Skip to main contentSkip to main navigationSkip to footer content

Program Overview

Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice

Student Learning Outcomes

The purpose of GBC’s criminal justice program is to assist students in the understanding of the intersection of biography and history within social structures related to the criminal justice system, as well as how to be a reflective, proficient, and active agent within these systems.
 
Graduates of the AAS in Criminal Justice program will have the knowledge and skills to:
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the history and nature of the major components of the criminal justice system.
  • Identify and analyze the origins of criminal behavior, society’s response to crime, and the consequences of crime to our society using multiple perspectives.
  • Demonstrate effective oral and written commu­nication skills applicable in the field of criminal justice.
  • Describe the process of conducting a criminal investigation, the process of arrest and pretrial detention, criminal trial procedures, and criminal punishment.
  • Analyze and explain the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
  • Describe the organizational structure, practice, culture, and environment of the modern police organization.
  • Analyze and explain the evolution of the correc­tional system in the United States.
  • Evaluate current issues related to crime preven­tion and the rehabilitation of juvenile and adult offenders, including the concepts of parole and probation.
General Education Requirements
 
English/Communications (two courses required):  ENG 100 or ENG 101 and ENG 102 or ENG 107 and ENG 108
Course # Course Title Credits
ENG 100 Composition-Enhanced 5 Credits
ENG 101 Composition I 3 Credits
ENG 102 Composition II 3 Credits
ENG 107 Tech Communications I 3 Credits
ENG 108 Tech Communications II 3 Credits
 
Mathematics (one course required): Choose from the courses listed below or any higher-level math course.  Excludes MATH 389
Course # Course Title Credits
MATH 116 Technical Mathematics I 3 Credits
MATH 116E Technical Mathematics Expanded 3-5 Credits
MATH 120 Fund of College Math 3 Credits
MATH 120E Fund of College Math Expanded 3 Credits
MATH 126 Precalculus I 3 Credits
MATH 126E Precalculus I Expanded 3 Credits
STAT 152 Intro to Statistics 3 Credits
 
Science (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
ANTH 102 Physical Anthropology 3 Credits
AST 101 General Astronomy 3 Credits
BIOL 100 General Biology/Non Major 3 Credits
BIOL 190 Intro Cell/Molecular Biology 4 Credits
CHEM 100 Molecules/Life Modrn Wrld 3 Credits
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 4 Credits
ENV 100 Humans and the Environment 3 Credits
GEOG 103 Physical Geog Earth Environmnt 3 Credits
GEOL 101 Exploring Planet Earth 3-4 Credits
NUTR 121 Human Nutrition 3 Credits
PHYS 100 Introductory Physics 3 Credits
PHYS 107 Technical Physics I 3 Credits
PHYS 151 Gen Physics I 4 Credits
 
U.S. and Nevada Constitutions:  HIST 101 and HIST 102 or PSC 101
Course # Course Title Credits
HIST 101 U.S. History to 1877 3 Credits
HIST 102 U.S. History Since 1877 3 Credits
PSC 101 Intro American Politics 3 Credits
 
Human Relations (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
BUS 110 Human Relations Employmnt 1-3 Credits
HMS 200 Ethics in Human Services 3 Credits
MGT 283 Intro Human Resource Mgt 3 Credits
PSY 208 Psy of Human Relations 3 Credits
 
Humanities or Fine Arts (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
ART 100 Visual Foundations 3 Credits
ART 101 Drawing I 3 Credits
ART 107 Design Fundmntls I (2-D) 3 Credits
ART 160 Art Appreciation 3 Credits
ENG 203 Intro to Literary Study 3 Credits
ENG 205 Intro to Creative Writing 3 Credits
ENG 223 Themes of Literature 3 Credits
FIS 100 Introduction to Film 3 Credits
FREN 111 First Year French I 3-4 Credits
FREN 112 First Year French II 3-4 Credits
HIST 208 World History I 3 Credits
HIST 209 World History II 3 Credits
HUM 101 Intro to Humanities I 3 Credits
HUM 210 Communicating Diversity 3 Credits
MUS 101 Music Fundamentals 3 Credits
MUS 121 Music Appreciation 3 Credits
PHIL 101 Intro to Philosophy 3 Credits
PHIL 102 Critical Thinking 3 Credits
PHIL 135 Introduction to Ethics 3 Credits
SPAN 111 First Year Spanish I 3 Credits
SPAN 112 First Yr Spanish II 3 Credits
SPAN 211 Second Year Spanish I 3 Credits
THTR 100 Introduction to Theatre 3 Credits
THTR 105 Introduction to Acting I 3 Credits
THTR 121 Stage Makeup 3 Credits
THTR 204 Theatre Technology I 3 Credits
WELD 200 Metal Art 3 Credits
 
