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
Degree
Pathway
Humanities and Social Sciences
Additional Program Option
Hybrid
Credits
64

Learning outcomes

  1. Explain the philosophy, goals, concepts and practices of the major components of the criminal justice system.
  2. Explain some of the due process protections given to citizens as articulated in the U.S. Constitution.
  3. Explain some of the due process protection given to citizens as articulated in major Supreme Court decisions.
  4. Explain some responses to criminal behavior as they relate to the four theories of punishment (retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation and incapacitation).
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of how crime data is collected and analyzed.
  6. Describe a variety of psychological, social, cultural and environmental factors that may affect criminal behavior.
  7. Demonstrate academic skills required of all SUNY Adirondack graduates, including competency in critical thinking, writing, research, information literacy and oral communication.
  8. 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.

Degree requirements and sample schedule

High-demand work

SUNY ADK's Criminal Justice degree programs prepare graduates for entry into the workforce. College-educated justice officials are in high demand.

A professor teaches students in a Criminal Justice class

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

Retired State Police Special Investigator Mike Wells

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

$118k

average salary

for detectives and criminal investigators in New York state

$82k

average salary

of police and sheriff's officers in New York state

$75k

average salary

of corrections officers in New York state

Safe environment

Albany County Sheriff's Officer Kayla Apple stands beside a police car, with a canine officer
Quotation

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."

Kayla Apple Albany County Sheriff first sergeant 2010