Criminal Justice: Police Science
SUNY Adirondack's Police Science degree program studies the U.S. criminal justice system. Our Police Science program merges criminal justice with functional knowledge of law enforcement.
- Degree
- Associate in Science
- Program Type
-
Career-oriented degrees
- Pathway
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Additional Program Option
- Hybrid
- Credits
- 64
Learning outcomes
- Explain the philosophy, goals, concepts and practices of the major components of the criminal justice system.
- Explain some of the due process protections given to citizens as articulated in the U.S. Constitution.
- Explain some of the due process protection given to citizens as articulated in major Supreme Court decisions.
- Explain some responses to criminal behavior as they relate to the four theories of punishment (retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation and incapacitation).
- Demonstrate an understanding of how crime data is collected and analyzed.
- Describe a variety of psychological, social, cultural and environmental factors that may affect criminal behavior.
- Demonstrate academic skills required of all SUNY Adirondack graduates, including competency in critical thinking, writing, research, information literacy and oral communication.
- Identify career and/or transfer options.
Curriculum and requirements
Students learn law enforcement techniques on the local, state, federal and national levels. This program starts with fundamental classes in history, sociology, government and law. Then, the program advances you toward a thorough understanding of criminology.
Unlocking success
SUNY Adirondack's Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for further education. This program seamlessly transfers to SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury. The most popular transfer institutions for this program include: John Jay College | The University at Albany | SUNY Canton | University of New Haven | Niagara University | Hilbert College
Career opportunities
"Anybody looking at this career, there's so much you can do. There are so many opportunities: You can fly a helicopter; be a dog handler; if you're a computer guy, you can take off in that direction; or get into crime scene investigation. I've been lucky to have seen almost every aspect of the criminal justice system." — Mike Wells, 1986 graduate of SUNY Adirondack, U.S. Marine veteran, retired New York State Police senior investigator and current district attorney's office investigator
Careers in Criminal Justice: Police Science
SUNY ADK advantage
average salary
for detectives and criminal investigators in New York state
average salary
of police and sheriff's officers in New York state
average salary
of corrections officers in New York state
Safe environment
I grew up in Schuylerville, which is so small, and SUNY Adirondack works so well for those small-town kids. I felt right at home."
