Criminal Justice, A.S.
Visit the Criminal Justice page for more information on the program and access to advising.
Program Description
Students in Criminal Justice may receive a Certificate of Proficiency in Law Enforcement Academy, an Associate in Science Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, or a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Science.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
| General Education Requirements | 30 Credits | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing | 3 |
| or ENGH 1005 | Literacies and Composition Across Contexts | |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (3) | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra (6) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics (3) | ||
or STAT 1045 | Introduction to Statistics with Algebra | |
| College Algebra (4) | ||
| College Algebra with Preliminaries (5) | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| US History to 1877 and US History since 1877 (6) | ||
| American History (3) | ||
| US Economic History (3) | ||
| American Heritage (3) | ||
| American National Government (3) | ||
| Complete the following: | ||
| Distribution Courses: | ||
| Biology | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth | 3 | |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Discipline Core Requirements | 15 Credits | |
| CJ 1010 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 1340 | Criminal Investigations | 3 |
| CJ 1350 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| CJ 1330 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ 2350 | Laws of Evidence | 3 |
| Elective Requirements | 15 Credits | |
| Electives may consist of any Criminal Justice (CJ) course that is not part of the core requirements, Forensic Science (FSCI) or National Security Studies (NSS) courses. | 10 | |
| Complete any 1000-level, or higher, courses | 5 | |
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 60 or more semester credits.
- Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above. (Departments may require a higher GPA.)
- Residency hours: Minimum of 20 credit hours through course attendance at UVU.
- Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
- Must have a grade of C- or higher in all discipline core and criminal justice elective requirements.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 | Introduction to Academic Writing or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts | 3 |
| American Institutions Elec. | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| CJ 1010 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics with Algebra | ||
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| CJ 1390 | Introduction to Policing | 3 |
| CJ 1330 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Physical Science Elective | 3 | |
| CJ 1340 | Criminal Investigations | 3 |
| CJ 2350 | Laws of Evidence | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth | 3 | |
| CJ 1350 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| CJ 1300 | Introduction to Corrections Process | 3 |
| CJ 2330 | Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| CJ 2900R | Criminal Justice Lecture Series | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
An online graduation plan offers students a flexible yet structured approach to their academic journey. While this sample serves as a general guideline, individual plans may differ based on Math and English placement scores. Meeting with an academic advisor is strongly recommended to customize plans and ensure all graduation requirements are met.
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are Certified Online Courses, meeting UVU’s high standards for quality and accessibility.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 |
Introduction to Academic Writing * or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts |
3 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| American Institutions GE | 3 | |
| CJ 1010 | Introduction to Criminal Justice * | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing * | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning * | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra * | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics with Algebra | ||
| College Algebra * | ||
| College Algebra with Preliminaries * | ||
| Humanities GE | 3 | |
| CJ 1390 | Introduction to Policing | 3 |
| CJ 1330 | Criminal Law * | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| Biology GE | 3 | |
| Physical Science GE | 3 | |
| CJ 1340 | Criminal Investigations * | 3 |
| CJ 2350 | Laws of Evidence * | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| Fine Arts GE | 3 | |
| Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth | 3 | |
| CJ 1350 | Introduction to Forensic Science * | 3 |
| CJ 1300 | Introduction to Corrections Process * | 3 |
| CJ 2330 | Juvenile Justice * | 3 |
| CJ 2900R | Criminal Justice Lecture Series * | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 58 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students should acquire general knowledge about the criminal justice system, including familiaritywith the criminal law, victimization, the adjudication process, corrections options, police-community relations, evidence, ethics and theory.
- Students will demonstrate the skills necessary to communicate effectively in writing, solve complexproblems demonstrating they can see problems from multiple perspectives and still support their final conclusions with persuasive arguments.
- Students can describe and implement the main principles of the United States Constitution.Specifically, they will demonstrate they can properly apply Constitutional principles relating to individual rights and due process to actual criminal justice problems.
Detectives and criminal investigators
- Total Positions113,400
- Field Growth2.3%
- Median Salary$91,100
- Average Openings8.5
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Total Positions674,200
- Field Growth3.9%
- Median Salary$72,280
- Average Openings53.8
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Total Positions16,100
- Field Growth2.9%
- Median Salary$69,030
- Average Openings1.3