Criminal Justice Advisement Tips
This information is provided to help you understand the advisement process at UTC. Final responsibility rests with the student to become familiar with degree requirements and university policies. Highlights of some of the general guidelines are summarized below. It is important that you consult with your advisor on a regular basis regarding career goals, degree requirements, work schedule, and course selections to ensure that you receive accurate information and make good progress toward graduation. If you have questions please ask your advisor and/or other faculty members and seek clarification. For especially "tricky" problems, make sure that you consult the program coordinator. This is Dr. Roger Thompson for undergraduates and Dr. Gale Iles for graduate students.
Frequently asked questions: (click on the question for the answer)
- What can I expect from my advisor?
- What Catalog do I use in determining degree requirements?
- What do differences in course numbers mean?
- What courses should I take first?
- Which criminal justice curriculum applies to me?
- What do I need to know about general education requirements?
- How do you drop or add a class?
- Does the Criminal Justice Major require a Minor?
- Can work experience within the field be used to meet degree requirements?
- What are the Undergraduate Residency Requirements?
- What performance level (grade) must be achieved for the course to count toward my degree program?
- What can I do if I do poorly in a course?
- Do I have to take an Internship?
- What other courses across campus relate to my major?
- Can I take courses in the evening?
- Do all courses taken from other colleges and universities transfer to UTC?
- What happens if I think I have already taken the same course at another institution but that UTC has not given me credit for an equivalent course?
- What do I need to do during my senior year for graduation?
Undergraduate Program
What can I expect from my advisor?
The academic advisor serves as the coordinator of your educational experience. In that role, the advisor can help you clarify
your goals, explore career options, plan an educational program, and schedule classes needed to meet the requirements of your
program. Also, the advisor monitors and evaluates your progress and attempts to match your needs with UTC's available resources.
In order for your advisor to be of assistance to you, you must clearly and consistently convey your intentions and academic-related
actions to your advisor. You should also be familiar with course descriptions and titles as well as the prerequisites for various
classes. Your advisor is just that - an advisor. You are responsible for making informed choices and for completing registration forms.
A few days before registration is NOT the best time for this activity because so many students, especially new ones, are seeking time
and assistance. To maximize the effectiveness of your advisor, plan ahead (which includes remembering to check -- and use -- the
specific office hours that are established by your professor each semester).
What Catalog do I use in determining degree requirements?
You use the catalog that was in effect the year that you began your program (as long as you graduate within 10 years) OR you
may elect to use the catalog in effect at the time you graduate. You make this determination. Students also may elect to use
the catalog in effect when a new major is selected or a catalog reflecting a revised curriculum. Transfer students may use the catalog
in effect at the time of their first entry into college provided that the UTC degree is conferred within 10 years of that entry date.
Your advisor will help you determine which of these options best fits your needs.
What do differences in course numbers mean?
Courses are numbered from 100 to the 400 level. Course number on the 100 level are generally geared towards freshmen students
and are intended to provide an overview of the course material and to introduce the related vocabulary. Course levels numbered
200 and 300 are more specific in content, while 400-level courses integrate the vocabulary and concepts and introduce the
applications of information learned at the earlier levels. As course numbers ascend, professors assume that your knowledge and
experience will allow you to handle increasingly self-directed courses of study therefore more autonomous study is usually required
at the higher levels.
What courses should I take first?
Students should try to take the two introductory courses as soon as possible. These are: CRMJ 110: Introduction to the Criminal
Justice System and CRMJ 170: Introduction to Criminal Law.
In addition, CRMJ 211 -- Information Systems is approved for entry level
and transfer students as well as upper level students. This course introduces the fundamentals of criminal justice research and
information systems. Ideally it should be taken early on in the major, as it will assist the student in working on projects and
papers in their other classes. It also is approved as a computer literacy course for general education. Students who major in
criminal justice must take this required course which will meet their computer literacy requirement for general education. However,
non-majors also may enroll in this course to meet general education requirements if their major does not require a specific computer
literacy course.
CRMJ 295 Violence against Women may be used to fullfil major requirments, but also is a general education course
that satisfies the social science requirement.
Which criminal justice curriculum applies to me?
Effective Fall of 1999, a new criminal justice curriculum was put into place as outlined in the 99-00 catalog. This curriculum is
available for review on the web. Generally the differences are twofold: 1) there no longer are specific concentrations and 2) there
is more flexibility to tailor electives toward your specific areas of interest. Students who have started under the old curriculum
may opt to change catalogs and use the new major if they so desire.
What do I need to know about general education requirements?
Many important changes in general education became effective in the Fall of 1999. If you are operating out of the 99-00 or later
catalog, you will want to familiarize yourself with these requirements by visiting the GenEd website. In addition, transfer students
may be eligible for some special waivers of these requirements. See your advisor or visit this website for more information.
