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2013-2014 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:

Courses Recommended for Entrance to the Police Academy:

Grand Valley Military Police Basic Training Program

The Military Police Basic Training Program (MPBTP) is a 6-week state licensing program that is open only to military veterans who have experience in law enforcement in any branch of the military. Those wishing to apply must have performed as a law enforcement officer in the military for a minimum of 2080 hours, must have received an honorable discharge or still be currently serving, and must have graduated from a federal service school. Applicants must have discontinued employment in the specified military law enforcement job specialty for no more than five years before the start of the program. 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. The following courses are the two 3-credit courses that recruits in the MPBTP will be enrolled in:

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
  • World Perspectives course (general education) Credits: 3
  • General education issues/themes 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/themes 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 (non-lab) 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 World Perspectives course (general education) 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/themes course Credits: 3
  • General education issues/themes 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) - CJ 300 prerequisite Credits: 3
  • 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

Click here for the program description.



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