Program Overview
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
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
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| 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
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3 credit hours
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46 total core credit hours |
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| Community Service |
45 clock hours (non-credit) |
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Required Core Courses
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Required Elective Courses
Select 27 credit hours of courses from this list.
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:
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The Basic Peace Officer Certification (BPOC) or other advanced peace officer certifications.
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Federal law enforcement credit that can be applied to the degree program.
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Military credits that can be applied to the degree program.
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An Associate of Arts (AA) degree at a community college.
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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.