How do you drop or add a class?
If you need to add a class and the class is full, you may get the instructor and/or the department head to sign a closed class form
or in some cases you may be able to get put on a waiting list. There is a great deal of schedule changing at the beginning of each semester,
and chances are very good that an opening will arise, particularly if you are in your junior or senior year. Remember dropping a
class does not require the signature of your advisor, but you may overlooking a degree requirement which that class might satisfy. If
you are a junior or above, be sure to consult your advisor before changing your schedule. (Caution: Class changes cost the University time
and money, so plan ahead as much as possible!)
Does the Criminal Justice Major require a Minor?
Criminal Justice majors do not have to have a minor. It may be advantageous, however, to do so. Popular minors that work well with a criminal justice major are: Legal Assistant Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Women's Studies.
Can work experience within the field be used to meet degree requirements?
Yes. Individuals who have not earned a baccalaureate degree may be eligible to receive credit for work experience, in-service
training and certified professional programs through the UTC Individualized Education Program (IEP). Up to 30 elective hours can be
awarded for work-related experience. Normally, IEP credits will not apply toward the last 30 hours of residency Information
concerning IEP is available in the Office of Cooperative Education, located at 233 University Center, (423) 425-4735. You can also
email Dr. Hugh Prevost.
What are the Undergraduate Residency Requirements?
Effective Fall 2000, all students must meet the following requirements:
- At least twenty-five (25) percent of the minimum credit semester hours must be earned under the direction of UTC faculty.
- The last twenty-four (24) semester hours must be completed at UTC.
- At least forty-two (42) credit hours must be taken at the 300/400 level.
- At least twelve (12) credit hours must be earned at the 300/400 level in the UTC program or department offering the degree.
- At least sixty-four (64) credit hours must be taken at senior level institutions.
What performance level (grade) must be achieved for the course to count toward my degree program?
Effective with the 99-00 catalog, students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all required Criminal Justice courses and
average a 2.0 or better in all coursework applied toward the major. The internship is graded Satisfactory/No Credit and does not
affect the overall GPA in the major.
What can I do if I do poorly in a course?
You may repeat a course and replace the grade. UTC allows a student a total of five (5) grade replacements for grades of "C" and lower.
This includes replacement grades here at UTC and those at any other institution. The repeated courses are not used to calculate your GPA,
but you also forfeit any credit hours that were awarded when you first took the course.
Do I have to take an Internship?
Internships are a rewarding way for students to get experience in the field and they are highly recommended. Effective with the 99-00
catalog, the internship is an elective course. It is available for 3, 6, or 9 credit hours. Before making a decision about this option you
must consult with the internship coordinator, Dr. Thompson who determines appropriate placements and makes referrals. Ideally, you
should contact Dr. Thompson the semester before placement to ensure a smooth transition. Students need to be aware that they will need to
devote a substantial amount of time to an internship placement (about 100 agency hours per 3 hours of academic credit). The internship
is graded S/NC (pass/fail).
What other courses across campus relate to my major?
The framework of the curriculum allows flexibility for students to explore and develop their interests. Special courses in forensics
are available through Chemistry and Anthropology. Emergency Services coursework is available through Human Services Management.
It also is a good idea to take courses from Social Work, Psychology, Communication, Sociology, and Spanish.
Can I take courses in the evening?
Required courses and some electives are rotated between day and evening timeslots thereby affording completion of major on either track.
The menu of classes to choose from will necessarily be smaller during evening hours but you can complete the major if you are only able
to attend courses at night.
Do all courses taken from other colleges and universities transfer to UTC?
The answer to this question is usually yes -- if the educational institution is accredited and if a passing grade was received.
Some courses may count as elective credit though rather than direct equivalencies toward your major.
What happens if I think I have already taken the same course at another institution but UTC has not given me credit for an equivalent course?
A number of questions usually surround transfer credits. The UTC transcript evaluation specialist tries their best to determine
course equivalencies. However, what is available for review is often quite limited. If you think you have taken a substantially similar
course, consult with your advisor. You can petition this course through a committee that has the power to change the initial
classification. It is important to note, that as a general rule, UTC will not grant 300/400 level credit for a course taken at the 100/200
level even if the course is quite similar in description. The rational is that 100/200 level courses are taught at a lower and less demanding
level in terms of workload requirements and mastery of the material.
What do I need to do during my senior year for graduation?
The student is responsible for applying for a degree with the Office of Records at the beginning of his or her final year. A student
who neglects to file an application must wait until the next degree-conferring period to be awarded the degree.
A second mandatory item involves testing requirements at both the departmental and university levels. Every student is required
to take the Criminal Justice Senior Exam and the UTC Senior Exam. Evaluative information obtained through testing is used to improve
the educational experience for future students and allows us to assess the quality of our program.
