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Criminal Justice Field of Study (For transfer to National University, BS in Criminal Justice Administration)

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Program Available at:

  • Brookhaven
  • Cedar Valley
  • Eastfield
  • El Centro
  • Mountain View
  • North Lake
  • Richland

Transferrable to:

  • National University

Catalog Year 2021-2022 You may use this pathway if you entered Dallas College on or before this date.

Degree Type Field of Study

GPA Requirement Student must earn a GPA of 2.0 or higher

TSI Must be Complete

For more information, visit the Dallas College Criminal Justice webpage and your success coach at your campus.

This guided pathway is designed to meet the needs of students who plan to major in Criminal Justice at a university. An Associate of Arts degree in this pathway prepares you to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor's degree that opens the door to a career in corrections, probation, government and private security settings.

This is an example course sequence for students interested in Criminal Justice. It does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. Following this pathway will help you earn an A.A. degree with a Field of Study in Criminal Justice, which will increase your chances of transfer to National University (NU) to earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours (15 hours) required for graduation through instruction by Dallas College. See catalog for official degree requirements.

Visit National University to view more information about transferring to National University. Speak with your success coach to choose courses that will help you to transfer to NU.

SEMESTER-BY-SEMESTER MAP FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS

All plans can be modified to fit the needs of part-time students. This is not an official degree plan. See catalog for official degree requirements.

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS FIELD OF STUDY DEGREE MINIMUM: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS

SEMESTER 1

ENGL 1301 – Composition I This is a Core course. Must earn a grade of “C" or higher.

HIST 1301 – United States History I This is a Core course.

MATHEMATICS X3XX Core Elective* This is a Core course. Must earn a grade of “C" or higher.

CRIJ 1301 – Introduction to Criminal Justice This is a required Field of Study course.

PHED 1164 – Introduction to Physical Fitness and Wellness* This is a Core course.

CHOOSE ONE:

  • SPCH 1311 – Introduction to Speech Communication* This is a Core course. OR
  • SPCH 1315 – Public Speaking* This is a Core course OR
  • SPCH 1321 – Business and Professional Communication* This is a Core course.

* There are several options to fulfill this requirement. See your success coach for a specific list.

SEMESTER 1 ACTION ITEMS

  1. Meet with your success coach to confirm academic and career goals before the end of the semester.
  2. At the end of the semester, begin researching information at NU.
  3. Meet with your success coach to research your career options with a degree in Criminal Justice.

    ​Total Hours: 16​

SEMESTER 2

ENGL 1302 – Composition II This is a Core course.

HIST 1302 – United States History II* This is a Core course.

CRIJ 1307 – Crime in America This is a Required Criminal Justice course.

CRIJ 1306 – Court Systems and Practices This is a required Field of Study course.

SOCI 1301 – Introduction to Sociology* This is a Core course.

* There are several options to fulfill this requirement. See your success coach for a specific list.

SEMESTER 2 ACTION ITEMS

  1. Meet with your success coach to request an official program of study audit and confirm or update your academic/career pathway and program of study.
  2. Ask your success coach about transfer options to pursue the bachelor's degree.

    Total Hours: 15

SEMESTER 3

LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE ELECTIVE* This is a Core course.

GOVT 2305 – Federal Government This is a Core course.

CREATIVE ARTS ELECTIVE* This is a Core course.

LANGUAGE, PHILOSOPHY, and CULTURE ELECTIVE* This is a Core course.

CRIJ 1310 – Fundamentals of Criminal Law This is a required Field of Study course.

* There are several options to fulfill this requirement. See your success coach for a specific list.

SEMESTER 3 ACTION ITEMS

  1. Begin applying to NU.
  2. Begin applying for Financial Aid and Scholarships. You can start the FAFSA in October for the next academic year. (i.e., in October 2021, you can complete the FAFSA if you plan to register for classes at a university Fall 2022)
  3. Check with your success coach for important deadlines and dates.

    Total Hours: 16

SEMESTER 4

LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE ELECTIVE* This is a Core course.

GOVT 2306 – Texas Government This is a Core course.

CRIJ 2313 – Correctional Systems and Practices This is a required Field of Study course.

CRIJ 2328 – Police Systems and Practices This is a required Field of Study course.

* There are several options to fulfill this requirement. See your success coach for a specific list.

SEMESTER 4 ACTION ITEMS

  1. After reviewing your degree plan and program of study, meet with your success coach to apply for the Associate of Arts degree with the Criminal Justice Field of Study.
  2. Sign up for commencement.
  3. Request final transcripts to be sent to NU.
  4. Join the Alumni Network!

    Total Hours: 13​  

DALLAS COLLEGE PATHWAY TOTAL: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS

National University

For questions about the National University portion of this transfer pathway, contact the Academic Advising Office at (855) 355-6288 or advisor@nu.edu. It is best to apply to National University a full semester before you plan to transfer. It will help if you submit a copy of this pathway with your application. Each class at National University is one month (4 weeks) long. Students take one class per month. Students can complete 6 courses during each semester. Each class is 4.5 quarter units, which is equivalent to 3 semester units at Dallas College. See catalog for official degree requirements.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION

SEMESTER 1

CJA 337 – The Juvenile Offender (4 weeks)

CJA 431 – Criminology (4 weeks)

CJA 340* – Corrections (4 weeks)

CJA 446* – CJ Management and Leadership (4 weeks)

CJA 351* – Courts & the Judicial Process (4 weeks)

CJA 352* – Criminal Law and Procedure (4 weeks)

*PRIOR LEARNING CREDIT ELIGIBLE COURSE

Total Hours: 27 quarter units

SEMESTER 2

CJA 453 – Ethics and the CJ System (4 weeks)

CJA 460* – Principles of Investigation (4 weeks)

CJA 470 – Criminal Justice Capstone (4 weeks)

**One Upper Division Electives course (4 weeks)

**One Upper Division Electives course (4 weeks)

**One Upper Division Electives course (4 weeks)

*PRIOR LEARNING CREDIT ELIGIBLE COURSE

**Please see program catalog for the Recommended Upper Division courses and Upper Division GE courses.

​Total Hours: 27 quarter units​

SEMESTER 3

*One Upper Division Electives course (4 weeks)

*One Upper Division Electives course (4 weeks)

*One Upper Division Electives course (4 weeks)

*One Upper Division Electives course (4 weeks)

*One General Education Upper Division (4 weeks)

*Please see program catalog for the Recommended Upper Division courses and Upper Division GE courses.

​Total Hours: 22.5 quarter units  

Note: In addition to Preparatory, Major Core, and Upper Division/Concentration Courses for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration at National University, all students are required to complete 70.5 quarter units of General Education. Students completing the Associate of Arts with a Field of Study in Criminal Justice at Dallas College will need to complete an additional estimated 22.5 quarter units (15 semester units) of GE to meet program and unit requirements. For more information, please see National University's catalog.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY PATHWAY TOTAL: 76.5 QUARTER UNITS

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE MINIMUM: 180 QUARTER UNITS

(Transfer Pathway Approved 9.8.2021 by National University)

Updated August 7, 2025