SKYLINE COLLEGE
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE PROGRAM

The Administration of Justice Program is a department in the Skyline College Social Science/Creative Arts Division. The following statement outlines the mission, goals, and student learning outcomes concerning the Administration of Justice Program.


Program Mission Statement



The mission of the Administration of Justice Associate of Arts Degree Program is to provide students with a multi-disciplinary course of study of the highest standards that emphasizes critical thinking, the ability to effectively communicate in written and oral form, a substantive and practical knowledge basis in the area of justice administration, and a commitment to lifelong learning that will enable them to think critically about the problems and issues of crime and justice, both as citizens and as professional workers in the criminal justice field.

Program Goals



• Provide excellent instruction by experienced and highly qualified staff using a quality curriculum for undergraduate students in the field of criminal justice that will equip them with the necessary skills to successfully transition from school to work and/or further educational or personal enrichment pursuits.

• Provide a broad selection of contemporary criminal justice courses that will enable students to learn the fundamental and advanced concepts of a variety of learning domains within the discipline of criminal justice.

• Encourage and support faculty research, collaboration, faculty-student interactions, and other professional activities that enhance faculty skills and expertise, as well as student learning and development.

• Provide a range of service activities within the college and in the larger community to apply academic knowledge to practical problems concerning crime and criminal justice, build a strong partnership between the college and the surrounding community, and to contribute to efforts by the college and the larger community to improve the quality of life for all concerned.


Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s)


Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the history, development, structure, and functions of the American criminal justice system, which consists of such major components as law enforcement, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice.

• Distinguish how the major criminal justice institutions respond to crime, victims of crime, suspects who commit crime, and the effects of crime on society as a whole.

• Critically analyze, interpret, and evaluate criminological/criminal justice theories, policies, practices, and procedures that offer various explanations and/or understandings of why crime occurs, and to apply them to develop strategies that explain why people commit criminal acts and how to control and/or prevent crime.

• Conduct research to explore theories, special issues, and case studies involving such criminology/criminal justice issues as crime and punishment, law enforcement practices and strategies, judicial procedures, and Constitutional issues on crime control and due process.

• Apply criminological/criminal justice theories, principles, and concepts to address real life problems and situations in the criminal justice field.

• Demonstrate strong and effective written and oral communication skills.

• Identify career and/or educational options in criminal justice, and formulate an action plan to successfully pursue and attain those goals.

• Recognize the importance of, and practice, legal and ethical behavior in a professional criminal justice work setting.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the diverse and multicultural nature of American society, and their relevance to criminal justice.