The Student Planning Guide is created for undergraduates to assist in planning the four-year curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. It supplements the following University publications: Description of Courses, Academic Programs, and Schedule of Courses. Students, in consultation with the School of Criminal Justice academic advisors and faculty, are responsible for organizing their programs and satisfying their degree requirements.
Detailed information about the Bachelors of Arts degree in Criminal Justice can be found in the Student Planning Guide. Questions can also be directed to the main office at 517-355-2197.
Information on how to become a Spartan
Criminal Justice Major Requirements
The School of Criminal Justice offers study abroad opportunities in the Caribbean, Australia, Madagascar and the Philippines.
Tuition & Financial Aid
The complexities of modern society have combined to generate a variety of threats to business organizations, information networks, government installations and operations, and individuals. The Undergraduate Minor in Security Management is designed for students who are interested in private and government security.
The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University. The minor should be of particular interest to students who are enrolled in certain programs in the Eli Broad College of Business and the College of Social Science, and to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree program in computer science.
The Minor in Security Management is designed to help students to understand:
Students whose primary major is not criminal justice may earn an additional major in CJ. The additional major will be noted on the student’s transcript but not on the official diploma. Students must successfully complete the following requirements to receive the additional major.
Core Courses: 12 credits
Thematic Areas: Select 2 or 3 (6 – 9 credits)
CJ electives: Select 9-12 credits
To receive the additional major, students must maintain a 2.0 for both cumulative GPA and criminal justice courses.
Students who wish to declare criminal justice as an additional major should make an appointment with an academic adviser.
After a student declares criminal justice as an additional major, the intention to complete the additional major will be noted on his or her academic record in the Registrar's Office.
See the Planning Guide for course suggestions on the above requirements.
Students who successfully complete a second degree at Michigan State University receive two bachelor’s degrees and two diplomas. The following are required for a second degree:
Core Courses: 12 credits
Thematic Areas: Select 2 or 3 (6 – 9 credits)
CJ electives: Select 9-12 credits
Social Science: 15 credits
Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Geography, Social Work, Economics, History, Family & Child Ecology
Arts and Letters: 9 credits
Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theater, English, Classical Studies, Studio Art, Foreign Languages, Women’s Studies, History of Art, Music
Natural Science: 6 credits
Astronomy, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Zoology, Entomology, Mathematics, Statistics, Geology, Biochemistry, Computer Science, selected social science courses (see Student Planning Guide).
To declare criminal justice as a second degree, you must make an appointment with a criminal justice adviser.