Career Opportunities
Today's professional in CRIMINAL JUSTICE should be a sophisticated participant
in a complex legal system. Whether in the police, the courts, corrections,
or related agencies, the modern criminal justice professional must possess
a broad social science background in order to be prepared adequately for
the wide range of career opportunities available to graduates. Successful
career planning begins with university enrollment and the choice of a major
area of study that is both challenging and rewarding. Whether your goal
is policing/investigating, court administration, investigations, corrections
professional work, or a legal career, the undergraduate program in CRIMINAL
JUSTICE can help you build a solid foundation for your future.
Declaring a Major/Minor in Criminal Justice
Prior to declaring a major, students must pass CrJ 101 with a grade of "C"
or better. To declare a major or minor in Criminal Justice, go to Room 4078B Behavioral
Sciences Building (BSB) and fill out a "Declaration of Major" or "Declaration of Minor"
form.
Double Major
Any student who seeks a double major, should inform the Academic Advisor
in Room 4078 BSB.
Departmental Requirements
33 Semester Hour Credits in Criminal Justice Courses Required
Courses required for the MAJOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE include:
CrJ 101 - Introduction to the Justice System 3
CrJ 200 - Law in Society 3
CrJ 210 - Principles of Criminal Law 3
CrJ 220 - Criminology 3
CrJ 240 - Criminal Justice Organizations 3
CrJ 261 - Research Methods I 3
CrJ 262 - Research Methods II 3
CrJ 301 - Writing in the Discipline 3
AND
ONE of the following:
CrJ 345 - Police in Society 3
CrJ 350 - Introduction to the Courts 3
CrJ 355 - Introduction to Corrections 3
Subtotal: 27 credit hours
Elective Courses in Criminal Justice:
In addition, 6 credit hours of Criminal Justice courses at the 300 or 400
level are needed to complete the major course requirements.
Total Hours: 33 credit hours
Note: Transfer students must also comply with other requirements
indicated under Transfer Students.
A Minor in Criminal Justice for Majors in Other Departments
A student majoring in an area other than Criminal Justice who wishes a minor
in this department must complete the following courses:
CrJ 101 - Introduction to the Justice System 3cr
CrJ 200 - Law in Society 3cr
CrJ 210 - Principles of Criminal Law 3cr
CrJ 220 - Criminology 3cr
CrJ 240 - Criminal Justice Organizations 3cr
In addition, the student must complete 3 hours of Criminal Justice courses
at the 300 or 400 level.
Thus, a total of 18 hours are required for a minor in Criminal Justice.
Transfer Students From Junior Or Community Colleges
Transfer students from a two-year criminal justice (police science) program
must take a minimum of 18 hours in this Department, including Criminal Justice
261 and 262. These hours must be distributed in such a fashion that students
take at least 9 hours at the 300 or 400 level.
Any criminal justice or collateral course taken at a junior or community college with a grade of "D" will not be accepted by this Department toward meeting the requirement of the major.
Problems involving residency, advanced hours and the "Sixty-Hour Rule" can be critical for students transferring from junior colleges. Though this brochure and the catalog explain these requirements, students are referred to the College Office for further information.
NOTE: Any junior or Community College course taken after admission to UIC must first be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Department if it is to be counted toward graduation. This includes summer courses taken at junior or community colleges. Only in rare cases will approval be given.
Elective Courses Outside the Major and/or a Minor for CrJ Majors
The Department advises B.A. students to take no more than 45 hours in criminal
justice courses. The remaining minimum of 75 semester hours (120 hours total
required by university minus maximum of 45 hours in Criminal Justice = 75
hours) are to be chosen by the student from courses offered by other departments.
Courses in political science, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and English
should be considered. With respect to courses outside LAS, students are
referred to the section below.
A student, in conference with his/her advisor, may choose a minor field
of study. Courses taken in pursuit of a minor may be used toward fulfillment
of the course distribution requirements of the college (LAS) and will count
toward the 120 required hours of credit. Requirements for a minor in another
department are formulated by that department and not by Criminal Justice.
Courses Taken Outside LAS
A student may apply up to 36 semester hours in courses taken outside LAS
towards the 120 hours necessary for graduation. The first 9 semester hours
of this work must be approved by the College and the remaining 27 by the
Department of Criminal Justice.
GPA Requirements
A student must earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00
(A=4.00) in all work presented for graduation and must have a cumulative
GPA of at least 2.00 in all work taken at the University of Illinois at
Chicago. In addition, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 is
required in all courses in Criminal Justice.
