Details of degree and certificate programs

The Department of Criminal Justice's one-year professional certificate is tailored to meet the needs of practicing criminal justice professionals. Certificate students should remember that successful completion of the certificate program does not guarantee admission to either the associate or the bachelor degree programs. Applicants to those programs will follow the requirements of the current catalog when they change from certificate to degree programs. Additionally, certificate students who are admitted to a degree program must immediately satisfy core requirements and Regents' Exam requirements.

The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree is designed for students who are seeking a degree that will meet the minimum educational requirements of various law enforcement agencies for entry and-or promotion. All criminal justice majors are strongly encouraged to take and complete the associate degree in criminal justice before taking any bachelor's degree criminal justice courses.

The Bachelor of Science degree enables students to demonstrate a general knowledge of law enforcement, legal research, corrections and criminology. Students must take a minimum of 39 credit hours in criminal justice courses in residence at Columbus State University.

Up to 12 hours of credit from professional training academies may be applied toward an associate or bachelor's degree.

Students in degree programs are reminded that evening students may have to take some courses during the day to complete degree requirements.

Graduates of the criminal justice program find secure jobs with local, state, and federal government agencies such as city and state police, sheriffs' departments, probation and parole departments, Georgia and Federal Bureaus of Investigation, drug enforcement agencies, the Secret Service, correctional institutions, juvenile justice agencies, and private industrial security.

Information on the Master of Public Administration degree with the justice administration option may be found in the Political Science section of CSU's catalog.

Expected outcomes

Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

• Principles of criminal justice systems.

• Knowledge of law enforcement organization and procedures.

• Skills of legal research and analysis.

• Concepts of punishment and rehabilitation in the context of correctional systems.

• Major theories of criminal behavior.

Bachelor's degree graduates also will be able to demonstrate and apply knowledge about each of the above by passing the department exit exam.

General Studies

Information about the Associate in Science in general studies can be found in the University College section.