Criminal Justice Degree

An associate's degree is a degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges and some bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities in Canada and the United States upon completion of a course of study equivalent to the first two years in a four-year college or university. It is the lowest in the hierarchy of academic degrees offered in these countries. Common abbreviations are AA (Associate of Arts), AS (Associate of Science) and AAS (Associate of Applied Science).

Generalized categories or types of Associate's Degrees

It is possible to break the Associate's Degree into three general categories.

An Associate of Arts degree is often awarded for programs that are terminal or intended for transfer to a four year college, usually with a major in the social sciences or humanities. It is also awarded to General Studies students, those who decline to select an area of concentration.

The Associate of Science degree is similarly awarded to terminal students or to potential transferees to a four years college, but the areas of concentration are usually in mathematics, natural sciences, or technology.

The Associate of Applied Science degree is awarded to students who are permitted to relax some of the general education requirements in order to study more course work in their program area. Typically, this kind of degree is for students who intend to enter the work force upon graduation.

Time requirements

The associate degree is most often awarded to students completing postsecondary programs requiring at least one but no more than two years of full-time study. More often, a lesser diploma, called a Certificate, is awarded for only a one year program. It is not unusual for students to study more than two years to complete the requirements for an associate's degree.

Featured Programs [4]

Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice

Kaplan University If you want to work in the criminal justice field, this online degree will prepare you to find the job you want. Our Web based program provides a solid foundation in the areas of law enforcement, courts, corrections, and security. It also provides a liberal arts knowledge base and the technical skills required in specialized employment areas.

Who Should Take This Program?

Students...

Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice

ITT Technical Institute The ITT Technical Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana offers an online program leading to a Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice. This program teaches the fundamentals of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology. Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts...

Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice

Ashworth College The Ashworth College Associate of Science Degree Program in Criminal Justice offers a convenient distance learning program. It begins with courses in psychology, government, and communications. These are all important, career enhancement areas that overlap the criminal justice field.

Our comprehensive, home study curriculum includes instruction in criminal law procedure, policing,...

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Department at Bemidji State University offers two degrees in the study of Criminal Justice (a Bachelor of Science (BS) and an Associate of Science (AS)). Both programs prepare students for careers in corrections, law enforcement, and other agencies (both public and private) concerned with the prevention and investigation of crime and criminal activity. The BS, however, is...