-fiction and fiction, and in writing essays of definition, cause/effect analysis, argumentation, refutation, and advocacy. Students will learn to use research strategies in analyzing others' ideas and supporting their own. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ESCI 12
GE 4
General Earth Science
ESCI 12
Units 4
Note: Required field trips when offered face to face.

This is a survey course designed for non-science majors. It spans the Earth-related sciences, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. In general, the course focuses on physical processes and materials as related to each discipline. Topics include the geologic evolution of the Earth, economic resources derived from the Earth, Earth materials, evolution and character of the oceans, ocean-atmosphere interactions, atmospheric processes including weather and climate, the solar system and Earth as part of the universe. Using an Earth systems approach, lecture and laboratory will consider concepts centered on the sustainable use of natural resources. The laboratory portion of this course provides hands-on activities that support and demonstrate lecture concepts. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ADJU 15
M 3
Concepts of Criminal Law
ADJU 15
Units 3
This course offers an analysis of the doctrines of criminal liability in the United States and the classification of crimes against persons, property, morals, and public welfare. Special emphasis is placed on the classification of crime, the general elements of crime, the definitions of common and statutory law, and the nature of acceptable evidence. This course utilizes case law and case studies to introduce students to criminal law. The completion of this course offers a foundation upon which upper-division criminal justice courses will build. The course will also include some limited discussion of prosecution and defense decision making, criminal culpability, and defenses to crimes. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ADJU 18
M 3
Comm Rltns & Multicult Issues
ADJU 18
Units 3
This course examines the complex, dynamic relationships between communities and the justice system in addressing crime andconflict with emphasis on the challenges and prospects of administering justice within a diverse, multicultural population and the rolesplayed by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, social class, culture, and justice professionals in shapingrelationships within the justice system. Special topics include crime prevention, restorative justice, conflict resolution, and pure justice.This course is required for Administration of Justice majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Fall Semester, Second Year

15 Units Total
HUM 4
GE 3
Humanities Through the Film
HUM 4
Units 3
This course is an examination of the motion picture as an art form. This course offers a concise introduction to the history of film against the broader changes in popular culture since the late nineteenth century. Students will see how elements of film can provide valuable insights into how movies communicate and convey meaning to their audiences using a unique network of techniques. Students will see how film, film genres, and developments within the film industry offer a first-hand look at how specific films illuminate important aspects of philosophical, historical, aesthetic, and social life and analyze how film connects with the larger world. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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HIST 17A
GE 3
United States History
HIST 17A
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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AGNR 60
GE 3
Environmental Science
AGNR 60
Units 3
Advisory: Students who wish to add a lab component to this class should co-enroll in AGNR 61.

This course is an introduction to the conservation or wise use of natural resources and incorporates discussions about the complex relationships of man to the environment. Students will learn about the diverse agencies that manage our resources along with their history and philosophies. The course will cover each of the major natural resources - such as water, air, energy, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and soils - as well as environmental policy and laws that govern the use of these resources. An emphasis is placed on the practical components of Environmental Science as it relates to social and economic aspects of conservation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ADJU 46
M 3
Narcotic and Drug Abuse
ADJU 46
Units 3
This course will explore the Administration of Justice system and the development of drug policy and drug problems. This will include drug identification, drug user recognition, drug effects, narcotic enforcement, drug prosecution, drug treatment, rehabilitation, and education. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ADJU 17
3
Princ/Proc of Justice System
ADJU 17
Units 3
This course includes a study of California and Federal court systems; detailed analysis of all aspects of the criminal justice system, especially identifying functions and relationships between the various sub-systems procedures from incident to final disposition; and the function of constitutional, federal, state, and civil law as it applies to and affects criminal justice. This course is required for Administration of Justice majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, Second Year

15 Units Total
ETHS 1
GE 3
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHS 1
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 196 with a grade of C or higher

This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of race and ethnicity in the United States. It examines social justice movements in relation to ethnic and racial groups in the United States to provide a basis for a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political conditions among key social groups including, but not limited to, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o Americans. This course examines the systemic nature of racial/ethnic oppression through an examination of key concepts including racialization and ethnocentrism, with a specific focus on the persistence of white supremacy. Using an anti-racist framework, the course will examine historical and contemporary social movements dedicated to the decolonization of social institutions, resistance, and social justice. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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POLS 2
GE 3
Intro to American Government
POLS 2
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 196 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course is an introduction to United States and California government and politics, including their constitutions, political institutions and processes, and political actors. An examination of political behavior, political issues, and public policy, this course satisfies the CSU requirement in U.S. Constitution and California State and local government (US-2 and US-3). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ART 4
GE 3
World Art
ART 4
Units 3
This is a survey of the visual arts of diverse ethnic and indigenous cultures with an emphasis on both historic and contemporary art. Explored are the Americas, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Lectures are focused on the styles, motifs, symbols, rituals and traditions of the cultures by examining their crafts, drawings, sculpture, printmaking and paintings. This course is designed as a Humanities elective, recommended for Art Core Programs, and required for the Art History Concentration. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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HIST 2
GE 3
World Civilization to 1500 CE
HIST 2
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 196 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher

This course is a comparative survey of the major ancient world civilizations which developed between 3500 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E. It examines political institutions, religious ideologies, the rise and fall of empires, and the major cultural innovations of each of the major world civilizations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ADJU 20
M 3
Principles of Investigation
ADJU 20
Units 3
This course addresses the evolution of investigation, techniques, procedures, and ethical issues in the investigation of crime, including organization of the investigative process, crime scene searches, interviewing and interrogating, surveillance, source of information, utility of evidence, scientific analysis of evidence, and the role of the investigator in the trial process. This course is required for Administration of Justice majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.

*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:

Need a print out? Feel free to download and/or print out a copy of the sample program map(s).

Contact Us for More Information

Academic/Instructional Division Office

Location 1800
Division office is located on campus in Room 1800 (north of the gymnasium)

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