Criminal Justice Option
A.S. Degree Criminal Justice · Santa Ana College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Code: SAC.CJ.AS
Program Control Number: 04249
The Criminal Justice Option Degree curriculum is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in local, state, federal, or private sector criminal justice agencies that do not require bachelor's degrees, and to provide students who wish to transfer to a four-year academic institution with 27 units of criminal justice course work. This degree prepares students for careers in the fields of law enforcement, probation, corrections, courts, and private security. Elective course CJ-120 is a Work Experience-Criminal Justice course that has variable units 1-4, but students who wish to use this course as an elective must complete 3 units to meet the elective section requirements.
Learning Outcome(s):
- Develop in students the knowledge to evaluate the issues and challenges in the criminal justice disciplines
- Develop in students pursuing Criminal Justice careers the skills to evaluate career opportunities.
- Develop critical thinking and ethical reasoning in students interested in the criminal justice field.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 21 | |
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 | |
| CJ 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| orCJ 101H | Honors Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 102 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 | |
| CJ 103 | Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| orCJ 103H | Honors Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ 105 | Legal Aspects of Evidence | 3 |
| Principles and Procedures in the Criminal Justice System | 3 | |
| CJ 107 | Principles and Procedures in the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| orPARA 107 | Principles and Procedures in the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| Community Interaction | 3 | |
| CJ 109 | Community Interaction | 3 |
| orCJ 109H | Honors Community Interaction | 3 |
| CJ 148 | Report Writing for Criminal Justice Personnel | 3 |
| Electives: 6 units Select electives from the following list: | 6-7 | |
| Electives: Select 6 units from the following list | 6 | |
| CJ 106 | Coroner Death Investigations | 3 |
| CJ 108 | Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| CJ 110 | Street Gangs | 3 |
| CJ 205 | Criminal Investigation Principles | 3 |
| CJ 209 | Organized Crime | 3 |
| CJ 210 | Drug Abuse and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 220 | Juvenile Delinquency and Control | 3 |
| CJ 120 | Work Experience - Criminal Justice | 1-4 |
| Total | 27-28 | |