Administration of Justice Degree for Transfer

Description

The Associate in Science in Administration of Justice degree for Transfer provides a clear and direct route for transfer to upper division work in the Administration of Justice major. This is through structured and semi-structured opportunities for students to develop and master the knowledge, skills, and values consistent with the theory and application of Administration of Justice. It can lead to a career path in private security, corrections, forensics, and law enforcement—protecting communities from crime, maintaining safety and security, and guiding people through the legal system.

The Administration of Justice for Transfer Program curriculum provides an examination of crime, crime control, the justice process, and justice institutions in the United States. The program emphasizes the structure and functions of institutions as a development of changes in theory and philosophy of justice in the United States. In addition to discipline-specific content, the major includes a focus on ethics and professionalism; communications and technology; and civic engagement.

This curriculum provides a solid foundation upon which to build an Administration of Justice Major at a four-year school. The degree guarantees transfer to a California State University (CSU) as a junior.

See Taft College’s Transfer Center. Our Transfer Admission Guarantees include many other schools. Check with your Counselor to see if this degree can transfer to other four-year schools.

Earnings Potential

An associate degree in administration of justice for transfer offers you the salary potential of $33,538 two years after graduation from Taft College, with expected increases to $44,412 at five years, based on five-year studies of graduates by California Community Colleges. These do not reflect salaries with a four-year degree.1

Some careers require a minimum of a four-year degree or additional training. Career options increase with a variety of work settings, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. embassies abroad, the military, law enforcement, the prison system, postal inspectors, and security, among others. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage is $63,150 for police and patrol officers and  $60,730 for fish and game wardens. They project job growth from 2020 to 2030 of two percent to about seven percent in these fields.2 

1 California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Salary Surfer. 2021. https://salarysurfer.cccco.edu. Accessed 19 April 2023.

2 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 8 Sept. 2022. www.bls.gov/ooh. Accessed 19 April 2023.

Program Requirements

To earn an Associate in Science in Administration of Justice degree for Transfer (AS-T), students must complete all course requirements with a minimum grade of “C” in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis; and must complete the General Education Breadth pattern for CSUs with an overall grade point average of 2.0. There are no local graduation requirements associated with this degree.

Additionally, students shall be deemed eligible for transfer into a CSU baccalaureate program when the student meets both of the following requirements:

  1. Complete a minimum of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the CSU, including both of the following:
    1. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education Breadth Requirements.
    2. A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
  2. Obtain a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Program Learning Outcomes

After completing the Administration of Justice AS-T program, a student will be able to: 

  1. Distinguish between ethical behavior and professional standards that influence personal decisions and promote honesty, integrity, concepts of social justice, and the influence of leadership in a criminal justice career.
  2. Demonstrate and evaluate discipline-specific knowledge that includes differentiating between diverse course content, including criminal law, policing, corrections, investigations, and the roles, responsibilities, and limitations of the criminal justice system.
  3. Employ the use of technology to access, organize, and communicate information; and distinguish valid sources, data, and evidence in the social sciences. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively according to industry standards.
  4. Cooperate with professionals in the criminal justice system, recognize the roles and responsibilities of members of the criminal justice system, and apply an understanding of industry best practices and the personal commitment required for public service.

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