Program Overview
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Location: Candelaria 2249
Email: HSS@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/hss/criminology-criminal-justice
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice relies on an interdisciplinary approach to the study of crime, the criminal justice system, and society. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the program curriculum encourages students to articulate in writing and in presentations how criminological theories inform policy, how research guides system review and decision-making, and how ethics and cultural awareness promote visionary leadership in the criminal justice system. Through coursework, advising, and internship opportunities, students learn how to serve their communities in a variety of work settings and contribute to the field of criminal justice through advanced education.
All students meeting UNC admission requirements are eligible for admission to the Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program. Currently enrolled UNC students changing their major from undeclared or from another major qualify for admission provided they are not on academic probation.
NOTE: Seniors, with permission from instructors, may register for 500-level courses.
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing
Program Requirements:
- The Criminology and Criminal Justice degree requires a grade of “C” or better (C- is not acceptable) for all courses (regardless of prefix) counting toward the major.
- Time Limitation on Credit Earned Toward a Bachelor's Degree Coursework completed by a student within the preceding 10 years may apply as credit toward a bachelor's degree. Coursework taken before the 10-year limit may be reviewed by the department chair and college dean to determine its appropriateness to the major requirements.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 Credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 40 required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
MATH 120 is recommended but not required. Any other course from the currently approved LAC course list will fulfill this requirement.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
CRJ 110 is recommended to fulfill the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 40 credits
Take all of the following courses:
| CRJ 110 | Introduction to Criminal JusticeLAB3GT-SS3 | 3 |
| CRJ 160 | Introduction to Crime Theories | 3 |
| CRJ 220 | Policing Systems | 3 |
| CRJ 230 | Judicial Process | 3 |
| CRJ 240 | Correctional Systems | 3 |
| CRJ 350 | Victim Studies | 3 |
| CRJ 360 | Theories of Crime | 3 |
| CRJ 380 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 470 | Justice Professionalism and Ethics | 3 |
| CRJ 475 | Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Social Class in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 480 | Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Criminal Justice Library Research | 1 |
Students must register for CRJ 380 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and LIB 160 Criminal Justice Library Research at the same time since the courses are taught concurrently.
Criminal Justice Major Electives
Take 2 of the following 3 credit courses or 6 credits of internship:
3. University-Wide Credits — 49 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 49 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.
Program Notes
Criminology and Criminal Justice majors are strongly encouraged to pursue one or more minors or a second major, which can be completed given the number of additional credit hours needed for degree completion.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| CRJ 110 | Introduction to Criminal JusticeLAB3GT-SS3 | 3 |
| ENG 122 | College CompositionLAW1GT-CO1 | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| CRJ 160 | Introduction to Crime Theories | 3 |
| CRJ 220 | Policing Systems | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 2 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| CRJ 230 | Judicial Process | 3 |
| CRJ 240 | Correctional Systems | 3 |
| MATH 120 | Mathematics and Liberal ArtsLAX1GT-MA1 | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| CRJ 360 | Theories of Crime | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 4 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 3 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| CRJ 350 | Victim Studies | 3 |
| CRJ 380 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Criminal Justice Library Research | 1 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| CRJ 480 | Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| | |
| CRJ 492 | Internship | 1- 9 |
| or | |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 4 – 28 credits
Fall Semester
| CRJ 470 | Justice Professionalism and Ethics | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| CRJ 475 | Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Social Class in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| | |
| CRJ 492 | Internship | 1- 9 |
| or | |
| | Major Elective | 3 |
| | |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
Accelerated Criminology and Criminal Justice M.A.
The Accelerated BA/MA Pathway in Criminology and Criminal Justice enables high-achieving undergraduate students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. Students complete up to 12 credits of graduate coursework during their senior year, which apply to both the BA and MA. This pathway reduces time-to-degree, lowers overall cost, and provides advanced preparation for careers in law enforcement, criminal justice administration, policy analysis, research, and doctoral study.
Additional Requirements for the Accelerated BA/MA Pathway
Students applying to the Accelerated BA/MA Pathway must meet both Graduate School requirements and program-specific eligibility standards:
Eligibility Standards
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Minimum 3.20 GPA in CRJ major coursework
- Completion of at least 90 undergraduate credits before beginning graduate coursework
Submission of:
- Statement of purpose
- Résumé
- Two academic or professional letters of recommendations
Graduate-Level Courses Taken in the Senior Year (Double Counted)
Students complete up to 12 credits from the following graduate courses:
- CRJ 510 – Administration of Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- CRJ 560 – Seminar in Criminological Theory (3 credits)
- CRJ 570 – Seminar in Diversity in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- CRJ 595 – Graduate Elective in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
These courses are taken alongside B.A. requirements an count for both degrees.
Students must apply for completion of their B.A. degree the semester before graduating (e.g., in the fall of their senior year). To apply, students must be enrolled in all remaining undergraduate courses.
Timeline
ACCELERATED M.A. Timeline
Fall Semester, Junior Year
- Meet with Criminal Justice faculty advisor or Graduate Program Coordinator
- Discuss academic plan and eligibility for the accelerated pathway
Spring Semester, Junior Year
- Apply for the Accelerated B.A./M.A. Pathway
- Submit purpose statement, résumé, and two letters of recommendation
Fall Semester, Senior Year
Take one or two of the following (double-counted):
- CRJ 510 – Administration of Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- CRJ 595 – Graduate Criminal Justice Elective (3 credits)
Spring Semester, Senior Year
Take one or two of the following (double-counted):
- CRJ 560 – Seminar in Criminological Theory (3 credits)
- CRJ 570 – Seminar in Diversity in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- CRJ 595 – Graduate Criminal Justice Elective (3 credits)
Total Double-Counted Credits: up to 9
Summer After Senior Year
- Begin graduate-level coursework such as CRJ 595 (as needed)
- Officially transition into the M.A. program after B.A. conferral and Graduate School admission
Fall Semester, Fifth Year
- CRJ 610 – Planning and Evaluation (3 credits)
- CRJ 680 – Advanced Research Methods (3 credits)
- One CRJ 595 Graduate Elective (3 credits)
Spring Semester, Fifth Year
- CRJ 682 – Advanced Applied Analysis (3 credits)
- CRJ 550 – Leadership and Management in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
- Final CRJ 595 Graduate Elective or Thesis Credits
Students complete either the Comprehensive Exam Option or the Thesis Option as the final requirement of the M.A. program.