Administration of Justice (AST)
Program Overview:
Protect Communities and Promote Rehabilitation
Develop a treatment plan for a client who was recently released from a drug rehabilitation center. Monitor a neighborhood with frequent cases of burglaries. Maintain safe and humane living conditions for convicted persons in correctional facilities. Create a legal defense for an innocent man accused of stealing a car. Careers in the administration of justice create endless opportunities to impact communities in protecting them from crime, guiding them through the legal system, and maintaining safety and security.
Administration of Justice can lead to very rewarding careers, giving you the opportunity to help your community on a daily basis. This subject focuses on all aspects of the American legal system to help protect those who are innocent and provide appropriate actions for those who are found guilty. It also looks at criminal justice reform and ways to deconstruct and rebuild a system with inherent racial biases and prejudices to create a more fair and just system. The system as a whole is at the forefront of revolutionary changes, and with a degree in Administration of Justice, you can lead the way to create a more ethically-balanced system.
Careers in Administration of Justice
People with careers in administration of justice and criminal reform work are not only found in law enforcement, but also in areas, such as social work, forensic science, and law.
Here are some careers and their salaries you could have with an Administration of Justice degree:
Career information below taken from bls.gov December 2019. Go to bls.gov for most current career information.
Assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $85,470/year | $41.09/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 9% increase (faster than average) | 5,210 |
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work | $61,570/year | $29.60/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 7% increase (as fast as average) | 5,670 |
Prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters or other emergencies. They also help lead the response during and after emergencies.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $120,760/year | $58.06/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| 5 years or more | 0% increase (little or no change) | 190 |
Facilitate negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties to help resolve conflicts outside of the court system.
Data for state of California
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $97,430/year | $46.84/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| Less than 5 years | 7% increase (as fast as average) | 860 |
Apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | $141,020/year | $67.80/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| 5 years or more | 0% increase (little or no change) | 500 |
What You’ll Learn at LASC in Administration of Justice
You can get Associate in Science for Transfer (AST), Associate in Arts (AA), and Associate in Art in Liberal Arts (AA) degrees through LASC’s Administration of Justice program where you will cultivate both empathy and a passion for justice:
- Develop a wide-ranging understanding of the interrelationships between the courts, law enforcement, and corrections so you can analyze a broad range of situations within your field.
- Understand the timeline and sequence of events necessary to determining the admissibility or suppression of evidence, and the vital role that evidence plays in investigations.
- Discover the complexities surrounding the perception of law enforcement, and compare and contrast information related to the roles of law enforcement in local communities.
- LASC provides internships so you can build your career connections and create community ties for after you graduate.
- To transfer to a four-year university or college with your Associate in Science for Transfer (AST) degree in Administration of Justice, you'll have guaranteed admission into a CSU! Plus, you’ll save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars learning from LASC's engaging, motivated faculty your first two years of college than if you attended a university all four years.
Degrees & Courses You Will Take
Review LASC’s Associate in Science for Transfer (AST), Associate in Arts (AA), and Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts (AA) degrees in Administration of Justice below, along with our suggested course of study for these programs. Go to LASC’s current Course Catalog for specific course information:
Major Code: 2105.00
Total Units Required: 60
If you are planning to transfer to a CSU or UC, then an Associate in Science in Administration of Justice is for you! You can complete an Associate in Science for Transfer Degree (AST) in Administration of Justice if you planning to transfer to a CSU Administration of Justice bachelor’s program, and by successfully completing this degree, you are guaranteed admission to a CSU upon completion of this program!
The Associate in Science in Administration of Justice for Transfer Degree requirements include:
- completion of 60 CSU transferable units, including the minimum 18 units in the major and the completion of either IGETC or CSU GE;
- a minimum GPA of 2.0.
If you are interested in completing an Associate Degree for Transfer, you must:
- Complete 60 semester units of 90-quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following: *
- The Intersegmental General Education Transfer curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements:
- A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
*As required by Senate Bill 1440 & California Education Code section 66746
ADTs also require that you must earn a C or better in all courses required for the major area of emphasis. A “P” (Pass) grade is not an acceptable grade for courses in the major.
