Administration of Justice Associate of Arts (AA)
About the Program
The Las Positas College Administration of Justice program offers courses that lead to an Associate in Arts degree. It also prepares students academically for the POST Basic Peace Officer Academy for students seeking full-time employment in law enforcement. The degree program prepares students for transfer to a four-year college or university while the Basic Peace Office Academy program prepares students for direct job entry with a California law enforcement agency.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities in AJ include: Municipal or Special District Policy Officer, County Deputy Sheriff, FBI Agent*, DEA Agent*, Game Warden, Highway Patrol Officer, State Narcotics Agent, Lawyer*, Forensic Specialist*, Probation Officer*, Parole Agent, and a host of other careers and jobs. (*Denotes a four-year degree requirement for that position.)
Program Outcomes
- Upon completion of the AA in Administration of Justice, students are academically prepared for a California Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission basic training academy and prepared for transfer to a four year degree program. The student will be able to compare and contrast the different components and sub-components of the American criminal justice program; interpret criminal law statutes; differentiate between civil law and criminal law; investigate a scenario and create a police report utilizing proper investigative and evidentiary procedures and understand ethical leadership in a law enforcement agency.
Learning and Career Pathway Maps
Required Core: (21 Units)
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AJ 50 | Introduction to Administration of Justice | 3 |
| AJ 54 | Investigative Reporting | 3 |
| AJ 60 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| AJ 61 | Evidence | 3 |
| AJ 63 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| AJ 68 | Police Ethics and Leadership | 3 |
| AJ 70 | Community Relations | 3 |
List A: Select Two (6 Units)
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AJ 55 | Introduction to Correctional Science | 3 |
| AJ 56 | Fundamentals of Crime and Delinquency | 3 |
| AJ 59 | Child Abuse in the Community | 3 |
| AJ 64 | Patrol Procedures | 3 |
| AJ 66 | Juvenile Procedures | 3 |
| AJ 74 | Gangs and Drugs | 3 |
| AJ 78 | Introduction to Probation and Parole | 3 |
| AJ 79 | Homicide Investigation | 3 |
| AJ 89 | Family Violence | 3 |
| ANTR 13 | Introduction to Forensic Anthropology | 3 |
| CNT 68 | Digital Forensics Fundamentals | 3 |
| PSYC 1 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 6 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 12 | Life-Span Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 1 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 3 | Introduction to Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| or | ||
| ETHS 6 | Introduction to Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOC 6 | Social Problems | 3 |
Total Units for the Major: 27
The Associate Degree is conferred upon those students who complete the required 60 or more semester units of the degree pattern with a grade-point average of 2.0 or better, of which 12 units must be earned at Las Positas College. In addition, students must complete a General Education pattern in order to earn a degree: see the Las Positas College General Education Pattern for Associate of Arts (AA) Degree, California State University General Education-Breadth, or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (for CSU) patterns for listing of areas and courses. Double counting courses in GE and the major is permissible. The number of units that may be double counted will depend on the entry point to the degree program, the optional course(s) taken, and the GE pattern selected. Elective units are degree applicable. Consult with an adviser or a counselor to plan the courses necessary to achieve your academic goal.