Criminal Justice and Criminology, BS

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

Preparatory Coursework

Based on individual placement results, some students may be required to complete preparatory coursework before enrolling in the courses listed here. This may include English language or composition preparation, developmental math, introductory chemistry, and/or student support courses for students participating in the First Year Bridge program. 

General Education Requirements (GER)

UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s or associate degree. They include at minimum 30 credits (10 courses) in six categories that are designed to assure basic student competencies and provide a broad body of knowledge as a context for specialization.

Some degree requirements may fulfill GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.   

Major Requirements

Criminal justice intended majors spend their first two years building a liberal arts foundation and fulfilling proficiency requirements. First-year students 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 48 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.

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SOC WRK 662 counts as CRM JST 662 for dual-majors.

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SOC WRK 100 and SOC WRK 306 count as electives in the criminal justice major.

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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

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: 

1. Understand foundational theories of crime and punishment, history, roles, and responsibilities within law enforcement, corrections, and the court system. 
2. Develop a comprehensive understanding of issues within the criminal justice system, critically assessing and analyzing problems to propose realistic solutions. 
3. Apply criminological theories to predict and understand individual actions and criminal behavior. 
4. Analyze challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the criminal justice system, identifying and addressing social justice issues. 
5. 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. 
6. Critically assess issues within the criminal justice system, demonstrating advanced critical thinking and analytical skills in the capstone competencies. 
7. Identify, analyze, and propose solutions for current problems in criminal justice practice and policy, showcasing advanced critical thinking and analytical skills. 
8. 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 Northwest Quadrant Building D 3rd Floor, 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 first-year student 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.

Criminal Justice and Criminology, BS/Criminal Justice and Criminology, MS

This accelerated graduate degree involves the following bachelor’s and master’s degrees: Criminal Justice & Criminology, BS, and Criminal Justice & Criminology, MS. There are 6 forward-shared credits and 15 backward-shared credits for a total of 21 shared credits.

Eligible Shared Courses

All courses listed below can be backward shared to fulfill a major elective or general elective for the bachelor's degree.

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This course may be forward shared. 

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CRM JST 671G would count as a major requirement for the bachelor's degree when it is backward shared.

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CRM JST 970 (special topics) can only be taken if the student has not already taken the topic as an undergraduate elective (i.e. Criminal Evidence and Investigation, Violence and the Criminal Justice System).

Undergraduate Requirements

The Criminal Justice and Criminology Department’s graduate program coordinator and undergraduate academic advisors from the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare will be responsible for advising students in the accelerated program. For enrollment in graduate-level courses during an undergraduate career that may be forward shared toward the MS in Criminal Justice & Criminology, the Accelerated Graduate Degree in Criminal Justice & Criminology requires students meet the following additional criteria:

• a student must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and a GPA of at least 3.25 in the major area of study
• junior standing (58+ credits)
• prior completion of CRM JST 110, CRM JST 271, CRM JST 273, CRM JST 275, CRM JST 305 courses

Approved enrollment into graduate-level coursework during an undergraduate career does not guarantee admission to the MS in Criminal Justice & Criminology as part of the Accelerated Graduate Degree. These courses fulfill requirements for the BS in Criminal Justice & Criminology regardless of acceptance into Graduate School. Students apply for Graduate School as indicated below. Per usual UWM Graduate School criteria, students must obtain a “B” or better in all courses taken at the graduate level that are to be counted toward a Master’s degree.

Graduate School Admission Requirements

Admission to the MS in Criminal Justice & Criminology as part of the Accelerated Graduate Degree is guaranteed. Students typically apply by February of the junior year. To be considered for admission into the Graduate School prior to completing their Bachelor's degree, students must do the following:

• Meet the standard UWM Graduate School admission requirements (except for the completion of a Bachelor's degree).
• Meet the standard application requirements for a MS in Criminal Justice & Criminology.

• Be in progress to complete 105 bachelor’s credits prior to their first term as a graduate student.

Students who do not satisfactorily meet admissions criteria for the MS in Criminal Justice & Criminology are eligible to continue with their BS in Criminal Justice & Criminology major, provided they continue to meet those standards.

Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan below illustrates how students can progress through their undergraduate degree and transition into an Accelerated Graduate Degree (AGD). It provides an example of when undergraduate and graduate-level coursework may be completed and how shared credits can be applied toward both degrees. This is a sample plan, not a required course sequence, and your plan may vary. Work with your undergraduate advisor to develop an individualized plan and confirm all Accelerated Graduate Degree requirements.

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CRM JST Elective can be any non-required Criminal Justice course.

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General Electives are any University course. Can be used for an additional major, minor, or certificate. 

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Share credit forward to graduate career.

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Share credit backward to undergraduate career.

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CRM JST 970 (Special Topics) can only be taken if the student has not already taken the topic as an undergraduate elective (i.e. Criminal Evidence and Investigation, Violence and the Criminal Justice System).

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 3.50 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.