Criminal Justice
2009-2010
Criminal Justice
Spring 2010
Dear Students:
I am very excited to present you with this booklet outlining the Criminal Justice
program at Pierce College. It is my hope that the information contained herein
will be a valuable resource to you.
The Pierce Associate in Arts degree in Criminal Justice is an academic degree program
as opposed to an occupational one. The scope of the program addresses all aspects of
the criminal justice system, not just policing. Which means if you are interested in pursuing
a career as an attorney, social worker, probation officer, parole officer, police officer, or in
counseling, crime prevention, criminology, etc., then the criminal justice major is for you.
Included in this booklet is a grid that delineates how diverse the criminal justice
majors/programs are within the UC/CSU system. Should you have any further questions,
comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at obornkm@piercecollege.edu
Sincerely,
Kathy Oborn, M.S.
Professor, Criminal Justice & Sociology
Pierce College Criminal Justice_________________________________________________________________
The Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice is a career-oriented liberal arts major focusing upon the inter-relationship among crime, the
criminal justice system and society as a whole. As such, there are many potential career opportunities in this field,
such as:
Community Agencies
Crime Prevention
Private Security
Corrections
Forensic Science Services
Psychological Services
Counseling
Police Services
Research
Court & Legal Services
Policy Development
Social Work
There are several ways to earn an Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice:
PLAN 1 – CSU GE Plan + 18 units from the Criminal Justice Core
PLAN 2 – IGETC GE Plan (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) + 18 units from
the Criminal Justice Core
PLAN 4 – GENERAL STUDIES GE Plan + 18 units from the Criminal Justice Core
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CORE COURSES
AJ 1
Introduction to the Administration of Justice
AJ 2
Concepts of Criminal Law
AJ 3
Legal Aspects of Evidence
AJ 4
Principles and Procedures of the Justice System
AJ 5
Criminal Investigation
AJ 8
Juvenile Justice
AJ 49
Narcotics & Vice Control
AJ 67
Community Relations and Diversity
AJ 75
Introduction to Corrections
AJ 160
Police Organization and Administration
Units
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CORE – Required 18 units for those students wishing to
transfer to California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) in Criminal Justice
AJ 1
AJ 2
AJ 4
AJ 67
AJ 75
AJ 160
Introduction to Administration of Justice
Concepts of Criminal Law
Principles and Procedures of the Justice System
Community Relations & Diversity
Introduction to Corrections
Police Organization and Administration
3
3
3
3
3
3
For specific transfer institution requirements and questions please see
Prof. Kathy Oborn, Faculty Advisor obornkm@piercecollege.edu
Pierce College Criminal Justice_________________________________________________________________
Criminal Justice Course Descriptions
AJ 1
Introduction to the Administration of Justice (3) UC:CSU – may be offered as an honors section
AJ 2
Concepts of Criminal Law (3) UC:CSU – may be offered as an honors section
Philosophy, history, and theories of the criminal justice system, including the roles and functions of the local, state, and federal
jurisdictions. Theories, functions, and interrelationships among criminal justice agencies; law enforcement, courts, and
corrections; crime causation, correctional theory, analysis and the social impact of crime. The conceptual approach utilized in this
course recognizes that criminal justice is itself a distinct academic discipline rather than an interdisciplinary course of study.
AJ 3
An introduction to the historical development, philosophy, and basic legal concepts of criminal law. The course includes an
examination of constitutional provisions, legal research, legal analysis, and the functioning of criminal law as a social force. It
also includes a detailed examination of legal definitions, classifications of law, penalties, corpus delecti, criminal intent, parties
to a crime, defenses to crime, and a brief introduction to laws of arrest and judicial procedure.
