Introduction to Criminology
Self-paced online Introduction to Criminology course (Criminology 150). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →MichiganPublic safety
Five courses that make 15 credits
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Five 3-credit courses make the 15 semester credits MDOC asks for. A practical set for corrections work is Introduction to Criminology, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Abnormal Psychology and English Composition 1. MDOC's page allows any academic area, but ask HR in writing that each course would count before you start.
Why five courses
Most college courses carry 3 semester credits, so five of them make 15. MDOC's current page asks for 15 semester credits, or 23 term credits, in any academic or degree-prerequisite area. That gives you freedom to choose courses that help on the job and could count toward a degree later.
If you already have a few college credits from earlier study, you may need fewer than five courses. Ask HR which of your earlier credits count, then fill the gap with the courses below.
A practical five-course set
Each of these UPI Study courses is 3 credits. The recommendation is shown for each.
| Course | Credits | Recommendation | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Criminology | 3 | NCCRS | Causes of crime and how the justice system responds |
| Introduction to Psychology | 3 | ACE and NCCRS | Behaviour, stress and motivation |
| Introduction to Sociology | 3 | ACE and NCCRS | Groups, institutions and inequality |
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 | NCCRS | Mental illness, common in custody settings |
| English Composition 1 | 3 | NCCRS | Clear writing for incident reports |
Swaps if you prefer
If a course does not suit you, swap it for another academic course. Ethics in the Social Sciences covers decision-making in public service. Advanced Technical Writing, ACE-recommended and NCCRS-recommended, builds on report writing. Keep the total at 15 semester credits.
- Ethics in the Social Sciences (3, NCCRS)
- Advanced Technical Writing (3, ACE and NCCRS)
- Principles of Statistics (3, ACE and NCCRS) if you plan a degree later
Order to take them
Start with the course you find easiest to stay motivated in; momentum matters more than order. Many officers start with Introduction to Criminology or Psychology because the material connects to daily work. Leave English Composition until you have a routine, since it involves the most writing.
Take one course at a time. A steady pace of one course every two to three months finishes all five well inside 24 months, with time left for transcripts.
Getting the credit to MDOC
UPI Study is not a college. The credit reaches MDOC via a college transcript: a college that considers recommended credit reviews your courses and records any credit it awards. TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Before you start, ask MDOC Recruitment or HR in writing whether credit for the named courses, recorded that way, would count toward the 15. If the Michigan Community College Association grant is open to you, compare that route too: it has paid community college tuition for MDOC officers.
A simple study routine
Each 3-credit course has readings, quizzes and a final exam. Officers who finish steadily tend to set a fixed weekly time, such as two evenings and part of a day off, and keep it even on busy weeks.
Before you start, check your rota for the next month and mark the study blocks. If overtime takes a block, move it within the same week rather than skipping it.
- Two to four short sessions a week work better than one long one
- Take notes in your own words; they help on the final exam
- Book the final exam for a day off, not after a night shift
- Record each finished course and date on your one-page tracker
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask MDOC Recruitment or Human Resources in writing whether credit from each named course, on a transcript from an accredited college, would count toward the 15 semester credits, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
do all five courses have to be in criminal justice
No. MDOC's current page says any academic or degree-prerequisite area. Courses linked to the job, such as criminology and psychology, are a sensible choice, but ask HR in writing if you are unsure about a particular course.
how long does it take to finish five courses
It depends on your pace and shifts. At one course every two to three months, five courses take ten to fifteen months, leaving time for a college to review them and send a transcript before your 24-month date.
can these credits count toward a degree later
They might, if a college reviews and records them. Each college decides for its own degree. Introduction to Psychology, Sociology and English Composition fit many associate and bachelor's plans, so ask the college you have in mind.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Abnormal Psychology
Self-paced online Abnormal Psychology course (Psychology 180). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Ethics in the Social Sciences
Self-paced online Ethics in the Social Sciences course (Social Science 110). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Check the MCCA grant and ask MDOC in writing first, then study between shifts at your own pace.
Sources
- MDOC: Officer hiring and qualifications (official)Applicants must have at least 15 semester (or 23 term) credit hours in any academic or degree prerequisite area, or agree to obtain them within 24 months after hire; finishing before the 24-month waiver ends is required to remain employed; tuition and fees for officers who must earn the credits are supported by a programme run by the Michigan Community College Association. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Michigan Legislature: MCL 791.512 (Correctional Officers' Training Act of 1982) (official)Certification as a state correctional officer requires, among other things, a vocational certificate programme or equivalent coursework of 15 semester credit hours or 23 term credit hours from an accredited postsecondary institution, or a relevant degree. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Mid Michigan College: MDOC grant renewal (24 November 2025) (official)The Michigan Corrections Officer Grant, run by the Michigan Community College Association, funds tuition and fees for corrections officers at Michigan community colleges working toward the 15 credits; the renewal ran through 30 September 2026. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.