Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
VCU
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is a creative, interdisciplinary grouping of programs in the social sciences and professional arenas that provides students with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for success in public service. The Wilder School brings together faculty from multiple disciplines that share a common interest in public affairs.
The major objective of this degree program is to prepare students for effective professional careers in criminal justice, forensic crime scene investigation, public service and other helping professions, and/or prepare them to pursue studies in law and other related graduate programs. Career opportunities are available in federal, state, local and private justice-related endeavors. These careers include law enforcement, crime scene investigation, juvenile justice, corrections and the courts.
This program also prepares students to enter law school or to pursue graduate studies in criminal justice or in several of the human services fields, usually related to justice. This program offers and encourages in-service justice employees and others to enhance their professional career development through higher education.
Criminal justice students study the causes of crime, treatment of offenders and management of the criminal justice system, with a focus on balancing social justice and individual rights. Wilder School graduates typically pursue careers in public service and work in law enforcement, the court system, corrections or public policy. Students will learn under faculty experts in criminal justice, criminology, law, juvenile justice, organized crime, law enforcement, corrections, and transnational crime.
- Child Protection Agents
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Correctional Officer and Jailers
- Court Clerks
- Crime Scene Analyst
- Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
- Police Detectives
- Police, Fire and Ambulance Dispatchers
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialist
- Security Manager
- Attorney
- Forensic Scientist
- Government Agency Administrator
- Mental Health Counselor
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
- MATH 131
- STAT 208
- Natural Sciences requirement only
- Yes
- No
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Science: Criminal Justice (G3 program))
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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Explore | Year 1 |
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Experience | Year 2 |
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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend New Student Orientation.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Check on G3 funding for your AAS program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Review VCU's Wilder School website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Criminal Justice through the Virginia Wizard.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Explore the accelerated BS to MS in Criminal Justice program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Wilder School and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Wilder School-related events.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Science: Criminal Justice (G3 program))
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
ADJ 100 | Survey of Criminal Justice | CRJS 181 | 3 | Major |
ADJ 110 | Introduction to Law Enforcement | CRJS 254 | 3 | Major |
PLS 135 | U.S. Government and Politics | POLI 103 | 3 | General education |
Humanities elective | Select 1: PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
ADJ 105 | The Juvenile Justice System | CRJS 252 | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 111 | Law Enforcement Organization and Administration I | CRJS 1XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 133 | Ethics and the Criminal Justice Professional | CRJS 1XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 140 | Introduction to Corrections | CRJS 253 | 3 | Major |
ADJ 201 | Criminology | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
CST 100 | Principles of Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 211 | Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedures I | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 247 | Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedures I | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ elective | Select any ADJ elective transferable to VCU | CRJS 1XX/2XX | 3 | Elective |
Science with Lab | Select 1: BIO 101, BIO 106, CHM 111, GOL 105, PHY 201 | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
ADJ 212 | Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedures II | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 236 | Principles of Criminal Investigation | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 299 | Supervised Study in Criminal Justice | CRJS 2XX | 4 | Elective |
ADJ elective | Select any ADJ elective transferable to VCU | CRJS 1XX/2XX | 3 | Elective |
Physical education elective | HPEX 1XX | 1 | Elective | |
Tidewater credits transferred to VCU | 61 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelor of Science: Criminal Justice with a concentration in Justice | |||
CRJS 355 | Criminological Theory | 3 | Major |
CRJS 380 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 | Major |
CRJS 475 | Criminal Procedure | 3 | Major |
CRJS 480 | Senior Seminar | 3 | Major |
CRJS | Select six CRJS upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) | 18 | Major |
GVPA 100 | Making Policy Real: Social Problems and Policy Solutions | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 15 | Elective | |
Open electives | 8 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 59 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||
Bachelor of Science: Criminal Justice with a concentration in forensic crime scene investigation | |||
CRJS 355 | Criminological Theory | 3 | Major |
CRJS 380 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 | Major |
CRJS 475 | Criminal Procedure | 3 | Major |
CRJS 480 | Senior Seminar | 3 | Major |
CRJS 320 | Principles of Criminal Investigation | 3 | Major |
CRJS 370 | Criminalistics and Crime Analysis | 3 | Major |
CRJS 373 | Crime Scene Evidence: Law and Trial Procedure | 3 | Major |
CRJS 425 | Violent Crime Scene Investigation | 3 | Major |
CRJS | Select two CRJS upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) | 6 | Major |
GVPA 100 | Making Policy Real: Social Problems and Policy Solutions | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 15 | Elective | |
Open electives | 8 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 59 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |