Study in the field of criminal justice examines the component parts of criminal justice – police, courts, and corrections – and seeks to gain an understanding of the interdependencies among them. Courses emphasize the role of criminal justice agencies in society, particularly in relation to the impact of alternative criminal justice policies on society and social problems. The program prepares students as generalists in criminal justice and is well suited for those who want to pursue graduate work in criminal justice, law, public administration, and the social sciences.
Thousands of our graduates have gone on to careers with the public sector, private sector and non-profit organizations, including jobs such as FBI agent, intelligence analyst, police officer, evidence technician, border patrol agent, computer security expert, probation officer, customs inspector, and private investigator.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Curriculum Requirements | 33 | |
| Major Requirements | 45 | |
| General Electives | 42 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
General Curriculum Requirements
For courses that satisfy the distribution requirements in humanities, natural science, and social science, see the GER listing in the current Timetable. The UWM General Education Requirements apply to all students who were not enrolled in an accredited institution prior to 1986.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English | ||
| Refer to Proficiency Requirements in General Education Requirements. Contact a school advisor for specific information. | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Refer to Proficiency Requirements in General Education Requirements. Contact a school advisor for specific information. | ||
| Liberal Arts Foundation | ||
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Completion of two years of high school-level instruction in a single foreign language, or satisfactory completion of at least two semesters of a single foreign language, or approved demonstration of foreign language ability | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits of General Education-approved arts course in the history, philosophy, theory, or practice of the creative and interpretive arts | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Select 3 credits of General Education-approved humanities courses | 3 | |
| Natural Science | ||
| Select 6 credits of General Education-approved natural science courses to include a lab or field course | 6 | |
| Social Science | ||
| Select 6 credits of General Education-approved social science courses | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Major Requirements
Criminal justice intended majors spend their first two years building a liberal arts foundation and fulfilling proficiency requirements. Freshmen and sophomores may begin to take courses offered in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
Students must complete at least 120 credits to obtain the degree. The major in criminal justice requires a minimum of 45 credits in required courses and electives. The Department requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including transfer work, to meet graduation requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CRM JST 110 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM JST 271 | Introduction to Policing | 3 |
| CRM JST 273 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| CRM JST 275 | Introduction to Criminal Courts | 3 |
| CRM JST 305 | Criminological Theory and Policy | 3 |
| CRM JST 310 | Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM JST 662 | Methods of Social Welfare Research | 3 |
| CRM JST 663 | Criminal Justice Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| SOCIOL 261 | Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology | 3 |
| or INFOST 370 | Data Analysis and Visualization for the Information Professional | |
| Criminal Justice Electives | ||
| Select 18 credits 1 | 18 | |
| Fieldwork | ||
| Complete up to 6 credits 2 | 0-6 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
- 1
SOC WRK 100 and SOC WRK 306 count as electives in the criminal justice major.
- 2
Upon approval of the Criminal Justice Field Coordinator, the student may earn up to 6 credits of Criminal Justice electives for authorized field placements with various criminal justice agencies including police departments, court-related agencies, and correctional institutions.
General Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits towards the degree not counted in other categories will apply to General Electives. Classes counting towards General Electives may include, but are not limited to: | ||
| ENGLISH 100 | Introduction to College Writing and Reading | 4 |
| ENGLISH 101 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research | 3 |
| MATH 102 | Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | 3 |
| MATH 103 | Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 105 | Introduction to College Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 108 | Algebraic Literacy II | 3 |
| Foreign Language credits | ||
| Total Credits | 54 | |
Credits earned in HONORS 687 or HONORS 689 will not count towards the major.
Degree Requirements
An overall GPA (including non-UWM college work) of 2.0 and a total of 120 credits are needed for graduation. To receive the bachelor's degree with a criminal justice major, the student must complete at least 30 degree credits at UWM. At least 50% of the credits required for the Criminal Justice major must be earned at UWM.
Criminal Justice and Criminology BS Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the BS in Criminal Justice & Criminology Program will be able to:
- Understand foundational theories of crime and punishment, history, roles, and responsibilities within law enforcement, corrections, and the court system.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of issues within the criminal justice system, critically assessing and analyzing problems to propose realistic solutions.
- Apply criminological theories to predict and understand individual actions and criminal behavior.
- Analyze challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the criminal justice system, identifying and addressing social justice issues.
- Integrate ethical principles into decision-making, advocate for ethical and socially just practices, and propose solutions to current problems in criminal justice practice and policy.
- Critically assess issues within the criminal justice system, demonstrating advanced critical thinking and analytical skills in the capstone competencies.
- Identify, analyze, and propose solutions for current problems in criminal justice practice and policy, showcasing advanced critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Communicate effectively in both written and spoken forms, adhering to disciplinary conventions such as the most up-to-date reference style used by the department.
Undergraduate Academic Advising
The Office of Student Services in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, located in the , offers undergraduate student academic advising from professional advisors who are familiar with the Social Work and Criminal Justice & Criminology curriculum, College requirements, and university policies. Advisors can also provide information on scholarship opportunities, tutoring, and student organizations that align with a student's interests.
These advisors provide services such as new freshman orientation, course selection, assistance with registration, and review of transfer credit. Students are assigned to a permanent professional advisor upon admittance into the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare and are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor at least once each semester. Please call (414) 229-4852 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
Transfer Students
The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare welcomes students from other academic areas on the UWM campus and students transferring to UWM from other institutions. Students planning to transfer into either major from another institution should meet with an academic advisor as soon as they are admitted and the transfer credit evaluation process has been completed. During this meeting, the student and advisor will review transfer course equivalencies, discuss program requirements, and create an academic plan for coming semesters. Students may meet with their advisor in person or by phone. Please call (414) 229-4852 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
Accelerated Program Option
This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program. For more information, see Accelerated Graduate Degrees.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.500 or above in all major courses taken in residence at UWM. A minimum of 28 Social Work credits or 24 Criminal Justice credits completed in residence are needed to be considered for Honors in the Major.
High Honors in the Major
High Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.750 or above in all major courses taken in residence at UWM. A minimum of 28 Social Work credits or 24 Criminal Justice credits completed in residence are needed to be considered for Honors in the Major.
College of Community Engagement and Professions Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.