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2010-2011 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Requirements for a Major in Criminal Justice

To complete the requirements for graduation with a bachelors degree in criminal justice or legal studies, students must fulfill the general education requirements. While most courses taken at accredited colleges and universities are transferable for full credit, only four courses will be considered toward criminal justice major programs. Students should take at least two-thirds of the credits constituting their major from Grand Valley State University.

Cognate Degree Requirements:

Requirements for B.A. Degree

  • The B.A. degree requires third-semester proficiency in a foreign language.

Requirements for B.S. Degree:

Core Courses/Major Degree Requirements for B.A. and B.S. Degrees:

All majors must take the following nine courses. Credit hours: 27

Electives:

In addition, majors must select 12 credit hours of electives from criminal justice courses (not including the B.S. Degree Cognate CJ 300 and CJ 400 or Police Academy Courses (CJ 415, 416, 417, 418, and 419.) That is, they may choose from:

Grand Valley Police Academy

Students enrolled in the GVSU police academy must take the following courses (or a total of 15 credits):

Core Courses:

Cognate Requirements:

Academy students must have completed:

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Criminal Justice (B.A.)

Year 1:

  • WRT 150 (Basic Skills) Credits: 4
  • CJ 101 (Gen Ed/SS & CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Course (ART, P&L, HST, or MTH) Credits: 3
  • Foreign Language 101 (Cognate) Credits: 4 (To ensure proper placement, contact the Modern Languages department for testing)
  • MTH 110 (Basic Skills) Credits: 4
  • Gen Ed Course (ART, P&L, HST, or MTH) Credits: 3
  • SOC 201 (Gen Ed/SS pre-req Credits: 3
  • Foreign Language 102 (Cognate) Credits: 4

Year 2:

  • Gen Ed Science course (with lab) Credits: 4-5
  • CJ 201 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • GEN Ed Course (ART, P&L, HST, or MTH) Credits: 3
  • Foreign Language 201 (Cognate) Credits: 4
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 1
  • Gen Ed Science course (non-lab) Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Course (ART, P&L, HST, or MTH) Credits: 3
  • CJ 350 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3

Year 3:

  • CJ 330 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • CJ 305 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • World Perspective course (Gen Ed) Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Theme Course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 1
  • Take the Jr. Year Writing Assessment or take WRT 305 as an elective course
  • CJ 312 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Theme Course Credits: 3
  • CJ 482 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 1

Year 4:

  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • CJ 340 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course or WRT 305 if necessary Credits: 3
  • CJ 495 (Capstone - CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Criminal Justice (B.S.)

Year 1:

  • WRT 150 (Basic Skills) Credits: 4
  • CJ 101 (Gen Ed/SS & CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Science course (with lab) Credits: 4
  • Gen Ed Course (ART, P&L, or HST) Credits: 3
  • MTH 110 (Basic Skills) Credits: 4
  • Gen Ed Course (ART, P&L, or HST) Credits: 3
  • SOC 201 (Gen Ed/SS pre-req) Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Science course (non-lab) Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective Course Credits: 3

Year 2:

  • CJ 201 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • STA 215 (Gen Ed/MTH SCI & CJ Cognate) Credits: 3
  • World Perspective course (Gen Ed) Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • CJ 482 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • CJ 350 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • CJ 330 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Theme Course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3

Year 3:

  • CJ 300 (CJ Cognate) Credits: 3
  • CJ 305 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Theme Course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Take the Junior Year Writing Assessment or take WRT 305 as an elective course
  • CJ 312 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • CJ 400 (CJ Cognate & SWS) - CJ 300 pre-req Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3

Year 4:

  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • CJ 340 (CJ Core) Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course or WRT 305 if necessary Credits: 3
  • CJ 495 (Capstone - Major) Credits: 3
  • CJ Major Elective Credits: 3
  • Gen Ed Theme Course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3
  • Minor or General Elective course Credits: 3


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