Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

Be part of the solution. Improving our criminal justice system is one of the most pressing social issues we face, and your training at UM-Flint will prepare you with the necessary skills and knowledge to be part of meaningful change in your community.

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Two people hold hands high in the air during a protest, surrounded by a crowd in an urban setting.

Our criminal justice system encompasses law enforcement, courts, and corrections, and your BA in criminal justice from UM-Flint will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how these areas intersect and influence one another.

You’ll receive individualized attention from our experienced criminal justice faculty, who are engaged in innovative research while focusing on helping you succeed.

Analyze current criminal justice practices from a systems perspective, gaining insight into how it should work and how it doesn’t always meet expectations
Study how issues like poverty, homelessness, addiction, and lack of access to public support and services connect with crime and the justice system
Gain a nuanced understanding of why crime occurs, who it affects, and what strategies can help improve public safety

Community Connection

Criminal justice majors have the opportunity to participate in a local placement, gaining real-world experience before they graduate. Some of our placement options include:

7th Judicial Circuit Court–Family Division
Genesee County Circuit Court
Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office
67th District Court Probation Department
Flint Police Department
Michigan State Police
Flint Center for Civil Justice
Genesee County Sheriff’s Department

Why earn your bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at UM-Flint?

Take an interdisciplinary approach

Criminal justice has so many facets, so we guide you through understanding it from a comprehensive perspective across disciplines.

You’ll learn how to apply critical thinking, a social justice perspective, and civic responsibility to your decision-making processes — in both your professional and personal lives.

Connect with the community

Our co-curricular Criminal Justice Club is open to all UM-Flint students, so you can begin to build lifelong professional connections from the start.

You’ll also have the chance to conduct research, connect with professionals in the community, and engage in fieldwork experience designed to meet your interests.

Broaden your perspective

Gain additional knowledge and expertise in one of our many minor or certificate programs. Popular options include:

Free Tuition with the Go Blue Guarantee!

UM-Flint students are automatically considered for the Go Blue Guarantee upon admission, a historic program offering free tuition for high-achieving, in-state undergraduates from lower-income households. Learn more about the Go Blue Guarantee to see if you qualify and how affordable a Michigan degree can be.

Learn about affordability

Curriculum Overview

UM-Flint offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Criminal Justice Minor.

BA in Criminal Justice

Your BA in criminal justice is built on a foundation of sociological theory, complemented by an exploration of race and the justice system in the U.S. You’ll then take methods courses examining criminology and research, and then move into courses specific to policing, law, and corrections. Finally, you’ll select elective courses that will focus and refine your expertise

Explore our BA curriculum

Criminal Justice Minor

This 21-credit program begins with core topics such as sociology, criminology, and our criminal justice system, then allows you to select 12 elective credits to explore everything from crime and media to the sociology of deviance to critical perspectives on corrections, probation, and parole.

Explore our minor curriculum

Career Outlook

If you want a huge range of career opportunities, a Criminal Justice degree from UM-Flint will provide them. Here are just some examples:

Corporate investigator
Correctional officer
Court clerk
Crime prevention specialist
Crime scene investigator

FBI agent
Fingerprint technician
Investigative reporter
Paralegal

Police officer
Probation or parole officer
Victim advocate
Youth correctional counselor

If you’re interested in becoming a prosecuting attorney, defense counsel, judge, or court administrator, a BA in criminal justice is excellent preparation. You’ll also gain a strong background for graduate work, which can lead to a career in research in both the public and private sectors.

Career projects vary widely within the field. Explore the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Protective Service Occupations for more information.

Admission Requirements

Whether you’re a first-year student or a transfer student, we aim to keep the admissions process simple, saving you time and money. We accept applications on a rolling basis; however, we recommend submitting all application materials at least 1 month before you plan to start your first semester. Review our academic calendars to learn more.

When applying to UM-Flint’s BA in Criminal Justice program, please submit the following:

A completed online or paper application
Official transcripts from all previous schools
Review UM-Flint’s complete undergraduate admission requirements.

Have questions about our admissions requirements or application process? Please contact our Office of Undergraduate Admissions at admissions.flint@umich.edu for more detailed information.

Academic Advisor

Megan Presland CASE Director of Student Support Services

meganrv@umich.edu

810-762-3020

Scholarships for Criminal Justice students

Besides being eligible for financial assistance through UM-Flint’s Office of Financial Aid, you can apply for two scholarships specifically for criminal justice majors:

Wilfred G. Marston Internship Fund
Ralph M. and Emmalyn E. Freeman Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice Scholarship