Criminal Justice

Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Criminal Justice

University of Detroit Mercy's Bachelor of Science with a major in criminal justice prepares you to work in a wide variety of public and private careers at progressive levels of responsibility. These careers can include Federal, state and local policing; government regulatory agencies; private investigation and private security; and careers in corrections including parole and probation as well as institutional corrections. If you are planning to attend law school, a criminal justice major can also provide you with an excellent foundation.

To obtain this undergraduate degree, you must fulfill the requirements of the University core curriculum, the requirements for the 45-credit-hour program major and have completed a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Curriculum & Course Information ▶

Where Could You Be in Five Years?

For ambitious, driven and career-minded incoming freshmen, University of Detroit Mercy offers two options to increase your knowledge and skills as a full-time student for 10 semesters (5 academic years) before entering the workforce:

5 Year Accelerated Cybersecurity Catalog page for course and curriculum information

• Bachelor of Science in Computer & Information Systems (cybersecurity major); Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis

• Bachelor of Science (criminal justice major); Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis
• Bachelor of Science (criminal justice major); Master of Arts (criminal justice major)

In order to complete both the bachelor's and master's degrees in five years, you must:

• Be very well prepared as an incoming freshman or transfer student;
• Satisfy all the admission criteria (see below); and
• Maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA at Detroit Mercy, in order to take graduate level courses while still an undergraduate..

This program allows incoming freshmen to complete both the bachelor's and master's degrees by being a full-time student for 5 academic years (10 consecutive semesters). Juniors at Detroit Mercy may be admitted into the program with the permission of the department and Dean’s Office.

Requirements for Transfer Students

Students transferring in from a community college require permission from the Dean's Office.

In order to complete the bachelor's and master's degrees entering as a transfer student you must:

• Have 60-63 transferable credits.
• Meet the requirements for the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA).
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 throughout the entire undergraduate portion of the program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for graduate courses.
• Maintain full-time status. This is typically 15-18 credit hours per semester, for a total of 102-108 credits for students entering as a senior.
• Finish the bachelor's degree by the end of the fourth year and master's degree by the end of the fifth year. During your senior year, you can take up to two graduate level courses for each term with a maximum of four.

• Students can take summer courses if needed to catch up or advance.
• Students are not required to apply for the graduate portion or take any exams such as GRE if they have met and maintained all accelerated program requirements.

Sample Program for Incoming Freshmen

(Note: Full-time status must be maintained in all semesters)

• First Semester: 9-12 undergraduate credits, 6 graduate credits
• Second Semester: 9-12 undergraduate credits, 6 graduate credits

• First Semester: 6-12 graduate credits (depending on program)
• Second Semester: 6-12 graduate credits (depending on program)

Sample Program for Transfer Students

(Note: Full-time status must be maintained in all semesters) 

Third Year: 30-36 undergraduate credits
Fourth Year:

• First Semester: 9-12 undergraduate credits (6 graduate credits)
• Second Semester: 9-12 undergraduate credits (6 graduate credits)

Fifth Year:

• First Semester: 6-12 graduate credits (depending on program)
• Second Semester: 6-12 graduate credits (depending on program)

Degree: Master of Arts
Major: Criminal Justice
Credits: 36

The Master of Arts with a major in criminal justice is designed for you, as a professional worker (law enforcement, corrections officer, security personnel) and others who desire to further their knowledge of the criminal justice system and its related disciplines. This program will allow you to broaden and deepen your perspective in the criminal justice profession. Problem solving, leadership, critical thinking and the prudent application of theory to practice are skills the program aims to foster. It is developed to meet the need for specialized training for criminal justice suited to its unique functions. Students interested in a generalist's approach to criminal justice will find the course of study appropriate. Law enforcement and corrections personnel acquire a broad background in administrative theory and current criminal justice system concerns.

The course of study can be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis. Faculty regularly communicate with students and get to know their career goals and interests. Typically at least 50 percent of our students are employed full time often in the field they are pursuing so courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening. Courses are designed to enhance students' backgrounds.

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Degree: Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis
Credits: 33

University of Detroit Mercy's Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis builds on traditional courses in the areas of criminal justice and security administration, where the topics of crime foreseeability, threat analysis, crime prevention through environmental design and offender behavior are central. The degree is a 33-credit-hour graduate program. It is ideal for individuals looking to advance their career in this area, as well as for members of the military.

Meeting U.S. Government Demand

This master's program is designed to help meet U.S. government demand for more specialists in the area of intelligence analysis to assist in the tasks of homeland security in the face of threats from global terrorism.

Border City Location

As a major border city, one which has the highest volume of commercial traffic with a foreign country of any U.S. city, the Detroit-Windsor area is uniquely located to provide corporate, local law enforcement and national government opportunities, issues and situations relevant to intelligence analysis.

Forecasting Risk

The field of intelligence analysis uses "open intelligence" information to provide forecasts of risks and benefits to guide governmental, law enforcement and private industry decision making.

These forecasts involve use of available data and news sources to analyze crime patterns, security threats, possible terrorist targets and other relevant societal trends.

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Degree: Master of Science in Cybercrime
Credits: 30

University of Detroit Mercy’s Master of Science in Cybercrime combines criminal justice studies with focused aspects of cybersecurity to provide a deeper understanding of digital forensics, cyber defense operations and computer networking for those coming from law enforcement, legal and private sector operational security backgrounds. This fully online 30-credit-hour program can be completed in two years.

Critical Need

Internet-based crime is one of the fastest-growing security threats in the United States. The proliferation of crime perpetuated using the Internet and technology requires individuals to have both knowledge and capabilities in criminal justice and the technical abilities of cybersecurity to identify, respond, and effectively handle data and countermeasures necessary to assist in the prosecution of cybercriminals.

Commitment to High Standards

The program is aligned with both the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s national cybersecurity strategies. In addition, to ensure the highest standards of quality, several sources were referenced for curriculum design including CSEC2017, Cybersecurity Curricula 2017, NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), Education for Justice (E4J) Initiative and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Unique Approach

Detroit Mercy’s Master of Science in Cybercrime utilizes a unique approach with interdisciplinary collaboration between the University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Department of Cybersecurity & Information Systems.

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