AJ 4
Principles and Procedures of the Justice System (3) UC:CSU
AJ 5
Criminal Investigation (3) CSU
AJ 8
Juvenile Procedures (3) CSU
AJ 49
AJ 67
AJ 75
Legal Aspects of Evidence (3) CSU
Origin, development, philosophy, and constitutional basis of evidence, constitutional procedural considerations affecting arrest,
search and seizure; kinds of and degrees of evidence and rules governing admissibility; judicial decisions interpreting
individual rights and case studies.
A detailed study of the role and responsibilities of the American court system and its purpose; an examination of the
philosophy, history, structure, operation, concepts, and services related to the judiciary; this course examines the
prosecutorial process and court functions, as well as public policy concerns that currently affect our judicial system.
An examination of the theories, concepts, and research of criminal investigation. This course looks at the fundamentals of criminal
investigation from the crime site to the courtroom preparation experience, inclusive of legal constraints, ethics, and types of
evidence. The course also includes an analysis of techniques of crime site recording and search, follow-up, case preparation, and
organization.
This course covers the juvenile system and related juvenile justice issues. Topics include an overview of the juvenile justice
system, treatment and prevention programs, history, theories, methodology, and special areas and laws unique to juveniles.
Narcotics and Vice Control (3) CSU
The interrelations of organized crime to the community; the impact of covert criminal activities upon the social structure; theories
of crime causation explored; symptoms of organized crime activity; narcotics and white collar crime; political influences in the legal
system; management of crime control units. Book making and prostitution are also discussed.
Community Relations and Diversity (3) UC:CSU
Examination of the complex relationship between the community and the justice system with emphasis on the challenges of dealing
with the role of race, ethnicity, gender relations, sexual orientation, social class, language, and culture in shaping these relations.
Introduction to Corrections (3) CSU
This course is designed to provide an overview of the historical development, current concepts and practice, and
explanations of criminal behavior; functions and objectives of the criminal justice system concerned with institutionalization
and trends of adult and juvenile corrections, including probation and parole. It will also focus on the legal issues, specific laws, and
general operation of correctional institutions. The relationship between corrections and other components of the judicial system
will also be examined.
AJ 160 Police Organization and Administration (3) CSU
This course was determined to be a lower division requirement for the Criminal Justice major at CSULA. Topics will include
the effect of the organizational structure and administrative procedure on the implementation of law enforcement functions;
history, theories, and methodologies of criminal justice organizations; assessment of the recruitment and hiring processes,
career advancement and leadership; organizational structure and management strategies; administrative problems of staffing
and morale as a law enforcement employer.
Pierce College Criminal Justice_________________________________________________________________
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
What’s the difference between criminal justice and administration of justice?
There really isn’t any difference. Years ago the community colleges adopted the term
administration of justice after dropping the term police science.
2.
Are there any Pierce Criminal Justice courses approved for IGETC?
Yes there are four courses: Area 4 – Social and Behavioral Sciences: AJ 1, 2, 4, 67.
3.
Are there any Pierce Criminal Justice courses on the CSU General Education
Certified Plan 2008-2009?
Yes there are four of them:
Area D – Social, Political & Economic Institutions & Behavior, Historical Background:
D-8 Administration of Justice 1, 2, 4 & D-0 Administration of Justice 67& 75
4.
Does Pierce’s Criminal Justice program offer directed study or cooperative education
courses?
Yes we do, just contact Prof. Kathy Oborn at obornkm@piercecollege.edu
5.
How is the criminal justice program at Pierce College different from the criminal justice
program at Moorpark, Valley or Mission colleges?
The Pierce Criminal Justice program is an academic program with a transfer emphasis. Our criminal
justice courses articulate with more CSU’s than any other community college in California. A good
example is CSULA; they accept up to 18 units of our lower division criminal justice courses towards
their B.A. In comparison (per ASSIST), Moorpark College has only 3 criminal justice courses approved,
Valley College has 4 courses, and Mission College has 5 criminal justice courses approved. We are also
the only community college that has 4 of our courses approved for IGETC (UC transfer), and 5 courses
approved for the CSU Transfer plan.
