Administration of Justice

AJ is a unique program emphasizing academic and career education that prepares students for fields of justice, law, social/non-profit work, non-profit, public policy, and private sector careers in law enforcement, the courts, corrections, forensic science, social services, public advocacy, and private security and corporate protection.  

Mission:

The Mission of the AJ Program is to provide quality education to prepare a student’s academic or professional goals in law, justice, public policy, or private sector careers.  

The AJ Program accomplishes this mission by focusing on core competencies in Effective Communication, Critical Inquiry, Information Literacy, Social and Cultural Competency, and Ethical Intelligence.   It is through these core competencies, that students will be best prepared to meet educational and workforce demands in the 21st century.

Program Goals:

1. Prepare students for transfer to a four-year college/university or technical training institution.
2. Prepare students for workforce entry, including but not limited to, the police academy, probation academy, corrections academy, forensic science, or other career technical school related to law and justice.
3. Provide quality education for students seeking to enrich their knowledge and understanding of the law and justice in a global society.
   
   The AJ Program accomplishes its goals by ensuring a student-centered learning environment where access, opportunity and inclusion are core values and student education is our top priority.
    

Students completing this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication necessary in the criminal justice or legal field.
2. Interpret and analyze information, concepts, and theories of the criminal justice or legal system from multiple perspectives.
3. Apply and integrate terminology, concepts, and practices related to law enforcement, the courts, corrections, or legal/public policy systems.
4. Evaluate ideas, values, and indicators of multiculturalism in the context and study of law, society, and justice.
5. Analyze beliefs, thoughts, and/or actions that are rooted in civility, social responsibility, and professional ethos.
    

A major sheet includes a description of the program you are interested in, what you can expect to learn once you have completed the program (Program Learning Outcomes) and the specific specialty courses you will need to complete within a major.  Below you will find each degree and the corresponding major sheet.

The Associate of Arts degree in AJ is ideally suited for students who want to transfer to a four-year college or university and continue toward an advanced degree in criminal justice or other field of study.  The degree is beneficial for students who want to become professors in the criminal justice field, earn advanced degrees, work in criminal justice careers, or want to gain more knowledge about the law, justice, and society.

The Associate of Science degree in AJ is ideally suited for students who have either attended a Basic POST Academy or Basic POST Module I Academy or who plan to attend a Basic POST Academy and want to apply their academy units toward earning a degree.  Units earned from a Basic POST Academy are eligible as elective units in the major for the A.S. degree.

The Associate of Science degree for Transfer “ADT” in AJ is ideally suited for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college/university or want to pursue entry into the police academy or other training institute.  The ADT is approved by the State of California and aids in direct transfer to the California State University.  

The Associate of Science degree for Transfer in Law, Public Policy, and Society "LPPS" is ideally suited for students who want to transfer to a four-year college/university or enter the career field as attorneys, politicians, non-profit or advocacy workers, public policy makers, or social workers.  The ADT is approved by the State of California and aids in direct transfer to the California State University.

The Community Service Officer “CSO" Certificate is an academic certificate in a specialized area of study.  The Certificate of Achievement in CSO is ideally suited for students interested in joining a law enforcement agency as a CSO, private security officer, or for anyone who wants to earn a specialized certificate.

The CSO  Certificate requires the completion of four courses – AJ 010, AJ 014, AJ 120, and AJ 139.  AJ 010, AJ 014, and AJ 120 are required or elective courses in the major, so students can earn this specialized certificate by taking just one additional course while also earning their associate degree.

Talk to your counselor or an AJ faculty professor to learn more about this amazing opportunity to complete a Certificate in one year!
 

AJ offers several courses that align with each academic degree and certificate.  Courses are offered in sixteen or eight-week formats, in person or online, and summer options. Talk to an academic counselor or one of our expert faculty on staff if you have questions.

See the complete catalog for  Administration of Justice Courses.

Students can earn college and high school credit under the Dual Enrollment Program.  All courses in the Administration of Justice program can be taken concurrently for high school and college credit.  Talk with your academic advisor at your high school to see how this program might benefit you and accelerate your educational journey.  To learn more about this opportunity please watch the video. 

The Administration of Justice program offers many courses for you to choose from.  Be sure to consider your Educational Plan and Academic and Career Goals when selecting courses. Get the advice of an academic counselor or talk with one of our expert faculty on staff if you have questions.  

