Administration of Justice
27 courses · El Camino College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Winter 2027 · Spring 2027
AJ 10 Introduction to Homeland Security
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Formerly
- Administration of Justice 10ab
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an overview of important components of Homeland Security, including various agencies and their interrelated responsibilities. Topics include historical events, critical threats, and legislative constraints that impact national security. The course clarifies the roles of military agencies and local, federal, and international law enforcement in combatting terrorism and identifies characteristics, ideologies, motives, and behaviors of extremist groups that foster and support terrorist activities. Students will examine and interpret forensic evidence to reconstruct crimes of terrorism.
AJ 11 Intelligence and Security Management
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Administration of Justice 10 AND eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an introduction to intelligence analysis and security management, focused on the prevention of terrorist attacks and other threats to national security. Students learn about the national defense system, including private sector defense, and explore the vulnerabilities of these systems. Students are exposed to the intelligence community, how it operates, and examine issues regarding intelligence support of the Department of Homeland Security.
AJ 12 Transportation and Border Security Management
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Administration of Justice 11 AND Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an overview of modern border and transportation security challenges. Different methods designed to address these challenges will be explored. The course covers a time period from post 9/11 to present. Topics associated with border security and security for transportation infrastructure include: ships, aircraft, railways, pipelines, and highways. Additional topics include technological solutions employed to enhance security of borders and transportation systems. Students will discuss the legal, economic, political, and cultural concerns as well as impacts associated with transportation and border security.
AJ 21 Introduction to Emergency Management
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- AJ 10 AND eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of emergency management. Students will learn the principles of emergency management and will become familiar with the major issues confronting emergency management providers. The course will emphasize the elements of the Incident Command System. Students will participate in a series of simulated emergency management exercises. Case studies of large scale emergency events will be covered.
AJ 26 Introduction to Terrorism and Counterterrorism
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- AJ 11 and English 1 or eligibility for English 1A or qualification by appropriate assessment
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will provide students with an overview of domestic and transnational terrorism. Varying definitions, perspectives, and underlying causes will be explored along with terrorist weapons of choice. Terrorist and counterterrorist organizations will be examined, as well as incidents involving terrorist efforts, successes, and failures.
AJ 49 Penal Code 832 - Arrest and Firearms
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours lab per week to be arranged
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to meet the minimum requirements for training as required by Penal Code Section 832. It is a standardized course and is certified by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.). The course is approved by P.O.S.T. in the areas of leadership, laws of arrest, legal use of force, arrest and control methods (defensive tactics) and firearms training. It has fourteen individual topics called learning domains consisting of 38 hours of lecture covering twelve of the learning domains, 10 hours of training in defensive tactics and 24 hours in the safe manipulation of a pistol, for total of 72 hours. The course learning domains contain the minimum required foundational information that will enhance an individual's ability to gain employment in all law enforcement or allied agencies. Note: Letter grade or pass/no pass option. Note: Students pay fees for this course for Department of Justice background check and clearance, firing range, ammunition and targets.
AJ 95 Cooperative Work Experience Education
- Units
- 2-4
- Hours
- hours to be arranged
- Formerly
- Administration of Justice 95/96abcd
- Transfers to
- CSU
Through a set of learning objectives established by the student, supervisor, and instructor, each student will work with and learn from experts in the Administration of Justice field. These experiences will enable students to improve job skills, analyze career opportunities and requirements, and compare them to personal abilities and career expectations. Note: Transfer limitations apply. Note: The total units earned for Cooperative Work Experience Education may not exceed 16 units.
AJ 100 Introduction to Administration of Justice
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course introduces students to the characteristics of the criminal justice system in the United States. Focus is placed on examining crime measurement, theoretical explanations of crime, responses to crime, components of the system, and current challenges to the system. The course examines the evolution of the principles and approaches utilized by the justice system and the evolving forces which have shaped those principles and approaches. Although justice structure and process are examined in a cross cultural context, emphasis is placed on the United States justice system, particularly the structure and function of police, courts, and corrections. Students are introduced to the origins and development of criminal law, legal process, sentencing, and incarceration policies.
AJ 103 Concepts of Criminal Law
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for ENGL 1A (now ENGL C1000)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
In this course, students examine the historical development and philosophy of law and its application to the criminal justice system. Topics covered include legal research, case law, classifications of crime, crimes against persons and property, and crimes against the state.
AJ 106 Criminal Justice Career Preparation
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for ENGL 1A (now ENGL C1000)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course prepares students interested in a career in the Criminal Justice system to successfully navigate the highly competitive hiring process. Topics covered include how to successfully complete the initial application, written examination, oral interview, polygraph examination, physical agility test, background investigation and the written/oral psychological examinations.
AJ 107 Crime and Control - An Introduction to Corrections
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This is a basic course covering crime, criminal behavior and social attempts at controlling such behavior. Emphasis in this course is placed on traditional types of punishment, such as incarceration, as well as rehabilitation, probation, parole and diversion. Incarceration issues include officer and inmate safety, physical security aspects of prison, inmate discipline and code of conduct. Rehabilitation topics include education, job skills training and parole. This course covers the basic career skills and knowledge required for employment as detention officers in custodial institutions, probation and parole.
AJ 109 Introduction to Police Patrol Procedures
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers the study of the history and development of police patrol. Topics covered include functions of patrol, investigative duties of the field officer, techniques for planning patrol activities, handling complaints and requests for service, field interviews, searches, seizures and arrests, civil and domestic disturbances and the handling of traffic related problems.
