School of Education & Social Sciences · Bachelor’s degree
Criminal Justice (BA or BS)
Prepare for a career in law enforcement, corrections, or the courts.
Want to protect your community or work in the justice system? MVU’s criminal justice major covers investigation, law, corrections, and ethics, with a concentration in law enforcement, corrections/probation and parole, or juvenile justice.
120
credit hours to graduate
54
credit hours in the major
On campus or online
choose what fits
4 years
at a full-time pace
Why criminal justice at MVU
Theory and practice
Learn how the justice system works, then focus on the part you want to work in.
Law and ethics
Study criminal law, the Constitution, criminology, and ethics in criminal justice.
Investigation
Learn criminal investigation, evidence, and forensic science.
Original research
Design your own research study and present it at the Student Research Symposium.
Is this program for me?
This program may be a great fit if you want to…
- Work in law enforcement, corrections, or probation and parole.
- Help young people in the juvenile justice system.
- Prepare for law school or work in the courts.
- Understand crime and how society responds to it.
What will I learn to do?
Skills you’ll practice and grow
- Explain the criminal justice system and how its parts connect.
- Identify individual rights and constitutional protections.
- Explain theories of crime and deviance.
- Describe American approaches to punishment.
- Apply proper investigation and court procedures.
- Write in APA style and present research results.
How the degree works
How your 120 credit hours add up
Here’s how the degree is built. Your advisor helps you choose courses each term.
01
General education core
At least 42 credit hours across writing, speaking, math, science, social science, and the humanities.
02
Criminal justice core
33 credit hours of law, investigation, criminology, administration, ethics, research, and statistics.
03
Your concentration
Six courses in law enforcement, corrections/probation and parole, or juvenile justice.
04
Electives or a minor
Use the rest of your 120 hours for electives, a minor, or even a second major.
Good to know: Every senior completes an original research study and thesis, then presents the results at the Student Research Symposium as part of CRMJ 485.
Explore the curriculum
What you’ll study
Here are the courses in the major. Your advisor helps you plan the order.
Criminal justice core (33 credit hours)
- CRMJ 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CRMJ 115 Criminal Law and the Constitution
- CRMJ 300 Criminal Investigation
- CRMJ 307 Minorities and Women in Criminal Justice
- CRMJ 330 Criminology
- CRMJ 410 Administration of Criminal Justice Agencies
- CRMJ 440 Ethics in Criminal Justice
- CRMJ 485 Research Design and Senior Seminar
- MATH 200 Introduction to Statistics
- SOCL 316 Research Methods/Statistics
- SOCL 320 Urban Sociology
Law enforcement concentration
- Three courses from Patrol Procedures and Accident Investigation, Defensive Tactics and Report Writing, Policing in a Democratic Society, Homicide Investigation, Global Crime, or an internship
- Three courses from corrections, forensic science, criminal evidence, current issues, sexual offenses, readings in criminal justice, fraud examination, social deviance, or interviewing
Corrections/probation and parole concentration
- Three courses from Juvenile Justice, Corrections and Community Supervision, Drugs and the Law, Defensive Tactics and Report Writing, or Social Deviance
- Three courses from forensic science, criminal evidence, homicide investigation, current issues, sexual offenses, global crime, readings, fraud examination, or interviewing
Juvenile justice concentration
- Three courses from Juvenile Justice, Corrections and Community Supervision, Defensive Tactics and Report Writing, an internship, or Social Deviance
- Three courses from drugs and the law, homicide investigation, sexual offenses, global crime, readings, fraud examination, developmental psychology, social psychology, or interviewing
General education core (at least 42 credit hours)
- Social and behavioral science (9 hours) from at least two subjects, including one constitution course: HIST 104, HIST 105, or POLS 100
- Written communication (6 hours): ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition, plus ENGL 160 or HONR 190
- Oral communication (3 hours), such as COMM 100 Public Speaking & Introduction to Communication
- Natural science: 7 hours from at least two subjects, including a lab (BS); 3 hours (BA and BFA)
- Mathematics (3 hours)
- Humanities and fine arts: 9 hours (BS) or 12 hours (BA and BFA) from at least three subjects, covering the arts and creativity, ethics, and culture and society
- Additional general education from any area, to reach at least 42 hours
- Plus one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Service Learning (SL) course, which can overlap with other requirements
Graduation requirements
- Complete at least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Earn a major GPA of 2.0 or higher, with no grade below C and no pass/fail grades in the major.
- Complete at least 36 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses.
- Complete your last 30 credit hours, and at least 12 hours of your major, at MVU.
- Complete the major assessment requirement.
- Apply for graduation and pay the $100 graduation fee.
Getting started
Three steps to begin
Applying to MVU is free, and most students finish the application in a few minutes.
02
Send your transcripts
Send your high school transcript, plus official transcripts from any college or dual credit courses. Transferring? See the transfer steps.
03
Plan how you’ll pay
Explore scholarships, grants, and loans on Tuition & Financial Aid, or request information for current tuition.
Which concentration should I choose?
Choose law enforcement if you want to be a police officer or investigator, corrections/probation and parole if you want to supervise offenders, or juvenile justice if you want to work with young people. Your advisor can help you decide.
Is there a related minor?
Yes. You can add a forensic science minor, or students in other majors can earn a criminal justice minor.
Can I take it online?
Yes. The program is offered on campus and online. Ask Admissions which courses are offered online each term.
Can I add a minor or a second major?
Yes. A minor is optional and appears on your transcript; it must be in a different subject than your major. You can also double major by completing all the requirements for both majors. You’ll receive one diploma.
What do I need to graduate?
- At least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- A C or higher in every major course.
- At least 36 upper-division credit hours.
- Your last 30 credit hours at MVU.
- An application for graduation and the $100 graduation fee.
Talk with the Dean
Have questions about courses, concentrations, or how to plan your degree? Reach out. We’re happy to talk through your goals.
Criminal Justice (BA or BS)
