Stark State College's associate degree in criminal justice, taught by experienced professionals, prepares students to transfer seamlessly into a bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology. Graduates are equipped for entry‑level roles in corrections, courts, and private security, with advanced career opportunities available through continued study, including positions with state or federal law enforcement agencies.
Major code: 1301 Health and Public Services Division Human Services and Justice Studies Department
The catalog in force is assigned to students based on the academic year they first applied to the college, and changes only when students change their major or request the change in writing. Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-28.
2026-27 Catalog
Effective Summer 2026
Some courses listed within the program may require a prerequisite or co-requisite.
Pre/Co-requisites will be listed within each course hyperlink below.
Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-04 and 3357:15-13-05
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Experience | ||
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| Computer Applications | ||
| ITD122 | Computer Applications for Professionals | 3 |
| English Composition & Oral Communication | ||
| Select 9 credits minimum of the following: | 9 | |
| College Composition (required) | ||
| Technical Report Writing | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Effective Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select 12 credits minimum of the following: | 12 | |
| United States Government and Politics | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Sociology | ||
| Dynamics of the Family | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Diversity in American Society | ||
| Criminal Justice | ||
| Select 18 credits hours required: | 18 | |
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | ||
| POLICING | ||
| Corrections | ||
| Criminology | ||
| Criminal Law in the United States | ||
| Criminal Procedure | ||
| Arts & Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum of the following: | 6 | |
| Ethics (required) | ||
| British Literature: Medieval to 1785 | ||
| British Literature: 1785 to Present | ||
| American Literature: Colonial to 1865 | ||
| American Literature: 1865 to Present | ||
| United States History I to 1877 | ||
| United States History II from 1877 | ||
| World Civilization to 17th Century | ||
| World Civilization from 17th Century | ||
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum (1 lab course required) of the following: | 6 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology I (lab) | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II (lab) | ||
| Environmental Science (lab) | ||
| Human Biology (lab) | ||
| Climate Studies (lab) | ||
| Meteorology (lab) | ||
| Ocean Studies (lab) | ||
| General Biology I (lab) | ||
| General Biology II (lab) | ||
| Exploring Science and Technology (lab) | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry (lab) | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Science (lab) | ||
| General Organic and Biological Chemistry (lab) | ||
| Biochemistry I (lab) | ||
| General Chemistry I (lab) | ||
| General Chemistry II (lab) | ||
| Forensic Chemistry (lab) | ||
| Principles of Physics (lab) | ||
| College Physics I with Algebra (lab) | ||
| College Physics II with Algebra (lab) | ||
| Astronomy (lab) | ||
| Mathematics, Statistics and Logic | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Statistics | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| Elective | ||
| Select 0-3 credits of the following: | 2-5 | |
| Students may select one additional course from above or choose one elective course from the list below. | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Introduction to Law and Legal System | ||
| Introduction to Public Administration | ||
| Comparative Government and Politics | ||
| Introduction to Political Thought | ||
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology | ||
| Elementary Spanish I | ||
| Elementary Spanish II | ||
| Study Away: Experiential Learning | ||
| Total Hours | 60-63 | |
Full-time Student Advising Notes
Academic Advising
Students should make appointments to meet with their advisors before registering for classes each semester. The student should determine his or her course preferences for the semester prior to this meeting.
Course Sequence
The semester-by-semester listing below provides the normal scheduling option for full-time associate degree students who plan to finish the degree in two years.
Selection of Elective Courses
Self-selection of courses and not following the approved degree program could adversely affect graduation, transfer to a 4-year institution, and financial aid. Visit Transferology at http://www.transferology.com to assist in developing a plan for transferring to another college or university. Students should select Ohio Transfer Module approved and TAG approved courses.
Bachelor’s Degree
Bachelor’s degree requirements and course transferability are controlled by the institution to which the student plans to transfer.
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| ITD122 | Computer Applications for Professionals | 3 |
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| PHL122 | Ethics | 3 |
| CJS121 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Mathematics, Statistics and Logic Elective | 3-4 | |
| Natural Sciences Elective | 3-5 | |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| CJS124 | POLICING | 3 |
| CJS129 | Corrections | 3 |
| Hours | 15-18 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Natural Sciences Elective | 3-5 | |
| English Composition & Oral Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| CJS221 | Criminology | 3 |
| CJS222 | Criminal Law in the United States | 3 |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Arts Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| English Composition & Oral Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Elective (if needed) | 2-0 | |
| CJS223 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| Hours | 14-12 | |
| Total Hours | 60-63 | |
Arts and Humanities Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG233 | British Literature: Medieval to 1785 | 3 |
| ENG234 | British Literature: 1785 to Present | 3 |
| ENG236 | American Literature: Colonial to 1865 | 3 |
| ENG237 | American Literature: 1865 to Present | 3 |
| HIS121 | United States History I to 1877 | 3 |
| HIS122 | United States History II from 1877 | 3 |
| HIS221 | World Civilization to 17th Century | 3 |
| HIS222 | World Civilization from 17th Century | 3 |
Natural Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO121 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO122 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIO126 | Environmental Science | 4 |
| BIO127 | Human Biology | 4 |
| BIO128 | Climate Studies | 3 |
| BIO129 | Meteorology | 3 |
| BIO130 | Ocean Studies | 3 |
| BIO141 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIO142 | General Biology II | 4 |
| CHM100 | Exploring Science and Technology | 4 |
| CHM101 | Introduction to Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM105 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| CHM123 | General Organic and Biological Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM243 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHM141 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM142 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHM205 | Forensic Chemistry | 4 |
| PHY101 | Principles of Physics | 4 |
| PHY105 | Astronomy | 4 |
| PHY121 | College Physics I with Algebra | 4 |
| PHY122 | College Physics II with Algebra | 4 |
English Composition & Oral Communication Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COM121 | Effective Speaking | 3 |
| COM122 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COM123 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| ENG221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| ENG230 | Business Communication | 3 |
| ENG231 | College Composition II | 3 |
Social & Behavioral Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSC121 | United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSC221 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| PSC222 | Public Policy | 3 |
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY221 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SOC121 | Sociology | 3 |
| SOC123 | Dynamics of the Family | 3 |
| SOC221 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC222 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| SOC225 | Diversity in American Society | 3 |
Elective (If Needed)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS221 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| BUS222 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| PSC122 | Introduction to Law and Legal System | 3 |
| PSC130 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSC140 | Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSC230 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
| PSY124 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| SPN100 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
| SPN200 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
| SSC201 | Study Away: Experiential Learning | 1 |
| Any course from above | 1-4 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MTH118 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| MTH124 | Statistics | 3 |
| MTH125 | College Algebra | 4 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of policing, corrections, criminology, criminal law and criminal procedure in the United States.
- Understand the importance of working effectively, ethically, and professionally in the criminal justice field.