Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Criminal Justice

Catalog Year 2026-2027

Based on VCCS Curriculum for CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission to Bachelor of Liberal Studies

• Meet eligibility requirements for BLS degree program. Traditional transfer students not meeting these requirements may not pursue Criminal Justice at UMW

• Earn at least 30 transferable credits (grades of "C" or higher required). Courses must be from 100-level or higher

• The five required ADJ courses may be completed at any time pre- or post-matriculation

• Completion of Associate degree is not required for admission to BLS

• Apply to BLS degree program by selecting "Adult Degree Completion" on transfer application

• Request official transcripts from all prior institutions to admit@umw.edu

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/

• Admission Application: Apply by November 1 for spring, March 1 for summer, May 1 for fall by selecting "Adult Degree Completion" on application

• Letter of intent for guaranteed admission requested after 45 credits

• Financial Aid: https://www.umw.edu/financialaid/contact-us/

• FAFSA: Apply by April 1 at studentaid.gov

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites

• Proficiency in a second language is waived for BLS students

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and UMW within your first year

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• The UMW major in Criminal Justice is only open to students earning a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) degree

• Major includes core courses in Administration of Justice (ADJ), Psychology (PSYC), and Sociology (SOCG)

• Features capstone internship experience to provide hands-on training

• Criminal Justice major requires 45 credits overall

• Major includes 15 transfer credits in ADJ from VCCS

• Students must earn minimum of 30 credits at UMW and total of 120 overall credits

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Transfer students with VCCS Associate degree have completed many UMW general education requirements. UMW does not allow students to satisfy Digital Intensive and Diverse & Global Perspectives requirements through transfer coursework

• Dual Enrollment: Students are considered freshman applicants and are not eligible for BLS unless other college-level coursework completed

• Credit for Prior Learning: UMW accepts credit for AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and other qualifying credit. BLS accepts this credit both pre- and post-matriculation

• Catalog Year: Students must complete general education requirements associated with academic year they enroll at UMW

Is This College Right For Me?

• UMW is a small public university in suburban Fredericksburg, VA with small class sizes

• UMW is located between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, VA with multitude of internship opportunities

• The BLS major in Criminal Justice is a daytime program

Did You Know That…

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies many lower division general education requirements

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• Each fall, UMW enrolls approximately 300 transfer students from VCCS and other institutions

• With an Associate degree and 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA, you may qualify for UMW’s BLS program

Do More With Your Degree!

• Most students pursue an internship at some point during their time at UMW

• University and BLS office support students through networking, individual consultations, and campus resources

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• Students must earn at least 30 residential credits at UMW as a degree-seeking student (not including Physical Education credits)

• Up to 6 credits in Physical Education may be counted toward BLS degree

• Students must earn cumulative GPA of 2.0 in both major and overall coursework to complete degree