You should meet with a counselor to determine the necessary course work to complete the general education requirements.
| Required Courses | Units |
|---|---|
| ADM JUS 1 Introduction to Administration of Justice | 3 |
| ADM JUS 2 Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| List A: Two Courses (6 Units) | |
| ADM JUS 3 Legal Aspects of Evidence | 3 |
| ADM JUS 5 Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| ADM JUS 67 Community Relations | 3 |
| ADM JUS 8 Juvenile Procedures | 3 |
| List B: Two Courses (minimum of 6 units) | |
| SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| MATH 227 Statistics | 4 |
| PSYCH 1 General Psychology I | 3 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 18-19 |
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:
- Analyze the interrelationships between the courts, law enforcement, and corrections.
- Demonstrate the sequence of events necessary in determining admissibility or suppression of evidence.
- Analyze basic legal definitions of criminal justice law.
- Compare and contrast information obtained to maintain a balanced perception of law enforcement.
| Required Courses: | Units |
|---|---|
| ADM JUS 1 Introduction to Administration of Justice | 3 |
| ADM JUS 2 Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| ADM JUS 3 Legal Aspects of Evidence | 3 |
| ADM JUS 4 Principles and Procedures of the Justice System | 3 |
| ADM JUS 5 Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| ADM JUS 6 Patrol Procedures | 3 |
| ADM JUS 14 Report Writing for Peace Officers | 3 |
| ADM JUS 67 Community Relations I | 3 |
| ADM JUS 310 Field Work I | 3 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 27 |
| Recommended Electives: | Units |
|---|---|
| ADM JUS 8 Juvenile Procedures | 3 |
| ADM JUS 16 Recruitment Selection Process | 3 |
| ADM JUS 62 Fingerprint Classification | 3 |
| ADM JUS 63 Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| ADM JUS 73 Law & Minority Groups | 3 |
| ADM JUS 75 Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| ADM JUS 83 Introduction to Security | 3 |
| MATH 227 Statistics | 4 |
| MATH 235 Finite Mathematics | 5 |
| OR | |
| PHILOS 8 Deductive Logic | 3 |
| POL SCI 1 The Government of the United States | 3 |
| PSYCH 1 General Psychology I | 3 |
| SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SPAN 14 Spanish for Public Service Personnel | 3 |
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:
- Analyze the interrelationships between the courts, law enforcement, and corrections.
- Demonstrate the sequence of events necessary in determining admissibility or suppression of evidence.
- Analyze basic legal definitions of criminal justice law.
- Compare and contrast information obtained to maintain a balanced perception of law enforcement.
| Required Courses: | Units |
|---|---|
| ADM JUS 1 Introduction to Administration of Justice | 3 |
| ADM JUS 2 Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| ADM JUS 3 Legal Aspects of Evidence | 3 |
| ADM JUS 5 Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| Additional Requirements | (Choose and complete 6 additional units) |
| ADM JUS 4 Principles and Procedures of the Justice System | 3 |
| ADM JUS 6 Patrol Procedures | 3 |
| ADM JUS 14 Report Writing for Peace Officers | 3 |
| ADM JUS 62 Fingerprint Classification | 3 |
| ADM JUS 67 Community Relations I | 3 |
| ADM JUS 73 Law & Minority Groups | 3 |
| ADM JUS 75 Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 18 |
Get Ready Before You Start
Ready for a career in administration of justice? You can start preparing for it before your first class begins at LASC:
- Make an appointment with your LASC academic counselor to review LASC’s program, start to develop a Student Education Plan (SEP), and discuss your career goals along with which four-year universities and colleges would be the best fit for your future plans.
- Still in high school? Look for opportunities to volunteer and make positive impacts on wide-ranging issues in your community. Talk with your high school counselor to see if there are opportunities to go on a ride-along with a police officer or shadow a social worker for the day. Look for summer opportunities in your local community service organizations where you can learn more, and gain experience in your future career.
- Once you’re at LASC, make sure to get involved with on-campus clubs and organizations, become a student ambassador, or run for student body government. These create new relationships and show potential employers your commitment to strengthening your writing, communication, and leadership skills.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:
- Analyze the interrelationships between the courts, law enforcement, and corrections.
- Demonstrate the sequence of events necessary in determining admissibility or suppression of evidence.
- Analyze basic legal definitions of criminal justice law.
- Compare and contrast information obtained to maintain a balanced perception of law enforcement.