Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to see an advisor?
Seeing an advisor is not mandatory for students with 61 credits hours and above. However, is highly recommended to visit an advisor at least once per semester to make sure you are on the right track for graduation.
When is an advisor available?
An advisor is available every month of the year except for holidays, when the office is closed, and occasional personal days. Advisors at the Criminal Justice Department see students by appointment ONLY. To schedule an appointment, visit the following links (according to the first letter of your last name):
Last Names A through K: Contact the CLASS Center at classcenter@utep.edu.
Last Names L through Z: (Your advisor is: Cynthia Marrufo)
When is the best time to see an advisor?
Registration for fall semester opens during the months of March or April while registration for spring and summer opens during October or November. Getting an advising appointment during these times might be difficult, thus getting an appointment during the not busy times is suggested.
How many classes do I need to graduate?
This question varies on each student and highly depends on the catalog term in which the student started the program. However, a general answer can be once you are "core completed," you will need 12 classes for Criminal Justice, about 6-7 classes for the minor of your choosing, 2-4 classes for the foreign language and 6 classes to fulfill the block electives.
I cannot register for courses. I keep getting an error.
Depending on the error, will depend on the solution. Common errors are:
- Closed Course-- All closed classes require that you put yourself on the wait List. When an opening occurs, the Records Office will email you and you will have only 24 hours to register for the class. If you do not register in that time, you will lose your place in line and must sign up for the wait list again.
- Department Approval-- The department must grant approval for you to register. This is typical for Internships, Independent study, or Study Abroad to mentioned a few.
- Prerequisite- If you get this error, you have not fulfilled the required Prerequisite for this course, which may be to complete another course or achieve a certain grade in a course prior to enrolling in the desired course. If you are currently taking the prerequisite course, please contact the department offering the course.
- Academic Probation-- If your GPA drops below 2.0, you are automatically placed on Academic Probation. You must call to make an appointment with one of the Class Center Advisors at (915) 747-5588 or by stopping by their office at LART #302.
- Class Restriction- this restriction means that the class is limited to only certain types of students (e.g., seniors, graduate students) and is not open to students who are not part of that group. This restriction may be lifted, contact the department as the decision is at their discretion.
- Field of Study-this restriction means that the class is limited to students pursuing that major. If you are pursuing a minor in that field, you must contact the department directly and ask for their approval.
Can I get an override into a closed class?
It depends—each class is scheduled in a room with only a specific number of seats. When the seats fill to capacity, no more students can be let in until someone drops or is dropped. A wait-list is available that a student must sign-up for and monitor on their own by checking their 成人头条 email daily. If the class is online, you can email the instructor to find out if a capacity waiver can be granted.
OK, so how do I add myself to the wait list for a closed class?
On the Registration page of Goldmine, go to “Add/Drop classes.” At the bottom of the page, enter the CRN# of the closed class and “Submit.” The “class error” will appear as well as a drop down menu with the option to enroll for the Wait list. Highlight the option “enroll into the waitlist” and “Submit changes.” The page should refresh and the course will show with your other added courses. IMPORTANT: Being added to the wait list does NOT guarantee you a spot in the class. You will need to check your 成人头条 email daily. Once a spot opens up, you are notified on your 成人头条 student e-mail, and then you have only 24 hours to register before the computer kicks you out of line, and moves on to the next person on the list.
I do not know how many classes I need-- how do I get a copy of my degree plan?
You can generate a copy of your own degree plan on your Goldmine account at any time. Log in with your username and password to your “my.utep.edu” account. Click on “Goldmine,” then “Student Records,” and then “Degree Evaluation.” Select the term (semester and year) and press “Submit.” Select your degree and click on “Generate Degree.” You can also request a copy at the department’s front desk.
What are block electives? Didn’t I complete art or a psychology course already?
Block electives are six upper division (33XX or 43XX level) courses (18 hours) in the areas of Fine and Performing Arts, Humanities and Social Behavioral Sciences that are outside of your major and minor areas. You must complete a minimum of one class per area, but no more than three under the same block. You may have completed an art or psychology course, but those were lower division (13XX or 23XX) and they are fulfilling your core classes
Why do I have to take a foreign language?
Foreign language is a requirement to complete your Liberal Arts degree. Spanish is not the only option you have, you have other languages available to you. If you are interested in Spanish, a placement exam is first needed before you enroll to assess your placement level. An optional placement exam is available for French as well. Go to the website for more information at
Once you have received your scores, please share this information with your advisor.
Is the Criminal Justice online the same as the traditional on-campus?
Starting fall 2016, the degree requirements for both the on-campus and the online Majors are the exact same, but the online degree is delivered on a slightly different schedule—with each class lasting only 7-weeks. The online degree does not require a minor however, the 18 hours needed for the minor must be completed through Additional Elective hours. The foreign language is still needed however; Spanish is the only option online. Therefore, the student must take the Spanish placement exam.
Are there any internships? If so how can I go about participating?
Internships are available only in the on-campus degree for students who have completed the core requirements, and have a Criminal Justice GPA 2.75 or above. It is a 1-2 semester commitment, depending on the agency. Criminal background checks are conducted.
*All internship opportunities must be approved by the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Stacie Ordonez (saordonez@utep.edu).
Can I switch from the on-campus CJ degree to the online CJ degree?
There are typically less choices than with the on-campus degree, and not all courses that the student may need will be available at the time of the switch. Request a change of major consultation by emailing ucadvising@utep.edu please be aware that this change requires approval from the department offering the program