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2024-2025 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 bachelor's 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

Core Courses

Major Degree Requirements for B.A. and B.S. Degrees

All majors must take the following nine courses for a total of 27 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:

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 eligible for licensure as a 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

Courses Recommended for Prospective Police Academy Applicants

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 eligible for licensure as a 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):

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

Year One

  • WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
  • CJ 101 - Justice and Society (3 credits) General education Social and Behavioral Science and CJ core
  • General education Art, Philosophy and Literature, Social and Behavior Sciences, or Math (3 credits)
  • Foreign language 101 (4 credits) To ensure proper placement, contact the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures for testing
  • MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
  • General education Art, Philosophy and Literature, Social and Behavior Sciences, or Math (3 credits)
  • General education Art, Philosophy and Literature, Social and Behavior Sciences, or Math (3 credits)
  • Foreign language 102 (4 credits)

Year Two

  • General education science course with lab (4 to 5 credits)
  • CJ 201 - Criminology (3 credits) CJ core.
  • General education Arts, Philosophy and Literature, Social and Behavioral Science, or Math (3 credits)
  • Foreign language 201 (4 credits)
  • Minor or general elective course (1 credit)
  • General education science course/nonlab (3 credits)
  • General education Arts, Philosophy and Literature, Social and Behavioral Science, or Math (3 credits)
  • CJ 312, CJ 330, CJ 340, or CJ 350 (3 credits) CJ core
  • CJ 312, CJ 330, CJ 340, or CJ 350 (3 credits) CJ core
  • Minor or general elective course (3 credits)

Year Three

Year Four

  • CJ major elective (3 credits)
  • CJ major elective (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective course (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective course (3 credits)
  • CJ 495 - Issues in Criminal Justice (Capstone) (3 credits)
  • CJ major elective (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective course (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective course (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective course (3 credits)

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

Year One

  • WRT 150 (4 credits)
  • CJ 101 (3 credits) General education SS and CJ core
  • General education science course with lab (4 credits)
  • General education Art, Philosophy and Literature, Social and Behavior Sciences, or History (3 credits)
  • MTH 110 (4 credits)
  • General education Art, Philosophy and Literature, Social and Behavior Sciences, or History (3 credits)
  • General education science course/nonlab (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective course (3 credits)

Year Two

Year Three

  • CJ 300 (3 credits) CJ cognate
  • CJ 305 (3 credits) CJ core
  • CJ 340 (3 credits) CJ core
  • General education Issues (3 credits)
  • General education Issues (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective (3 credits)
  • CJ 312, CJ 330, or CJ 350 (3 credits) CJ core
  • CJ 400 (3 credits) CJ cognate and SWS; CJ 300 prerequisite.
  • Minor or general elective (3 credits)

Year Four

  • CJ major elective (3 credits)
  • CJ major elective (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective (3 credits)
  • CJ 495 - Issues in Criminal Justice (Capstone) (3 credits)
  • CJ major elective (3 credits)
  • CJ major elective (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective (3 credits)
  • Minor or general elective (3 credits)

Click here for the program description.


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