Criminal Justice

Associate of Applied Science Degree

Graduates of the criminal justice program will be able to analytically evaluate, synthesize information, and use critical-thinking skills to develop appropriate solutions for important criminal justice issues. The program is designed to help you understand the coercive nature of criminal justice decision-making and the need to use logic, ethics, and critical-thinking skills in order to use your authority appropriately. This program prepares you for entry-level employment in various criminal justice agencies such as: police officers, court clerks, court bailiffs, correctional officers, probation officers, parole officers, and other federal law enforcement positions. Policing and institutional corrections employment will also require the completion of a training academy. If advancing in the criminal justice field is your goal, this program will help you achieve it.

Program Goals
The program will:

• provide students with the knowledge of the components of criminal justice: policing, courts, and corrections.
• provide students with a system theory perspective of how the criminal justice system is intended to work, and the reality of how the system actually works, creating the issues and dilemmas that criminal justice professionals must manage and solve.
• develop the critical-thinking skills of students to evaluate criminal justice issues and develop analytical strategies to solve complex criminal justice problems.
• develop the teamwork skills of students to work on criminal justice teams to perform essential functions.
• develop the managerial skills of students for criminal justice administrative work.
• develop the written and oral skills of students to perform the essential communication functions of criminal justice work such as communication with personnel, government, and the community.
• encourage students to pursue continuing education and memberships in professional organizations.
• prepare students for promotional opportunities in the criminal justice field and for graduate education that will enhance their administrative capabilities for criminal justice careers.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:

• demonstrate knowledge of the criminal justice system and the reality of its operation.
• demonstrate knowledge of the issues and dilemmas facing contemporary criminal justice.
• apply their analytical skills to applied, professional tasks and team efforts in criminal justice.
• apply their knowledge to critical issues in criminal justice and develop solutions.
• critically evaluate current criminal justice strategies for strengths and weaknesses, and reformulate policy to enhance criminal justice efficiency.
• apply their managerial and leadership skills in the supervision of personnel and their fulfillment of administrative tasks.
• apply administrative knowledge in their understanding of the chain of command and managerial issues in criminal justice work, from the perspective of the supervised and the supervisor.
• demonstrate the leadership skills necessary to establish the professional and ethical standards required in criminal justice employment.
• express their knowledge of criminal justice issues, evaluation methods, and policy solutions using both written and oral communication strategies.

* For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who complete the program and other important information, please visit www.national.edu/disclosures.

Students in the state of Minnesota are not be eligible to sit for the Minnesota Police Officer licensing examination  upon completion of the NAU’s Bachelor of Science/Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree programs.