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Social and Behavioral Sciences, Criminal Justice (AA)

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Criminal Justice (AA)

Students who study criminal justice often become public safety officials, probation services officers, counselors, or social justice advocates.

Program Highlights

In the criminal justice concentration, you will:

  • Develop competency and depth in understanding and interpreting the subject matter presented in introductory criminal justice and corrections courses.
  • Communicate effectively, using written, oral, and visual modes appropriate to your audience and purpose.
  • Understand, analyze, and evaluate numerical data and use it to draw or evaluate conclusions.
  • Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate diverse information, ideas, and perspectives in a contextually appropriate manner

Overall Requirements

To earn an Associate of Arts in Social & Behavioral Sciences with a criminal justice concentration, you will need to:

  • Earn at least 62 credit hours
  • Complete the Gen Ed Core
  • Complete the Arrupe Mission Core
  • Complete these two courses:
    • ACCRJ 201 The Criminal Justice System
    • ACCRJ 204 Corrections

What Can I Do With an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice?

You will learn about various sources of law, the role of the judiciary in protecting individual and societal rights, and the public and private agencies tasked with law enforcement and rehabilitative efforts. You will also learn about philosophical, psychological, and sociological explanations of anti-social behavior. The knowledge and skills you acquire can help to make you an informed and empathic citizen. People who study Criminal Justice often find jobs like these:

  • Public safety official
  • Probation/pretrial services officer
  • Correctional or rehabilitation professional
  • Counselor
  • Juvenile or social justice advocate

If you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree, you can continue studying criminal justice or a related field such as social work, psychology, or sociology.

Learn More

Is criminal justice the right fit for you? Here are some helpful tips:

Curriculum & Learning Outcomes

Explore the required curriculum and what learning outcomes you can expect with a degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a Concentration in Criminal Justice (AA).

Careers

While enrolled at Arrupe, you are encouraged to start connecting your interests and skills to different major and career options. Arrupe Career Services is dedicated to supporting students as they prepare for their career pursuits. There are many resources available to assist you:

  • Explore information about careers: The "What Can I Do With This Major?" tool helps you connect majors to a variety of career options and shares strategies to make you a more marketable candidate for the types of careers you want to pursue. You can access this resource within the “Career Tools” box on the Loyola Career Services website. CareerOneStop lets you explore careers and see detailed information about different occupations, including job descriptions, employment outlooks, typical salaries, education required, relevant skills, and more.
  • Browse information about college majors: Every college department has a website. Pick some majors that sound interesting, then visit their department websites. You can look at Loyola departments, or departments at other colleges and universities.
  • Explore your interests: Look for events sponsored by colleges or departments that interest you. You can also look for student organizations focused on your academic interests through LUCommunity.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Because Arrupe College is designed for students with limited financial resources, graduates leave with a high-quality Jesuit education and little to no debt. 

Start the financial aid process now.