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Criminal Justice—Bachelor of Science

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Website: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

College/School: School of Professional Studies

Apply to UIW: Application for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry focused on the philosophical, theoretical and practical applications of justice, and on the resolution of conflict within society. Rather than train individuals for a particular occupation through sole instruction in specific vocational skills, the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, offered through the School of Professional Studies, offers a broad liberal arts education which focuses on the cultivation of analytical and creative thought, and the ability to communicate effectively in a 21st century workplace and social environment.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree Plan

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete. 

UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum

UIW core coursework is required. Review the Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.

 

UIW Core Curriculum for the School of Professional Studies
 Composition and Rhetoric  6 credit hours 
 Literature and Art 6 credit hours 
 Science and Mathematics 7 credit hours 
 History and Social Sciences 6 credit hours 
 Philosophy and Religion  9 credit hours 
 Second Language  6 credit hours 
 Wellness and Physical Education  3 credit hours
 Computer Literacy
3 credit hours
  46 total core credit hours
   
 Community Service 45 clock hours (non-credit) 

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Required Core Courses

CRIJ 1301Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

CRIJ 1308Criminalistics

3

CRIJ 1325Criminology

3

CRIJ 2310Criminal Law and Procedure

3

CRIJ 2313Corrections

3

CRIJ 2328Law Enforcement

3

CRIJ 2333Juvenile Justice

3

CRIJ 3315Legal and Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice

3

CRIJ 3360Criminal Justice Administration

3

CRIJ 3370Criminal Justice Research Methods

3

CRIJ 4380Criminal Justice Capstone

3

Total Credit Hours:33

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Required Elective Courses

Select 27 credit hours of courses from this list.

CRIJ 2303Introduction to Homeland Security

3

CRIJ 3300Public and private Security

3

CRIJ 3330Race, Gender, Ethnicity and the Law

3

CRIJ 3335Civil Liability

3

CRIJ 3340Victimology

3

CRIJ 3380Criminal Investigation

3

CRIJ 3390Terrorism and Homeland Security

3

CRIJ 4300Corporate Crime and Deviance

3

CRIJ 4305Cyber Crimes

3

CRIJ 4320Sex Crimes

3

CRIJ 4340Women in Criminal Justice

3

CRIJ 4390Concepts of Self-Defense

3

CRIJ 4395Internship in Criminal Justice

3

Total Credit Hours:27

Electives

Complete this degree plan with electives as needed to to meet the 120 credit hour degree program requirement.

Peace Officer Credit Program

To qualify for the Peace Officer Credit Program, applicants must complete a minimum of 400 hours at a federal or state-certified academy. The Peace Officer Credit Program (POCP) allows current and retired peace officers who have completed an accredited federal or state-approved academy up to 18 credit hours towards their Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the time of their enrollment at UIW. Applicants with law enforcement experience outside of Texas have the option of submitting any courses previously completed during academy training, which will then be compared to the designated 3 core, 3 electives, and or comparable courses in UIW's Criminal Justice Program. To be considered for the 18 credits, applicants need to provide a valid/up-to-date/current certification.

A graduate of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree at UIW is eligible for credit transfer to the University, as noted in this policy. The Peace Officer Credit Program complies with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Standards (CALEA) standards and certification requirements.

The BSCJ degree plan should be strongly considered by applicants who come to UIW after having completed:

  1. The Basic Peace Officer Certification (BPOC) or other advanced peace officer certifications.

  2. Federal law enforcement credit that can be applied to the degree program.

  3. Military credits that can be applied to the degree program.

  4. An Associate of Arts (AA) degree at a community college.

  5. An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree at a community college.

Official transcripts, a certificate of completion with the original federal or state-approved agency, may request an evaluation for course equivalency. All academy transcripts are carefully reviewed for alignment with UIW courses to evaluate transfer eligibility.

Credit for Peace Officer Certification

The following core and elective credits may be awarded upon certification verification and active enrollment. Applicants who have completed an accredited federal or state-approved academy outside of Texas must have their academy transcripts evaluated for course equivalency through the School of Professional Studies' Curriculum Committee. Depending on experience, applicants may be able to earn proficiency credit for any of the following courses:
 
CRIJ 1301: Introduction to Criminal Justice – 3 credit hours
CRIJ 1308: Criminalistics - 3 credit hours
CRIJ 2328: Law Enforcement - 3 credit hours
CRIJ 3000 or 4000 level – 9 credit hours
 
For additional information regarding TCOLE, federal and military law enforcement certifications, applicants may contact the SPS Criminal Justice Chair.