Graduation can be a daunting goal. Like most worthwhile goals, getting there takes careful planning. In order to help you reach your goal, the College of Science and the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, & Forensic Sciences offers individualized advising for each student. These basic pointers will help you get started:
Every CJC student has an academic advisor assigned to him/her:
- A professional academic advisor knows the requirements of your chosen major. These advisors keep up with university requirements, changes, and policies as well as those for the college and major. They also assist with your progress towards your degree, help secure financial aid, and know where to send you for help. This will be someone in the College of Science Office of Student Services.
If you don’t know who your advisors are, you can find out by logging on to myMU and looking under the “Student” tab. You can also go to the College of Science office in Science Building room 270 and ask.
- See your academic advisor early
Once the schedule for an upcoming semester becomes available, your academic advisor can help you plan which courses you should take in order to move towards graduation. - Be weary of unofficial advice
If someone tells you something about your requirements to graduate who is not a CJC professor or COS advisor, be sure to verify that information with your assigned advisor.
Declaration of your major should be done as soon as possible to insure that you are taking the required courses for graduation. To declare a major, go to the College of Science Office, Science Building 270, and fill out a Declaration of Major Form. At that time you will be assigned an advisor. You should meet with your advisor as soon as possible after declaring your major.
If you are a freshman or sophomore (less than 60 credit hours) or on probation, you must see your advisor before registering each semester. The advisor will need to remove your advisor hold before you can register for courses.
When you become a junior (complete your 60th credit hour), you will need to contact the College of Science Dean’s office and ask for a graduation evaluation. You will return after a few days to discuss the results of your evaluation. You will need to do the same when you become a senior (complete your 90th credit hour).
- See your advisor!
- You often need reference letters to go to graduate school or get a job. Your advisor can be one of these references if they know you.
- Some courses are only offers once per year or once every 2-4 years. See your advisor to find out when courses are offered.
- You can’t always depend on courses being offered in the summer. Very few CJC courses are offered during the summer terms.
- Registering for classes online is very easy, but some students, especially first time freshmen, can be intimidated by the process.
- For most information regarding academic advising, please visit Marshall University Advising.
The Criminal Justice Association (CJA) is a student organization at Marshall University. The benefits of membership include:
- Opportunities to network with other CJ students and faculty
- Eligibility for CJ specific scholarships
- Social and professional networking
- Resume building
- Leadership and community service opportunities
- If you are a CJA member and in the future are invited to join APS (see below), your membership in CJA will automatically be included with no additional membership dues
The objective of the Criminal Justice Association is to develop leaders who will promote positive change in the criminal justice system and in their communities.
Membership in the CJA is open to any Criminal Justice major or minor with at least a 2.0 GPA (Officers must have at least a 2.25 GPA).
Members are expected to attend meetings, participate in events, and assist with community service projects. Members also have opportunities to attend local or regional conferences, where they can compete for knowledge and skill-based awards and network with criminal justice professionals.
For more information about joining the Criminal Justice Association, please email one of the co-advisors, Dr. Wendy Perkins (perkinsw@marshall.edu) or Dr. Kim DeTardo-Bora (detardobora@marshall.edu). Membership applications are located outside the Criminal Justice Graduate Assistant office (Smith Hall 423).
Alpha Phi Sigma (APS) was founded in 1942 and is the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. The objectives of the national honor society are as follows:
- Honor and promote academic excellence, service, leadership, and unity.
- Promote analytical thinking, rigorous scholarships and lifelong learning.
- Elevate the ethical standards of the criminal justice profession.
- Sustain in the public mind the benefit and necessity of education and professional training.
- Assist in the development of professional and personal leadership among students and practitioners.
- Provide opportunities of service to the community and the profession.
- Promote high standards of ethical conduct, professional training, and higher education within the criminal justice field.
The Omega Gamma Chapter of APS is a recognized student organization at Marshall University and is housed in Criminal Justice and Criminology. The goal of the Omega Gamma Chapter is to honor and promote academic excellence, service, leadership, and unity.
Since Alpha Phi Sigma is an honor society, students who qualify are invited to join the group. Requirements for undergraduate membership include: a minimum 3.2 undergraduate GPA overall and in the major, are ranked in the top 35% of their class, completion of at least four criminal justice courses, and completion of at least three semesters of coursework. Graduate students qualify who have a completed four courses in the discipline, have a minimum 3.4 GPA, and rank in the upper 25% of their class.
Members are expected to attend meetings, participate in events, and assist with community service projects. Members also have opportunities to attend regional and national conferences, where they can compete for knowledge and skill-based awards and students can network with criminal justice professionals from all over the United States.
For more information about joining the Omega Gamma Chapter, please email the advisor, Dr. Stephen Young (young250@marshall.edu).
For more information about APS, please visit the Alpha Phi Sigma web site.