NOTE: Transfer course grades are not averaged into the Criminal Justice
GPA at UIC.
Grade Information
A grade of "D" in your major counts and the course does not have
to be repeated. A grade of "E" in a required or core course requires
that you register for the course again and attain a grade of "D"
or better. However, a GPA of 2.0 overall in your major is required. A grade
of "E" in a CrJ course is averaged into your CrJ and college GPA.
Incomplete Grades
The instructor must submit an Incomplete report with the final grade roster
for the "IN" to be recorded. This report is a contract for the
student to complete the course work with that instructor. In resolving the
"IN", the student may not register for the course a second time,
but must follow the procedures detailed on the report. An "IN"
must be removed by the end of the student's first semester or summer session
in residence subsequent to the incurrence, no later than one calendar year
subsequent to the incurrence. When the student submits the work, the instructor
will grade it and change the "IN" to the appropriate grade. If
an undergraduate fails to meet the stated conditions, the instructor will
assign an "E" for the final grade.
Add/Drop Policy
Policy concerning the adding and dropping of classes is determined by the
faculty of the college (LAS) and not by individual instructors. Effective
Fall Semester 1995, students enrolled in courses offered by the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences may drop courses ONLY through the tenth day
(usually the second Friday) of the term. During summer session, the drop
deadline would be the fifth day of the session.
Pass/Fail Option
A student may not elect the pass/fail option in any course in his/her major
or minor in CrJ.
Overloads
Students wishing to enroll in an excess of 19 hours for a regular semester
or 8 hours for the Summer Session must have approval from the College Office.
These students should see an Assistant Dean or an Assistant to the Dean
for such approval.
Research Methodology Sequence (CrJ 261 and 262)
The research methodology courses, CrJ 261 and 262, should be taken in this
sequence. These courses should be taken in the sophomore or junior years.
(Transfer of courses for 261/262 is not permitted).
300 Level Electives
The department encourages students to complete all of their core requirements
before taking 300 level electives.
Internship (CrJ 395)
Students interested in doing an internship may initiate discussions with
an agency on their own or get suggestions from CRJ faculty members. The
department has a list of possible internships. The idea for an internship
should be discussed with a faculty member of the student's choice. To register
for an internship, the student must complete an internship application
form (available in room 4078 BSB). The student must then seek out a professor
who is willing to sponsor him/her and obtain approval from that faculty
member and the Department Head or the Undergraduate Advisor before registering
for the course. Junior/Senior standing, completion of the core courses for the
major, and overall GPA of 2.5 and a GPA of 4.0 in CrJ are also required.
Advising
Students should review their course selections with the Undergraduate Advisor.
It is the student's responsibility to make an appointment for advising.
The Advisor's office is located in BSB, Room 4078. A student who neglects
to seek advisement will not be treated sympathetically if he/she finds that
he/she does not meet all graduation requirements.
The Points at Which a Student Should Seek Advising are:
1. Transfer students from other schools must review their prior work with the Undergraduate Advisor to determine equivalence of transfer work. This advising will follow the Guidelines for Course Transfers. If such advising is required, the student should bring the course syllabus and catalog description of such courses from the institution where they were taken to the Undergraduate Advisor. No course equivalency decisions will be made without this information.
2. Upon declaring a CRJ major or minor, after completing CRJ 101 with a "C" or better.
3. Seniors must see an advisor the semester prior to the semester of
intended graduation.
4. Registering for the required Writing in the Discipline course (WID).
The student must see meet with the advisor a semester before the student
intends to take the WID course.
5. Before applying for Internships (CRJ 395) or Independent Studies (CRJ 399).
Nearing Graduation
If you are within one or two semesters of graduation or you have approximately
96 hours of credit toward graduation, you are advised to make an appointment
with a credentials analyst in the LAS Office for a complete check of your
progress toward a degree. You should also make an appointment with the Undergraduate
Advisor to be sure that you will have met all departmental requirements
by the desired graduation date.
Departmental Distinction
A candidate must have a 3.50 cumulative grade point average in all Criminal
Justice courses and a 3.25 overall - University grade point average.
Requirement for High Distinction
A candidate must have a 3.50 cumulative grade point average in all Criminal
Justice courses and a 3.5 overall - University grade point average. Qualified
students should contact the Departmental Undergraduate Director either two
or three terms in advance of graduation.
