Criminal Justice, Corrections, AAS

Program Code: AASCR
ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCE DEGREE

Corrections graduates possess the education and training to pursue careers as correctional officers in county jails, local corrections facilities, juvenile corrections facilities, the state correctional system, and federal correctional facilities. In addition, students who follow the MTA statewide college and university transfer agreement may pursue additional years of education at a senior institution to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and seek employment as a probation officer, parole officer, correctional caseworker, or social worker, which require a four-year degree.

Students in the Corrections Program may take classes in Corrections, Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Sociology, all of which are acceptable prerequisites for the required 15 hours of college credit required for employment by Michigan Department of Corrections. Students who complete an Associate’s Degree in Corrections are also eligible for promotions within the Michigan Department of Corrections. A complete listing of employment requirements for the Michigan Department of Corrections can be found on the MDOC link in the www.Michigan.gov web site.

Students should be aware that employment in the correctional field and entrance to the state and federal corrections academies does require an extensive background investigation and certain criminal convictions could prevent acceptance into these fields. Persons with either felony or misdemeanor criminal convictions should check with potential employers to determine employment restrictions.

Program Outcomes/Objectives:

When students complete this program, they will be able to:

1. identify and describe the different components of the United States Criminal Justice System,
2. identify and describe the different types of facilities used in the local, state, and federal correctional systems,
3. demonstrate the ability to write professional reports associated with correctional careers,
4. Differentiate the roles of probation and parole in the local, state, and federal correctional systems,
5. identify the requirements, processes, and challenges of entering a career in corrections,
6. demonstrate knowledge of the constitutional protections of those incarcerated or managed in local, state, and federal correctional systems, as well as the application of the constitutional protections in general correctional procedures.