As society becomes more populous, the demand for quality personnel in the field of criminal justice in both the private and public sectors will continue to increase. On the public side, society is asking more of law enforcement and of the justice system. This system involves law enforcement, court systems, and corrections for juveniles and adults. Likewise, a growth trend continues for private security and protection programs. Not only is there an increasing need in this field, but there is a demand to improve services and to raise the level of professionalism.

The Instructional Program

The Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree program in Criminal Justice Studies retains the focus that SUNY Delhi has on delivering both career-oriented and transfer options to students. The program is intended primarily for those who wish to continue their studies in a baccalaureate program. Through an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of crime and society, the program prepares students to pursue further study in criminal justice or related disciplines, and educates students to become effective problem-solvers as professionals in the field of criminal justice. Students may enroll in the program with the intention of transferring to a senior college where criminal justice, criminology, sociology, public administration, or political science majors can be pursued. To this end, SUNY Delhi has articulation agreements with SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College.

The program of study consists of an overview of the criminal justice system, and an examination of the basic components of the system. The program also prepares graduates for entry-level employment positions in the criminal justice field, courts, and corrections. For students who plan to enter the field upon attaining the A.A. degree, the internship option is recommended to give an inside view of the operations of the justice system.

Career Options

Opportunities for employment in the criminal justice field exist on the local, state, and federal levels. There are also opportunities for related specialties in many governmental regulatory agencies. Areas of employment include patrolling, investigating, corrections administration, counseling, juvenile justice, casework, probations and parole, security, and victim advocacy, to name a few.

Curriculum

SUNY Curriculum Code:  1855

SUNY General Education Requirements: Students who intend to receive A.A., A.S., or baccalaureate degrees must satisfy SUNY and campus General Education (GE) requirements to graduate. Students should be aware that GE requirements may vary by academic program. Consult with your academic advisor. For general information, see the "General Education" section of this catalog.

A.A.S. and A.O.S. degree students may not be required to fulfill General Education (GE) requirements; however, any student who may wish to transfer should complete as many GE courses as possible. Consult with your academic advisor.

Concentration Courses:

Liberal Arts Courses:

  Additional Courses:

Degree Requirement: 63 credit hours

Notes

¹ English is by placement according to competency.

² Course must be chosen from this SUNY General Education group (See ‘General Education’ above.)

³ If student takes UNIV 100 (1 credit), 6 credits of unrestricted electives are necessary.
   If student takes UNIV 101 (3 credits), 4 credits of unrestricted electives are necessary.

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must:

• be a high school graduate with a minimum 75% overall average or a minimum 2500 GED test score
• have 73% or higher on the Algebra Regents exam

Student Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Criminal Justice Studies A.A. program should be able to:

1. Discuss in detail the fundamental institutions of the U.S. criminal and civil justice system (e.g., basics of the law and legal procedure, law enforcement agencies, the courts, and the penal system).
2. Understand, use, and critically evaluate social statistics relevant to criminal behavior and the criminal justice system.
3. Demonstrate proficiency with modern information and database technologies used in the legal and penal system.
4. Comprehend the methods used by various social sciences and related disciplines to understand criminal conduct.
5. Formulate policies to address criminal behavior through the various institutions of the legal, penal, and corrections systems.
6. Assess and critically evaluate the ethics and efficiency of various legal structures and public policies within the justice system.
7. Understand the importance of implementation and administration to policy success.