AJ 111 Criminal Investigation
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Administration of Justice 109 AND Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers the fundamentals of criminal investigation. Topics include the techniques of crime scene search and recording, collection and preservation of physical evidence, modus operandi processes, sources of information, interview and interrogation, and follow-up investigation.
AJ 115 Community and the Justice System
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course examines the complex, dynamic relationship between communities and the justice system in addressing crime and conflict with an emphasis on the challenges and prospects of administering justice within a diverse multicultural population. Topics include the shared and conflicting values in culture, religion and law.
AJ 116 Ethics in Law Enforcement
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for ENGL 1A (now ENGL C1000)
This course will explore the ethical, legal and moral complexities of law enforcement, define the principles of a person's character as it relates to ethics and examine how ethical choices impact the professional law enforcement environment and the subsequent effect on police services. This course takes into consideration how character and personal values influence the training, supervision, management, and leadership of successful law enforcement organizations. This course addresses the implications of societal changes and the challenges they create in modern police work.
AJ 126 Juvenile Delinquency and Legal Procedures
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an examination of the origin, development, and organization of the juvenile justice system as it evolved in the American justice system. The course explores the theories that focus on juvenile law, courts and processes and the constitutional protections extended to juveniles administered in the American justice system.
AJ 130 Criminal Procedures
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an in-depth study of the procedures by which a criminal defendant is tried. As enumerated by the Constitution's due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, this course examines how this process functions from the point at which a crime is committed to arrest, trial and appeal.
AJ 131 Legal Aspects of Evidence
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers the legal aspects of evidence and the constitutional and procedural considerations affecting arrest, and search and seizure. Topics covered include types of evidence and rules governing their admissibility, judicial decisions interpreting individual rights and case studies viewed with respect to how they are applied in a criminal process from arrest to trial.
AJ 132 Forensic Crime Scene Investigation
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English C1000 or equivalent
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides students with an introduction to forensic Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). It examines the methods utilized in the forensic analysis of crime scenes, pattern evidence, instruments, firearms, questioned documents and controlled substances. Topics covered will include the workings of a CSI unit, an overview of the relationship between forensic science and law enforcement, as well as evidence collection and analysis rules.
AJ 133 Fingerprint Classification and Investigation
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers the basic principles of fingerprints, including lifting, classification, and identification. The history and scientific basis for fingerprints are studied in relation to current practices and procedures.
AJ 134 Introduction to Crime Analysis
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to develop basic crime analysis skills needed in today's law enforcement environment. Students will analyze data and transform their analyses into specific and proactive plans to combat crime related problems. The course prepares law enforcement professionals, both sworn and civilian, who are integrally involved in community-based policing programs, which respond to a community's quality-of-life issues.
AJ 135 Report Writing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- AJ 103 and eligibility for English 1A
- Transfers to
- CSU
In this course, students develop the ability to observe, record and document facts from which a police or criminal justice report could be written. Facts presented are based on simulated crimes that include crime scenes with evidence and witness statements. Students complete a variety of law enforcement report forms and construct police report narratives using proper spelling, grammar and sentence structure in a manner that satisfies typical requirements for a criminal investigation or prosecution.
AJ 142 Introduction to Digital Evidence
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Administration of Justice 100 and eligibility for English C1000 or equivalent
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides students with an understanding of digital crime scene investigation. Topics include court presentation of evidence requirements involving digital forensic evidence, digital imaging and metadata. Recognized legal and professional standards will be reviewed. Students will be exposed to contemporary digital forensic tools and processes used in collecting digital evidence from seizure to the admission as evidence in a criminal trial. Procedural and legal issues in the handling, processing and examination of digital evidence will be studied. Students will learn about methods of handling the chain of custody regarding some digital evidence and discovery procedures.
AJ 150 Peace Officer Training Module - Level III
- Units
- 6.5
- Hours
- 5.5 hours lecture, 3.5 hours lab per week to be arranged
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed for California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified Training Module - Level III Peace Officer training candidates. A Level III Peace Officer may perform specified limited support duties that are not likely to result in physical arrests.
AJ 155 Peace Officer Training Module - Level II
- Units
- 10
- Hours
- 9 hours lecture, 3.5 hours lab per week to be arranged
- Prerequisite
- Possession of a current Commission on POST Level III certificate - must have successfully completed/passed the Module III comprehensive examination within 12 months of start of Module II.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to meet California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified Training Module - Level II peace officer training candidates. A Level II reserve officer may perform general law enforcement assignments while under the immediate supervision of a peace officer. These officers may also work assignments authorized for Level III reserve officers.
AJ 170 Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- Eligibility for English C1000 or equivalent
- Transfers to
- CSU
In this course, students examine the history and development of the United States Constitution and related case law decisions. Emphasis is given to the application of the Constitution as it relates to the administration of justice including free speech, free assembly, use of force, laws of arrest, search, seizure, right to counsel, and due process.
AJ 190 Law Enforcement Explorer Academy
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to expose the student to the many facets of law enforcement. Instructional activities will emphasize career exploration, law enforcement history and organization, professionalism, teamwork, drill and ceremony, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and firearm safety. Upon successful completion of the course, a student will be eligible to become a member of a local Police Department Explorer Post.