6.
What if I am interested in crime scene investigation as a major?
With the increased popularity of television shows such as CSI Miami, many students believe that a
degree in criminal justice will enable them to work for a police department as a crime scene
investigator. Nothing could be further from the truth! Crime scene investigators are scientists,
not police officers. I would advise you to choose a major such as biology or chemistry as well as
completing AJ 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Pierce College Criminal Justice_________________________________________________________________
Did You Know?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program is the only program in the California
Community Colleges that has four courses recognized on IGETC and five for CSU Transfer?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program now has honor sections?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program articulates to more UC’s and CSU’s
than any other California Community College?
 Did you know that all the faculty that teach in the Pierce College Criminal Justice program are either
current or retired police officers?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program has a professor who is a Deputy
District Attorney?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program has a professor who is a Superior
Court Judge?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program takes field trips to prisons, jails, and
courts?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program is a transfer program?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program has its own Faculty Advisor?
 Did you know that the Pierce College Criminal Justice program is for anyone interested in all
aspects of the criminal justice system; law enforcement, the state and federal court system, or
corrections?
 Did you know that one of the Pierce College Criminal Justice professors served on two police
departments;
LAPD
and
the
Los
Angeles
Community
College
Police
Department?
CSU’s and UC’s with Criminal Justice programs and the lower division AJ courses
that may be completed at Pierce for transfer with articulation
The highlighted items indicate that an articulation agreement exists between
Pierce and the institution and for the courses indicated
Institution
Lower
Division
Numbers
Major/
Concentration
Intro
CAN AJ 2
Intro Law
CAN AJ 4
Evidence
CAN AJ 6
Judicial
Org
Investigation
CAN AJ 8
Juvenile
Justice
PIERCE
1-160
Criminal
Justice
AJ 1
AJ 2
AJ 3
AJ 4
AJ 5
AJ 8
UC’s
Irvine
1-99
Criminal Law
CRM/LAW
C7
CSU’s
Bakersfield
100-299
CRJU 100
Chico
200-299
Fresno
East Bay
Long Beach
1-99
10002999
100-299
Los Angeles
100-299
Northridge
100-299
Criminal
Justice
Political
Science
Criminology
Criminal
Justice
Criminal
Justice
Criminal
Justice
Sociology
Sacramento
1-99
POLS 250
CRIM 2
CRJA 2500
POLS
259A
CRIM 20
CRJA
2100
Comm
Relations
Diversity
AJ 67
Corrections
Police Org
& Admin
AJ 75
AJ 160
CRIM 201
CRIM 202
POLS
257
CRJA
2400
CRJA 2200
CRJA
2600
CRJU 101
CRIM 101
CRIM
126
CRIM
203
CRIM
210
SOC 250
Criminal
CRJ 1
CRJ 2
CRJ 4
CRJ 5
Justice
San
100-299
Criminal
CJUS 101
CJUS
CJUS 106
Bernardino
Justice
102
San Jose
1-99
Criminal
AJ 10
AJ 14
AJ 16
AJ 20
Justice
Sonoma
100-299
Criminal
CJA 201
CJA 220
Justice
Stanislaus
1000Criminal
CJ 2250
CJ 2280 CJ 2260 CJ 2450
CJ 2270
2999
Justice
Additional Miscellaneous Courses;
Irvine: CRM/LAW 20 – Crime & Cinema. Bakersfield: CRJU 200 – Statistical Methods in CJ, CRJU 289 – Experiential Prior Learning, CRJU 290 –
Success in CJ. Fresno: CRIM 1 – Strategies, CRIM 10 – Crime, Criminology & Justice, CRIM 50 – Statistical & Computer Applications in CJ. Long Beach:
CRJU 110 – Justice Research, Writing & Reasoning. Los Angeles: CRIM 208 – Introduction to Forensic Science. Sacramento: CRJ 21 – Freshman
Seminar.