Program Overview

---

Introduction to the Criminal Justice and Criminology Program

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a comprehensive program in Criminal Justice and Criminology, designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the criminal justice system and its various components. The program prepares students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, and related fields, as well as for graduate study in criminal justice, law, and the social sciences.

Program Overview

The Criminal Justice and Criminology program examines the interdependencies among the component parts of the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections. 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 is well-suited for students who want to pursue graduate work in criminal justice, law, public administration, and the social sciences.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program 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

The program requires a minimum of 120 credits to obtain the degree, including:

• General Curriculum Requirements: 33 credits
• Major Requirements: 45 credits
• General Electives: 42 credits

General Curriculum Requirements

The General Curriculum Requirements include:

• English: proficiency requirements
• Mathematics: proficiency requirements
• Liberal Arts Foundation: UWM Foreign Language Requirement, UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement
• Arts: 3 credits of General Education-approved arts course
• Humanities: 3 credits of General Education-approved humanities courses, including COMMUN 103: Public Speaking
• Natural Science: 6 credits of General Education-approved natural science courses
• Social Science: 6 credits of General Education-approved social science courses

Major Requirements

The Major Requirements include:

• Required Courses:
  • CRM JST 110: Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • CRM JST 271: Introduction to Policing
  • CRM JST 273: Introduction to Corrections
  • CRM JST 275: Introduction to Criminal Courts
  • CRM JST 305: Criminological Theory and Policy
  • CRM JST 310: Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice
  • CRM JST 662: Methods of Social Welfare Research
  • CRM JST 663: Criminal Justice Capstone Seminar
  • SOCIOL 261: Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology or INFOST 370: Data Analysis and Visualization for the Information Professional
• Criminal Justice Electives: 18 credits
• Fieldwork: up to 6 credits

General Electives

General Electives include:

• Credits towards the degree not counted in other categories
• Classes counting towards General Electives may include, but are not limited to:
  • ENGLISH 100: Introduction to College Writing and Reading
  • ENGLISH 101: Introduction to College Writing
  • ENGLISH 102: College Writing and Research
  • MATH 102: Mathematical Literacy for College Students II
  • MATH 103: Contemporary Applications of Mathematics
  • MATH 105: Introduction to College Algebra
  • MATH 108: Algebraic Literacy II
  • Foreign Language credits

Degree Requirements

To receive the bachelor's degree with a criminal justice major, the student must:

• Complete at least 30 degree credits at UWM
• Earn a minimum of 120 credits
• Attain an overall GPA of 2.0
• Attain a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM
• Attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including transfer work

Academic Advising

The Office of Student Services in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare 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.

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.

Accelerated Program Option

The 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 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 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.

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.

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.