Program Details
Program Details
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Program Details

Criminal Justice, A.A.S

Associate of Applied Science
Northern Virginia Community College

Purpose: The curriculum is designed to provide a broad foundation that will prepare students to enter any of the varied fields in criminal justice or to prepare for professional advancement. Job opportunities for students include local, state, and federal enforcement officers, police officers, private or government investigators, adult/juvenile correction officers, probation/parole officers and counselors, security directors (managers), loss prevention directors, classification managers, and personnel clearance administrators. Most of the ADJ courses in this curriculum are 'core courses' that provide a basic entry-level foundation in both criminal justice and security administration. These courses must be taken by ALL STUDENTS in this program. At several points in the curriculum, 'course options' are provided for selection by the students.

Special Curriculum Admission Requirements: Students are advised that many criminal justice and private/government security agencies require excellent moral character and a written record of conduct prior to consideration for employment.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Northern Virginia Community College within your first year
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights
Program Credit Requirements
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What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript, https://www.nvcc.edu/cro/transfercredit/index.html

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript.
Credit for Prior Learning NOVA strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the integrity of our academic programs. Credit for prior learning (CPL) generally refers to the process of granting college credit for learning gained in nontraditional. ways; https://www.nvcc.edu/prior-learning/
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Northern Virginia Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
43891
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Our classes feature up-to-date technology and course content to prepare you for a competitive job market; We also offer courses that will transfer to colleges all over Virginia and the nation. In fact, NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40 colleges and universities for students who meet specific requirements.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.nvcc.edu/gaa/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Central Virginia Community CollegeAAS in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science 2-YearIn-Person, Online
J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in Social Sciences: Criminal Justice MajorAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
New River Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Blue Ridge Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid, Online
Paul D. Camp Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Administration of Justice - Corrections ScienceAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Paul D. Camp Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Administration of Justice - Police ScienceAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Rappahannock Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Southside Virginia Community CollegeAssociate of Arts and Sciences with a major in General Studies-Administration of JusticeAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid, Online
Southwest Virginia Community College Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science - Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice (Forensic Science)AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice (Homeland Security)AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice (Public Law)AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice DegreeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Marymount University Criminal Justice (BA)BachelorBachelor of Art4-YearIn-Person
Shenandoah UniversityBachelor of Science Criminal Justice and CriminologyBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Regent UniversityA.S. in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Science4-YearHybrid
Regent UniversityB.S. in Criminal JusticeBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearHybrid
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityCriminal Justice, Bachelor of ScienceBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityCriminal Justice with concentration in Forensic Crime Scene Investigation, Bachelor of ScienceBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Averett UniversityBachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal JusticeBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Averett UniversityBachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal JusticeBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person, Online
Germanna Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice DegreeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Mountain Empire Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Danville Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement SpecializationAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science in Criminal JusticeAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearHybrid
Rappahannock Community CollegeAssociate of Science in Science Degree with an Elementary Education (PreK-6) MajorAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
11-9199.11Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site ManagersPlan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.Management Occupations
11-9199.02Compliance ManagersPlan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.Management Occupations
25-1111.00Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
33-1012.00First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesDirectly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.Protective Service Occupations
11-9199.08Loss Prevention ManagersPlan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.Management Occupations
11-9199.00Managers, All OtherAll managers not listed separately.Management Occupations
11-9199.01Regulatory Affairs ManagersPlan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.Management Occupations
11-9199.10Wind Energy Development ManagersLead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.Management Occupations
11-9199.09Wind Energy Operations ManagersManage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.Management Occupations
Cost To Complete
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