2018-2019 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Requirements for a Major in Criminal Justice
- Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Criminal Justice (B.A.)
- Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Criminal Justice (B.S.)
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.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
Requirements for B.A. Degree
- The B.A. degree requires third-semester proficiency in a foreign language
Requirements for B.S. Degree
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- CJ 300 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- CJ 400 - Qualitative Methods (3 credits)
Core Courses/Major Degree Requirements for B.A. and B.S. Degrees
All majors must take the following nine courses. Credits: 27
- CJ 101 - Justice and Society (3 credits)
- CJ 201 - Criminology (3 credits)
- CJ 305 - Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties (3 credits)
- CJ 312 - Police Process (3 credits)
- CJ 330 - Correctional Process (3 credits)
- CJ 340 - Courts Process (3 credits)
- CJ 350 - Juvenile Justice Process (3 credits)
- CJ 482 - Culture, Crime and Justice (3 credits)
- CJ 495 - Issues in Criminal Justice (Capstone) (3 credits)
Electives
In addition, majors must select 12 credit hours of electives from criminal justice courses (not including the B.S. degree course requirements CJ 300 and CJ 400 or Police Academy courses (CJ 415, CJ 416, CJ 417, CJ 418, and CJ 419). Choose from:
- CJ 302 - Criminal Law (3 credits)
- CJ 311 - Criminal Investigation (3 credits)
- CJ 315 - Principles of Security (3 credits)
- CJ 320 - Crimes Against Women (3 credits)
- CJ 325 - Criminal Justice and Human Rights (3 credits)
- CJ 355 - Youth Culture and Crime (3 credits)
- CJ 360 - Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program (3 credits)
- CJ 370 - Environmental Crime and Justice (3 credits)
- CJ 380 - Special Topics in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies (1 to 3 credits)
- CJ 399 - Independent Readings in Criminal Justice (1 to 3 credits)
- CJ 405 - Terrorism (3 credits)
- CJ 408 - White-Collar and Corporate Crime (3 credits)
- CJ 420 - Juvenile Correctional Counseling (3 credits)
- CJ 442 - Victimology (3 credits)
- CJ 464 - Security Management (3 credits)
- CJ 490 - Criminal Justice Internship (1 to 9 credits)
- CJ 499 - Independent Study and Research (1 to 3 credits)
Grand Valley Police Academy
The GVSU Basic Police Academy is an annual 16-week intensive program that meets the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) training requirements and prepares students for the Michigan Law Enforcement Licensing Examination. Upon completion of the program, participants will have all of the qualifications necessary to be a licensed law enforcement officer in the State of Michigan. Students enrolled in the GVSU police academy must take the following courses (a total of 15 credits):
Core Courses
- CJ 415 - Law Enforcement Physical Education, Defensive Tactics and Firearms (3 credits)
- CJ 416 - Special Operations and Training (3 credits)
- CJ 417 - Criminal Investigations II (3 credits)
- CJ 418 - Patrol and Traffic Administration and Procedure (3 credits)
- CJ 419 - Michigan Criminal Law (3 credits)
Courses recommended for prospective Police Academy applicants:
- CJ 302 - Criminal Law (3 credits)
- CJ 305 - Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties (3 credits)
- CJ 311 - Criminal Investigation (3 credits)
- CJ 490 - Criminal Justice Internship (1 to 9 credits)
Grand Valley Military Police Basic Training Program
The GVSU Military Police Veteran's Academy is an annual eight-week intensive program designed to transition eligible candidates to a civilian law enforcement career. The program meets the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) training requirements and prepares students for the Michigan Law Enforcement Licensing Examination.
To be eligible for consideration, a candidate must have performed as a military police officer (in any branch of the U.S. Military) for a minimum of 2,080 hours in a specified law enforcement MOS; have satisfactorily completed military police training at a federal service school; possess an honorable discharge or be currently serving; and not be separated from employment in a specified law enforcement MOS for more than five years. Upon completion of the program, participants will have all of the qualifications necessary to be a licensed law enforcement officer in the State of Michigan. Students enrolled in the GVSU military police basic police training program must take the following courses (a total of six credits):
- CJ 415 - Law Enforcement Physical Education, Defensive Tactics and Firearms (3 credits)
- CJ 416 - Special Operations and Training (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Criminal Justice (B.A.)
Year 1
- WRT 150 (basic skills) Credits: 4
- CJ 101 (general education/SS and CJ core) Credits: 3
- General education course (ART, P&L, SS, 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
- General education course (ART, P&L, SS, or MTH) Credits: 3
- General education course (ART, P&L, HST, SS, or MTH) Credits: 3
- Foreign language 102 (cognate) Credits: 4
Year 2
- General education science course (with lab) Credits: 4 to 5
- CJ 201 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- General education course (ART, P&L, SS, or MTH) Credits: 3
- Foreign language 201 (cognate) Credits: 4
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 1
- General education science course (non-lab) Credits: 3
- General education course (ART, P&L, SS, or MTH) Credits: 3
- CJ 312, CJ 330, CJ 340 or CJ 350 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- CJ 312, CJ 330, CJ 340 or CJ 350 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
Year 3
- CJ 312, CJ 330, CJ 340 or CJ 350 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- CJ 305 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- Global Perspectives course (general education) Credits: 3
- General education Issues course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 1
- CJ major elective Credits: 3
- General education Issues course Credits: 3
- CJ 482 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- General education U.S. Diversity course 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
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course 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 (general education/SS and CJ core) Credits: 3
- General education science course (with lab) Credits: 4
- General education course (ART, P&L, SS, or HST) Credits: 3
- MTH 110 (basic skills) Credits: 4
- General education course (ART, P&L, SS, or HST) Credits: 3
- General education science course (nonlab) Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
Year 2
- CJ 201 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- STA 215 (general education/MTH SCI and CJ cognate) Credits: 3
- General education Global Perspectives course Credits: 3
- General education course (Art, P&L, SS or HST) Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- CJ core (CJ 312, CJ 330, or CJ 350) Credits: 3
- CJ core (CJ 312, CJ 330, or CJ 350) Credits: 3
- General education U.S. Diversity course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
Year 3
- CJ 300 (CJ cognate) Credits: 3
- CJ 305 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- CJ 340 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- General education Issues course Credits: 3
- General education Issues course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- CJ core (CJ 312, CJ 330, or CJ 350) Credits: 3
- CJ 400 (CJ cognate and SWS) Credits: 3 (CJ 300 prerequisite)
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
Year 4
- CJ major elective Credits: 3
- CJ major elective Credits: 3
- CJ 482 (CJ core) Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- CJ 495 (Capstone - major) Credits: 3
- CJ major elective Credits: 3
- CJ major elective Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3
- Minor or general elective course Credits: 3