Criminal Justice and Administration

The Administration of Justice program is a comprehensive offering of courses created and designed for the purpose of educating and training diverse groups of students who aspire for careers in the Criminal Justice System. The program provides both certificates and degrees that reflect our student’s level of educational preparedness for entry-level opportunities in law enforcement, corrections, and the courts. Students are expected to successfully develop college-level skills and knowledge in furtherance of transferring to four-year institutions of higher learning and successful careers in Criminal Justice.

Student Learning Outcomes: 

• Students are able to demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
• Students have the intellectual literacy to solve problems about crime, policy and justice.
• Students have a comprehensive understanding of crime, policy and justice.
• Students can take a critical perspective on how criminal justice systems affect different communities.
• Students are able to effectively lead or contribute as part of a group.
• Students demonstrate an awareness of how implicit and explicit biases impact and influence individuals, groups, laws, policies, and criminal justice systems around the globe.

The program anticipates graduating 20 students within the first 2 years. Because all the courses are brand new, the goal over the next 3 years is to have 1-3 sections offered per semester with enrollment in each class to be above 20 students.

This program is designed to provide a rigorous academic, accredited, and standardized vocational training to employees and individuals seeking employment in  the Criminal Justice field, courts, corrections or law enforcement.   Coursework will cover theoretical and practical applications in decision making and execution of public policy and law. Students will learn professional conduct, legal aspect, officer safety, corrections, law enforcement. The goal will align the program with the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice and Public Policy, and Society Transfer Degree as well as establishing course-to-course articulation with the California State Universities (CSUs) and Universities of California (UCs).

Students will be expected to complete a minimum of eight (8) courses for a total of 24 units. All courses are required and three (3) units each. Students wishing to pursue the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice are required to complete one of SCC’s three (3) general education breadth options: IGETC (Plan C), CSU GE (Plan B), or SCC Local GE (Plan A). 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
CJ 101	Introduction of Criminal Justice	3.0	Y1 Spring 2025
CJ 111	Community Relations and Policing	3.0	Y1 Spring 2025
CJ 112	Introduction to Corrections and Probation	3.0	Y1 Spring 2025
CJ 113	Juvenile Delinquency and Control	3.0	Y1 Fall 2025
CJ 114 PBLC 150	Organized Crime and Gangs in America  Introduction to Public Administration	3.0 3.0	Y1 Fall 2025 Y1 Fall 2025

Select two (2)courses from the following:
PBLC 151          Ethics and Professionalism: The HighCalling of Public Service    3.0          Year2 Fall
PBLC 152         Preparing for Supervision PublicSector                                        3.0          Year 2 Fall
PBLC 153       Public Sector Budgeting Fundamentals                                          3.0          Year 2 Fall 
PBLC 154     Public Sector Human Resources Fundamentals                              3.0            Year 2 Fall 
PBLC 155       The Art of Politics and Policymaking                                               3.0          Year 2 Fall

Santiago Canyon College already has public-service related programs in CTE, such as Public Works, Code Enforcement Officer and Water Utility Science, but this new program will provide opportunities for students to advance in their career or start a career in government. SCC has several different State-approved Associate Degrees and Certificates of Achievement within the discipline of Public Works: Construction Inspection, Construction Management, Environmental Management, and Code Enforcement. The Code Enforcement program is the first in the State, and the Public Works faculty are looking to expand the program with stackable credentials. SCC will work with the campus articulation officer to align course curriculum and programs to meet the transfer requirements and the Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC) for the Law, Public Policy, and Society Transfer Degree.

Based on the available data the oversupply is within the COE’s margin (25% over or under the number of annual job openings) to be considered “supply met” rather than a “supply gap”. Additionally, all annual job openings have entry-level wages above the living wage and typical education requirements for these occupations align with a community college education.  Due to the regional labor market criteria being met, the COE endorses this proposed program. Although there are a community colleges that offer Criminal Justice program throughout the County, Santiago Canyon College is recognizing student need for this program on campus.

The program anticipates graduating 20 students within the first 2 years. Because all the courses are brand new, the goal over the next 3 years is to have 1-3 sections offered per semester with enrollment in each class to be above 20 students.