Criminal Justice - Associate in Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Associate degree program prepares students for a career in the multifaceted criminal justice system. The curriculum, which covers a variety of topics in criminal justice, focuses on developing the ability to recognize and apply pertinent concepts and techniques while stressing the practical skills necessary to deal with complex social, political, and organizational factors. This program is structured around core courses, allowing students to acquire the basic knowledge and skills needed to work in law enforcement, private security, corrections, probation, and other related areas of criminal justice.
The Criminal Justice Associate degree program includes the study of substantive law, criminal justice, social sciences, humanities, behavioral sciences, natural sciences, and general education courses. The degree can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or other majors at New Mexico State University.
60 credits
The Associate in Criminal Justice introduces students to three areas of the Criminal Justice system: police, courts, and corrections. This degree is interdisciplinary in nature. Studies include the humanities, law, natural, behavioral and social sciences. The curriculum seeks to balance theoretical inquiry with applied knowledge.
This Associate degree satisfies the first two years of the Distance Education Bachelor of Criminal Justice.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 60 credits. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
Note: A grade of C- or better is required in all Criminal Justice courses and any courses filling the Arts & Sciences Core Requirements.
The New Mexico General Education course list can be found here.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: Communications | ||
| English Composition - Level 1 | ||
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I | 4 |
| English Composition - Level 2 | ||
| Select one from the following: | ||
| ENGL 2210G | Professional and Technical Communication Honors | 3 |
| or ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 1130G | Public Speaking | |
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| Select one from the following: | ||
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 1350G | Introduction to Statistics | |
| Area III: Laboratory Science Course | ||
| Select one course from Area III: Laboratory Science 3 | 4 | |
| Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| CJUS 1110G | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Select an additonal Area IV course 3 | 3 | |
| Area V: Humanities 3 | 3 | |
| Recommended to select one of the following: 2 | ||
| Logic, Reasoning, & Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Philosophy, Law, and Ethics | 3 | |
| Introduction to Ethics | 3 | |
| Philosophical Thought | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts | ||
| Select one course from Area VI: Creative & Fine Arts 3 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Core Requirements | ||
| CJUS 1120 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJUS 2220 | The American Law Enforcement System | 3 |
| CJUS 2120 | Criminal Courts and Procedure | 3 |
| CJUS 2150 | Corrections System | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | ||
| Select 8 credits from NMSU College of Arts and Sciences second language requirements. | 8 | |
| Other Course Requirements | ||
| OECS 105 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 |
| or FYEX 1110 | First-year Seminar | |
| Electives, to bring the total credits to 60 | ||
| Select 5 credits of electives to bring total credits to a minimum of 60. Math prerequisites may satisfy electives however developmental MATH is not included. | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
MATH 1220G College Algebra or MATH 1350G Introduction to Statistics are preferred but any Mathematics course that is numbered higher than MATH 1220G is also accepted. Note: Students may need to take prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in the required Mathematics course.
- 2
For those students planning to complete the Bachelor of Criminal Justice through NMSU Las Cruces, the Criminal Justice Department prefers a Philosophy course to satisfy the Humanities course.
- 3
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
Second Language Requirements
The College of Arts & Sciences requires completion of a second language through the 2120 level for the Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree. See the NMSU Catalog for Criminal Justice degree for additional information on how to satisfy this requirement.
Second Language Requirements:
- Completion of a second language through the 1120 level
- Completion through the 2130 level for native speakers
A Suggested Plan of Study
This roadmap assumes student placement into ENGL 1110G Composition I and a College level MATH, such as MATH 1220G College Algebra, and demonstrates how to complete an Associate degree in two years. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change. Students are advised to earn a C or better in courses to avoid repeating courses
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I | 4 |
| MATH 1220G or MATH 1350G | College Algebra or Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| CJUS 1110G | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| AREA V: Humanities 1 | 3 | |
| OECS 105 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 2210G | Professional and Technical Communication Honors | 3 |
| AREA III: Laboratory Science 1 | 4 | |
| AREA IV: Social/Behavioral Science 1 | 3 | |
| CJUS 1120 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 1115G or COMM 1130G | Introduction to Communication or Public Speaking | 3 |
| AREA VI: Creative and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| Second Language I 2 | 4 | |
| CJUS 2150 | Corrections System | 3 |
| CJUS 2220 | The American Law Enforcement System | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Second Language II 2 | 4 | |
| CJUS 2120 | Criminal Courts and Procedure | 3 |
| AREA IV: Social/Behavioral Science Course 1 | 3 | |
| Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
The New Mexico General Education course list can be found here.
- 2
The College of Arts & Sciences requires completion of a second language through the 2120 level for the Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree. See the NMSU Catalog for Criminal Justice degree for additional information on how to satisfy this requirement.
Second Language Requirements:
- Completion of a second language through the 1120 level
- Completion through the 2130 level for native speakers
Phone: (505) 287-6679
Email: stmegan@nmsu.edu
Office: Room 113D, Martinez Hall, 2nd Floor