Administration of Justice

The Administration of Justice “AJ” Program is a unique program emphasizing academic and career education.  AJ prepares students for fields of justice, law, social work, non-profit, and private sector careers in law enforcement, the courts, corrections, forensic science, social services, and private security and corporate protection.  Likewise, for students seeking a two-year degree or aspiring to transfer to a four-year college/university or technical training institute, the program offers a robust and rigorous academic track.   

Mission:

The Mission of the AJ Program is to provide quality education to prepare a student’s academic or professional goals in law, justice, public policy, or private sector careers.  

The AJ Program accomplishes this mission by focusing on core competencies in Effective Communication, Critical Inquiry, Information Literacy, Social and Cultural Competency, and Ethical Intelligence.   It is through these core competencies, that students will be best prepared to meet educational and workforce demands in the 21st century.

Program Goals:

1. Prepare students for transfer to a four-year college/university or technical training institution.
2. Prepare students for workforce entry, including but not limited to, the police academy, probation academy, corrections academy, forensic science, or other career technical school related to law and justice.
3. Provide quality education for students seeking to enrich their knowledge and understanding of the law and justice in a global society.
   
   The AJ Program accomplishes its goals by ensuring a student-centered learning environment where access, opportunity and inclusion are core values and student education is our top priority.
    

Program Learning Outcomes:  Students completing this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication necessary in the criminal justice field.
2. Interpret and analyze  information, concepts, and theories of the criminal justice system from multiple perspectives.
3. Apply and integrate terminology, concepts, and practices of law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.
4. Evaluate ideas, values, and indicators of multiculturalism in the context and study of justice.
5. Analyze beliefs, thoughts, and/or actions related to the criminal justice system that are rooted in civility, social responsibility, and professional ethos.
    

The Associate of Arts degree in AJ is ideally suited for students who want to transfer to a four-year college or university and continue toward an advanced degree in criminal justice or other field of study.  The degree is beneficial for students who want to become professors in the criminal justice field, earn advanced degrees, work in criminal justice careers, or want to gain more knowledge about the law, justice, and society.

The Associate of Science degree in AJ is ideally suited for students who have either attended a Basic POST Academy or Basic POST Module I Academy or who plan to attend a Basic POST Academy and want to apply their academy units toward earning a degree.  Units earned from a Basic POST Academy are eligible as elective units in the major for the A.S. degree.

The Associate of Science degree for Transfer “ADT” in AJ is ideally suited for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college/university or want to pursue entry into the police academy or other training institute.  The ADT is approved by the State of California and aids in direct transfer to the California State University.  

The Associate of Science degree for Transfer in Law, Public Policy, and Society "LPPS" is ideally suited for students who want to transfer to a four-year college/university or enter the career field as attorneys, politicians, non-profit or advocacy workers, public policy makers, or social workers.  The ADT is approved by the State of California and aids in direct transfer to the California State University.

The Certificate of Achievement in Community Service Officer “CSO” is an academic certificate in a specialized area of study.  The Certificate of Achievement in CSO is ideally suited for students interested in joining a law enforcement agency as a CSO, private security officer, or for anyone who wants to earn a specialized certificate.

The Certificate of Achievement in CSO requires the completion of four courses – AJ-10, AJ-14, AJ-120, and AJ-139.  AJ-10, AJ-14, and AJ-120 are required or elective courses in the major, so students can earn this specialized certificate by taking just one additional course while also earning their associate degree.

Talk to your counselor or an AJ faculty expert to learn more about this amazing opportunity to complete a Certificate in one year!
 

The program offers sixteen courses, and each course has been curated to align with the academic degrees and certificates.  Courses are offered in sixteen or eight-week formats, in person or online modalities, and summer options. Talk to an academic counselor or one of our expert faculty on staff if you have questions.

See the complete catalog for  Administration of Justice Courses.

Students can earn college and high school credit under the Dual Enrollment Program.  All courses in the Administration of Justice program can be taken concurrently for high school and college credit.  Talk with your academic advisor at your high school to see how this program might benefit you and accelerate your educational journey.  To learn more about this opportunity please watch the video. 

The Administration of Justice program offers many courses for you to choose from.  Be sure to consider your Educational Plan and Academic and Career Goals when selecting courses. Get the advice of an academic counselor or talk with one of our expert faculty on staff if you have questions.  

Visit our course schedule to find a class that interests you!
 

There are many paths to success and we hope you will learn about all the amazing possibilities available to you whether it is taking courses to transfer, taking courses to enter the workforce, or taking courses for personal enrichment.  One of our main goals in the AJ program is your success and that requires A Partnership in Learning. 

We want to challenge you to take an active and intentional role in your journey of success by planning your educational pathway today. 

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

• Career Academic Pathways (CAPS)
• Guided Pathways

AJ Sample Degree Maps

• Administration of Justice (AS-T)
• Administration of Justice (AA)
• Administration of Justice (AS)
• Community Service Officer (COA)

Working in law enforcement requires both academic and technical preparedness.  At EVC, you can gain the necessary academic requirements to start your career.  If you want to work in the Federal system of law enforcement for agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigations “FBI,” Drug Enforcement Agency “DEA,” Secret Service, etc., you will need a four-year degree.  If you want to work for a state agency like the California Highway Patrol or a local agency such as the San Jose Police Department, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s department, etc., you will need an associate’s degree.

Check out some of the careers available with an AJ degree, and be sure to review specific agencies for their minimum job qualifications.

 I Want to Be a Police Officer in California

Visit the California Peace Officer Standards and Training website for minimum requirements to be a peace officer. 

I want to be a Probation Officer for the County of Santa Clara

I want to be a Correctional Officer 

I want to be a Juvenile Group Counselor for the County of Santa Clara 

Be sure to communicate with a counselor to ensure you are on the correct academic track depending on your transfer goals.  For example, transferring to the California University system requires different courses than the California State system.  Be prepared and know your academic path!

Transfer Success Pathway
 

• The Academy South Bay Regional Public Safety Training-information on training programs (law enforcement, EMT, Paramedic, and Fire Services)
• State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)- information on certification, training, and job opportunities.
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations
• U.S. Department of Justice job opportunities
• State of California Department of Justice job opportunities
• County of Santa Clara job opportunities
• County of Santa Clara Pretrial Services Internship Program

• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
• DEA: US Drug Enforcement Administration
• Deputy Sheriff
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Agent
• Homeland Security (Border Patrol Agents, Criminal
• Investigators, Special Agents)
• Criminal Investigators (Internal Revenue Service, Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Postal Service,)
• Police Officers
• U.S. Marshall Service
• U.S Park Police
• U.S. Secret Service
   

• Attorney/Lawyer
• Deputy Sherriff/Bailiff
• Courtroom Clerk
• Court Collection Officer
• Paralegal

• Deputy Probation Officer
• Correctional Officer
• Parole Officer
• Probation Counselor (Juvenile Hall or Juvenile
• Rehabilitation Facility)
• Pre-Trial Services Officer
• Re-Entry Counselor

• Retail Security (Loss Prevention)
• Armed Security
• Corporate Protection

• Behavioral Health Peer Support Worker
• Child Support Officer
• Deputy Public Guardian
• Social Worker

• Housing Specialist
• Residential Counselor
• System Navigator
• Peer Support

• Counseling
• DSP
• Financial Aid
• Health and Wellness
• Veteran’s Affairs
• Lap Top Computer – Loaner Program
• California Community College Student Resources
• Undoc Resource Center

• CPR/First Aid 
• SJSU