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Associate of Science in Criminal Justice

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What You’ll Learn

The Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program at South College is designed for students who are interested in beginning careers in a wide variety of challenging and stimulating criminal justice professions. The program addresses issues, topics, and trends in three of the basic components of criminal justice: law enforcement, victim advocacy, and corrections.

Students will gain an understanding of theory and practical techniques, but will also get an inside view of the operations and processes of these components through interaction with criminal justice practitioners, field trips, and the completion of an internship.

Thanks to South College’s small class sizes, faculty members are able to give students more attention and integrate techniques for students of every learning style. To prepare students to work in the field, instructors focus on real-world applications of concepts covered in the classroom. Students have the chance to practice these skills under the supervision of experienced professionals during their criminal justice internships.

South College students

What can I do with an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice?

Law Enforcement Officer Bailiff Civil Process Server Court Security Officer Correctional Officer Security Guard Private Investigator Parole or Probation Officer Victim Advocate Drug and Alcohol Counselor

Keys to Success

To be successful in the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program, students should have a strong ethical sensibility, an interest in promoting justice, strong leadership and interpersonal skills, and the ability to think on their feet.

Both the institution and the faculty are deeply committed to our students through every step of their academic journeys. During their time at South College, students have frequent access to experienced professors, course tutors for in-person and online tutoring, and the Writing Lab and Math Lab for help developing core skills.

Through criminal justice internships, students not only have the opportunity to apply skills and techniques learned in the classroom in the real world, but also to expand their professional networks. Often, our graduates’ first positions in the field derive from their internships, either because they are hired directly by their internship sponsors or through their growing professional networks.

Continuing Education

Accreditation or Approval

South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. Questions about the accreditation of South College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

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Admissions Requirements

Consumer Information

Amounts for tuition, fees, books, and supplies are subject to change. South College follows the required methodology provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the reporting of employment information for graduates. This information is compiled on an annual basis and submitted to the Commission by October 15 each year for graduates during the most recently completed reporting year (July 1-June 30). For more detailed information related to the calculation of graduate employment rates, please click here.

*The career options listed above are a small sample of potential job titles, and are not meant to be comprehensive. Students may or may not find employment in these positions. Job growth statistics are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014–2024 projections. Note that the Bureau does not publish estimates for all job titles, so in some cases these numbers are an approximation based on similar job titles.

Success at South College

Amanda and Breanna Brown, A South College Success Story

The thing we like most about attending South College is the amazing instructors we have had who encourage us in school, help whenever needed, and always go the extra mile for their students. If we decide to further our degree we are going to come back to South College.

- Amanda and Breanna Brown, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
Elizabeth Ferichs

One of the major reasons I chose South College was for the smaller class sizes. It allows more one-on-one time between students and professors, which enhances the learning experience for me.

- Elizabeth Frerichs, Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Adam Hatcher

I went to college originally straight out of high school with the intent of majoring in musical performance with a concentration in theoretical studies. I was not prepared to for college at that point, so I decided to gain some experience and maturity by joining the work force full-time. After working for 10 years, I felt it was time to try school again.

- Adam Hatcher, Bachelor of Business Administration
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