Technology (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
GIS 109 Intro Geogrphc Info Syst 3 Credits
GRC 119 Digital Media 3 Credits
IS 101 Intro Information Systems 3 Credits
 
Program Requirements
 
Fall Semesters
Course # Course Title Credits
CRJ 104 Intro to Admin of Justice 3 Credits
CRJ 155 Juvenile Justice System 3 Credits
CRJ 164 Intro Criminal Investigation 3 Credits
CRJ 211 Police in America 3 Credits
CRJ 230 Criminal Law 3 Credits
CRJ 265 Intro Physical Evidence 3 Credits
 
Spring Semesters
Course # Course Title Credits
CRJ 106 Intro to Corrections 3 Credits
CRJ 120 Community Relations 3 Credits
CRJ 214 Prncpl Police Patrl Techq 3 Credits
CRJ 215 Probation and Parole 3 Credits
CRJ 220 Criminal Procedures 3 Credits
CRJ 270 Intro to Criminology 3 Credits
 
Program Electives (3 courses required) Choose with advisor
Course # Course Title Credits
ANTH 101 Intro Cultural Anthropology 3 Credits
ANTH 102 Physical Anthropology 3 Credits
BIOL 223 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4 Credits
INT 301 Int Rsrch Methodology 3 Credits
PHIL 311 Professional Ethics 3 Credits
PSY 101 Gen Psychology 3 Credits
PSY 241 Intro to Abnormal Psychology 3 Credits
PSY 460 Social Psychology 3 Credits
SOC 101 Prin of Sociology 3 Credits
SPAN 112 First Yr Spanish II 3 Credits
SPAN 211 Second Year Spanish I 3 Credits
SPAN 212 2nd Year Spanish II 3 Credits
 

Non-P.O.S.T Pathway : Students seeking to earn a Criminal Justice degree without requesting alternative credit through a valid P.O.S.T. certificate are required to complete CRJ 104, 106, 164, 265, and 270, plus any four additional CRJ courses and three program elective courses.

P.O.S.T Pathway: Students seeking to earn a Criminal Justice degree while requesting alternative credit through a valid P.O.S.T. certificate are required to complete CRJ 120, 211, 215, and 270, plus any two additional CRJ courses and three program elective courses. Upon successful petition for non-traditional credit with a valid P.O.S.T. certificate and completion of 12 semester credits at GBC, the following courses will be awarded: CRJ 104, 106, 164, 230, and 265.

All six courses in the first pathway are offered every semester, and all twelve courses listed across both pathways are offered each year.

Note: Students interested in transferring to a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science program or a Criminal Justice BA program at UNR should work with an advisor to choose the most efficient pathway and should include ANTH 101, ANTH 201 or 202, any History course, and PSY 101 or 208.

Suggested Course Sequence

Course Credits
CRJ 104 3
CRJ 164 3
ENG 100 or 101 3-5
Mathematics* 3-6
PSC 101 3
TOTAL 15-20

*Choose with advisor

Course Credits
CRJ 106 3
ENG 102 3
CRJ of choice 3
Science* 3
Elective* 3
TOTAL 15

*Choose with advisor

Course Credits
CRJ 265 3Jane
CRJ of choice 3
PSY 208 or MGT 283 `3
CRJ of choice 3
Elective 3
TOTAL 15

*Choose with advisor

Course Credits
CRJ of choice 3
CRJ 270 3
Humanities/Fine Arts* 3
Technology* 3
Elective* 3
TOTAL 15

*Choose with advisor

New in 2025!  Earn a 15 credit Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher Online Skill Certificate.
You can earn this certificate over one fulltime or two part-time semesters, and all of these
credits will stack directly into the Criminal Justice AAS degree. Earn a valuable certificate leading
to a challenging career, and be one full semester closer to earning your two-year degree.