Visit our course schedule to find a class that interests you!
 

• The Academy South Bay Regional Public Safety Training-information on training programs (law enforcement, EMT, Paramedic, and Fire Services)
• State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)- information on certification, training, and job opportunities.
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations
• U.S. Department of Justice job opportunities
• State of California Department of Justice job opportunities
• County of Santa Clara job opportunities
• County of Santa Clara Pretrial Services Internship Program

• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
• DEA: US Drug Enforcement Administration
• Deputy Sheriff
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Agent
• Homeland Security (Border Patrol Agents, Criminal
• Investigators, Special Agents)
• Criminal Investigators (Internal Revenue Service, Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Postal Service,)
• Police Officers
• U.S. Marshall Service
• U.S Park Police
• U.S. Secret Service
   

• Attorney/Lawyer
• Deputy Sherriff/Bailiff
• Courtroom Clerk
• Court Collection Officer
• Paralegal

• Deputy Probation Officer
• Correctional Officer
• Parole Officer
• Probation Counselor (Juvenile Hall or Juvenile
• Rehabilitation Facility)
• Pre-Trial Services Officer
• Re-Entry Counselor

• Retail Security (Loss Prevention)
• Armed Security
• Corporate Protection

• Behavioral Health Peer Support Worker
• Child Support Officer
• Deputy Public Guardian
• Social Worker

• Housing Specialist
• Residential Counselor
• System Navigator
• Peer Support

There are many paths to success and we hope you will learn about all the amazing possibilities available to you whether it is taking courses to transfer, taking courses to enter the workforce, or taking courses for personal enrichment.   We are committed to helping you succeed – and it starts with an intentional Partnership in Learning, where your goals and experiences are supported every step of the way!    

We challenge you to take charge of your success by actively shaping your educational pathway – because every step you plan today brings you closer to your goals tomorrow!

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

Creating A Plan for Success 

An Education Plan is one of the most valuable tools for student success. It is a personalized semester-by-semester outline of all the courses you need to take to reach your educational goals.  Students can create an education plan on their own through Single sign on by enrolling in COUNS 013 Career Planning, or during a 60-minute Counseling appointment.  Make Your Appointment Today! 

Check the links below to see how you can complete your AJ degree at EVC!

• Administration of Justice (AS-T)
• Administration of Justice (AA)
• Administration of Justice (AS)
• Community Service Officer (COA)

Career Academic Pathways (CAPS)  at EVC are intended to assist you in making informed decisions about your educational and career goals. We have organized our majors into six distinct Career Academic Pathways (CAPS).  You can filter our majors by Career Academic Pathway (CAPS) or the type of degree/certificate you are interested in earning. To see a visual representation of our CAPS and associated Program Maps, visit our Career and Academic Pathways site. 

Guided Pathways at EVC is a student-centered approach of organizing college programs in a way that simplify the college experience and support students in successfully navigating the system to achieve their career and educational goals. 

Choosing a major in Criminal Justice can feel like a big decision – and maybe even a bit overwhelming.  Careers in the justice field require a strong combination of academic knowledge and real-world application.   At EVC, we provide the academic foundation and support you need to confidently begin your path in Criminal Justice.   

If your goal is to work for a federal agency such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) or Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), a four-year degree is required. If you aim to work in a state or local agency, such as the California Highway Patrol (CHP), San Jose Police Department (SJPD) or Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), an associate’s degree is required.  If you’re interested in probation, the court system, or corrections, an associate degree is typically required with many positions requiring a bachelor’s degree.

Once you have identified your career goals and narrowed down your path, be sure to visit the Careers tab to explore agency-specific requirements needed for application.

I Want to Work in a Criminal Justice Field

 I Want to Be a Police Officer in California

Visit the California Peace Officer Standards and Training website for minimum requirements to be a peace officer. 

I want to be a Probation Officer for the County of Santa Clara

I want to be a Correctional Officer 

I want to be a Juvenile Group Counselor for the County of Santa Clara 

Be sure to meet with a counselor to confirm you are on the correct academic track based on your transfer and career goals.  For instance, transferring to a University of California (UC) campus may require different coursework than transferring to a California State University (CSU). Planning ahead ensures you are prepared and on track to reach your goals!

Go to our Transfer Center for more information

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