Administration of Justice

Professional/Technical Program Advisor
Jackie Landsem
360.383.3080

ADMJ Program Coordinator
John Taylor
Kulshan Hall, Room 107
360.383.3854

Information Session

Tuesday, October 13, 2009
1:00-2:00pm in LDC 203

You are encouraged to attend an information session or contact the Professional/Technical advisor listed above for planning help.

Degree Information [PDF Format]

Associate in Science Degree / Administration of Justice

Certificate / Administration of Justice

What is the Administration of Justice program?

Students who complete the Administration of Justice (ADMJ) program at Whatcom Community College can choose to receive an Associate in Science degree or a certificate. The degree contains Core Requirement courses, a choice of two different Specialty Requirements for more focused study, and Related Instruction/General Education courses. Students must complete all Core Requirements, one Specialty Requirement, and all Related Instruction/General Education courses for a total of at least 90 degree credits.  The certificate is designed for students who either have a previous degree or who wish to start more quickly in an entry-level job. 

There are two options in the degree for more focused study:

1. General - a selection of academic coursework which concentrates on knowledge important in the field of Administration of Justice.

2. Computer Forensics - a selection of courses that introduce students to a specialized field of law enforcement.

Many students pursuing Administration of Justice want to maximize the transferability of their course work to the university/four-year college system. Students can earn both the ADMJ degree and the Associate in Arts and Sciences (AAS transfer) degree with a minimum of extra credits. Also, students in the AAS transfer degree program can use a limited number of ADMJ classes as electives. For either of these plans of action, we strongly recommend that students use WCC's advising services in developing their educational plan.

What can I do with a degree in Administration of Justice?

References available in the Career Center (Laidlaw Center Room 117):

• Barron's Guide to Homeland Security Careers
• Barron's Guide to Law Enforcement Careers
• Careers in Focus: Public Safety
• Great Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors
• Opportunities in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Careers Federal Jobs in Law Enforcement

Graduates from associate degree ADMJ programs work for county and municipal governments as patrol officers, deputies, correctional officers and security specialists. Federal and state jobs include park rangers, fish and wildlife officers, and immigration inspectors. Jobs are available through the private sector in security and protective services. Some jobs in this field require a bachelors degree; others involve a combination of education and on-the-job training.

What are the prerequisites?

College level writing skills are required for enrollment in the introductory CJ& 101 (ADMJ 100) course. New students are requested to complete the college's assessment/placement testing to determine writing level. If you are transferring English credit from another college, you will need to provide a copy of your transcript to an advisor to be able to register for CJ& 101 (ADMJ 100).

While not a prerequisite for entry into ADMJ courses, students should be aware that there are special employment conditions in this career field that may include criminal background checks, lie detector tests, physical fitness standards and psychological testing.

What is the application process?

Apply to WCC online.

If you are unable to apply online, request a WCC application by email at , by phone (360) 383-3001 or in person at the Entry/Advising Office, LDC 116.

There is no special program application for the Administration of Justice program.

It is recommended that students see the Professional Technical program advisor to plan their educational program. Call (360) 383-3080 to set up an advising appointment.

Will the ADMJ Degree transfer to a four-year college or university?

The Associate in Science in Administration of Justice (AS ADMJ) is not a transferable degree. Many students, who are interested in this field, also want to keep the transfer option open. We recommend completing one of the following plans:

• Work on both the ADMJ degree and the transfer degree at the same time. With good planning, this can be done with a minimum of extra credits.
• Complete the transfer degree using ADMJ classes to fill some of the elective requirements.

Advisors are available to help you with your educational planning.

Students interested in the ADMJ field who are in the transfer degree program, can consider including the following WCC classes in their transfer degree: CJ& 101 (ADMJ 100); CJ& 110 (ADMJ 104); ADMJ 206, 240, and 245; ENGL& 230 (ENGL 205); PHIL 130; CMST (SPCH) 225; SOC& 101 (SOCIO 110), SOC (SOCIO) 250 and PSYC& 100 (PSYCH 110).

What is the employment outlook?

In general, the occupations included in this field are expected to grow as fast as the average in Washington State: 3%-6% by 2012. This information is available from WOIS/The Career Information System 2004-2005.

How long does the degree take to complete?

The Associate in Science degree is 90 degree credits. Many students have additional credits that must be taken in order to be ready for college-level English and Math courses. Also, many students take longer than two years to complete an Associate degree because of part-time or full-time work schedules.