Accelerated Graduate Degree Program in Criminal Justice & Criminology

BS, MS

A graduate degree is becoming a necessity for many occupations within the criminal justice system. The Accelerated Graduate Degree Program in Criminal Justice and Criminology helps students obtain their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.

High School Graduates

• GPA of 3.0 on all high school work
• No math or English deficiencies
• Admitted in good standing to UWM
• A one- to two-page statement explaining the student’s interest in a particular field of study and reasons for entering an accelerated program
• Two letters of recommendation from high school teachers/counselors attesting to the student’s maturity and suitability for an accelerated program
• If you are a high school graduate or will be graduating from high school this year, make sure you 1) apply to UWM and 2) apply to the Accelerated Graduate Degree Program in Criminal Justice & Criminology.

Continuing/Transfer Students

• GPA of 3.0 on all prior university work
• A one- to two-page statement explaining the student’s interest in a particular field of study and reasons for entering an accelerated program
• Two letters of recommendation attesting to the student’s maturity and suitability for an accelerated program
• It’s recommended that you transfer prior to obtaining junior status (58 credits). If you apply after junior standing, it may take longer to complete the accelerated program.
• If you are a continuing or transfer student, make sure you 1) apply to the accelerated program and 2) apply to the Graduate School by the second semester of junior year in order to register for graduate classes.

This is only one model of selecting courses for a five-year sequence to meet criminal justice and criminology degree requirements. This chart is not intended to be a guide for the selection of specific courses or to substitute for academic advising. For suggestions about specific courses and other schedule options, students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisors.

Sample Course of Study Covering 10 Full-Time Semesters

Year 1

Fall Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 105: Orientation	1
CRM JST 110: Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
Math (if necessary)	3
English (if necessary)	3
GER Humanities	3
GER Social Science	3
TOTAL	16

Spring Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 271: Introduction to Policing	3
GER Arts	3
GER Humanities	3
U.S. History 151/152	3
General Elective	3
TOTAL	15

Year 2

Fall Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 273: Introduction to Corrections	3
CRM JST 275: Introduction to Criminal Courts	3
COM 103	3
GER Natural Science	3
U.S. History 151/152	3
TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 305: Criminological Theory and Policy	3
CRM JST Elective	2
GER Natural Science Lab	3
GER Social Science	3
General Elective	3
CRM JST Elective	3
TOTAL	17

Year 3

Fall Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 671: Juvenile Justice	3
CRM JST 310: Race, Ethnicity, and Justice	3
GER Social Science	3
General Elective	3
General Elective	3
TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Credits
Sociology 261	3
CRM JST Elective	3
CRM JST 520 – Forward Shared Credits (General Elective)	3
General Elective	3
General Elective	3
TOTAL	15

Year 4

Fall Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 663: Criminal Justice Capstone Seminar	3
CRM JST Elective	3
CRM JST Elective	3
CRM JST 662: Methods of Social Welfare Research	3
TOTAL	12

Spring Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 743: Proseminar: Administration of Criminal Justice Systems	3
GRAD Elective – Backward Shared Credits	3
GRAD Elective – Backward Shared Credits	3
GRAD Elective – Backward Shared Credits	3
TOTAL	12

Graduate School

Fall Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 713: Measuring Crime & Analyzing Crime Data	3
CRM JST 756: Proseminar: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research	3
CRM JST 716: Advanced Analytic Techniques for Crime Analysts	3
TOTAL	9

Spring Semester

Course	Credits
CRM JST 910: Methods and Practice Capstone for Crime Analysts – Backward Shared Credits	3
CRM JST 773: Criminological Perspectives	3
GRAD Elective – Backward Shared Credits	3
TOTAL	9
PROGRAM TOTAL	135