Mar 28, 2026  
2026-2027 Academic Catalog 
    
2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Criminal Justice (A.A.)*

Location(s): Springfield Campus, Online


A.A. Degree: 60 Hours

The Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice provides a directed path of study for transfer to institutions offering baccalaureate and degrees in Criminal Justice and Criminology.  The degree also provides the academic background required to secure entry level employment options in a variety of criminal justice and human service positions.

General Education Requirements - 42 Credit Hours


Mathematical Sciences - 3 Credit Hours


Complete three (3) credit hours minimum. Mathematical Sciences courses that use one of the pathways courses as a prerequisite will meet the general education credit for math. For example, Calculus meets the general education math requirement since Pre-Calculus Algebra is a prerequisite.

Written Communication - 6 Credit Hours


Complete six (6) credit hours minimum.

Oral Communication - 3 Credit Hours


Complete three (3) credit hours minimum.

Humanities and Fine Arts - 9 Credit Hours


Complete nine (9) credit hours minimum, from at least two (2) disciplines. There is a limit of three (3) credit hours of Performance (PERF) courses that can be applied to the Humanities & Fine Arts Knowledge Area and to the total CORE 42.

Natural Sciences - 7 Credit Hours


Complete seven (7) credit hours minimum, from at least two (2) disciplines, including one course with a lab component.

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 9 Credit Hours


Complete nine (9) credit hours minimum, from at least two (2) disciplines, including at least one Civics course. Note that the civics requirement in CORE 42 is different from and does not fulfill the requirements of RSMo 170.013, Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination.

Core Electives - 5 Credit Hours


Any course with an approved MOTR number  or excess hours from a MOTR approved course can be utilized to fulfill the Core electives requirement. Note that there is a limit of three (3) credit hours of Performance (PERF) courses that can be applied to the Humanities & Fine Arts Knowledge Area and to the total CORE 42. 

Criminal Justice Requirements - 18 Credit Hours


Institutional Electives - 3 Credit Hours


Students will complete 3 credit hours of elective coursework from any college-level course numbered 100 or higher. Elective credit may include approved transfer courses that do not have a direct Ozarks Tech course equivalency but are determined to be at the appropriate college level.