COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

DEGREE PROGRAMS

[Course Descriptions]

The College of Criminal Justice offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology, a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management, and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice. The Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts programs are designed primarily to prepare graduate students to conduct research in the various areas of criminological theory, crime control, correctional and police administration, and social rehabilitation. These programs are based on a multidisciplinary study of the behavioral sciences as they apply to these specialized areas.

The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management is designed to serve the needs of the experienced professional in criminal justice. Course content is aimed at developing and enhancing managerial skills. This program is offered in an Intensive Semester time frame. To be considered for admission, the applicant to the Master of Science program must be currently employed in a criminal justice occupation in a management position or aspiring to become employed in a management position, with a minimum of two years experience.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is available to students with or without previous employment experience in criminal justice. Course content is aimed at providing a base of knowledge and skills necessary to administer criminal justice-related programs. Courses are offered at The University Center in The Woodlands and carry residence credit.

The deadline for submitting applications to the Master of Arts program, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program, and the Doctor of Philosophy program is April 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester. The deadline for submitting applications to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Management program is July 1 for the fall semester. Though applicants are considered after the deadline, priority is given to those applicants who have submitted their applications on time.

Graduate students in the College of Criminal Justice are expected to maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Two grades of "C" are grounds for dismissal from the program. Students should consult the Criminal Justice Graduate Student Handbook (available on-line) for a more detailed description of policies regarding academic standards. All students, regardless of program degree, must declare a major with the graduate office by completing a declaration of official major form.

GEORGE J. BETO CHAIR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

In 1979, Houston Endowment Inc. established a fund for the George J. Beto Chair of Criminal Justice, the first endowed chair in criminal justice in the nation. Houston Endowment Inc. is a philanthropic trust established by the late Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones to benefit educational, cultural and religious organizations. The award provides for the support of an annual lecture series of distinguished professors and professionals.

The late Dr. George J. Beto, former Director of the Texas Department of Corrections and an internationally recognized authority on criminology and corrections, was designated by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice at the University. In 1991, the Criminal Justice Center was renamed the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center by action of the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System.

The Master of Arts Degree Program Major in Criminal Justice and Criminology

Admission to the Master of Arts program is based on the Admissions Committee's assessment of the applicant's scores on the Graduate Record Examination, the undergraduate academic record, and letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors. In some instances a personal interview will also be requested.

The normal expectations are: (1) that the applicant has, or will soon have, an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in an allied field; (2) a minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average; (3) a score of 500 in each of the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination; (4) at least two letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors, and (5) foreign students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) is required. The deadline for submitting applications to the Master of Arts program is April 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester.

The Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology is a 37-hour degree which includes a thesis. The University's comprehensive examination requirement is met by successful defense of the thesis. No minor is required.

Required Substantive Courses: 9 hours

CJ 530	Critical Analysis of Justice Administration
CJ 532	Perspectives in Criminology
CJ 593	Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System

Required Support Sequence: 7 hours

CJ 592	Survey of Research Methods
CJ 685	Statistics for Criminal Justice Research
CJ 615	Criminal Justice Statistics Lab

Electives: Fifteen (15) hours of graduate course work at the 500, 600, or 700 level.
Thesis: Six (6) hours (CJ 698, CJ 699)

The Master of Arts degree is designed to prepare graduate students to conduct research and actively participate in the development of knowledge in the areas of criminological theory, crime control, and correctional and police administration. The curriculum is broad enough to satisfy these various interests. Students who are planning careers in law enforcement, corrections or rehabilitation, or who wish a deeper understanding of crime and the criminal justice system should confer with the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs to develop a combination of elective courses which will support their particular career interests. In exceptional cases, the Graduate Admissions Committee may consider students eligible for the Master of Arts program for admission into the Ph.D. program. Information regarding this process is provided in the Graduate Student Handbook and the Doctoral Curriculum, Master's Degree Not Completed, described below.

The Master of Science Degree Program Major in Criminal Justice Management

Intensive Weekend Program

The Master of Science program with a major in Criminal Justice Management is designed for persons in mid-management positions in criminal justice agencies, or for those who have a reasonable expectation of being promoted to such a position. It serves practitioners whose jobs and family commitments prevent them from returning to campus as full-time students. The Master of Science program restructures classroom hours allowing the fully-employed person to earn a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management in two years. On-campus classroom attendance requires about seven weekends each spring and fall semester and during the combined summer sessions. Roughly 36 days are spent in class each year along with extensive home study. A student in full-time attendance earns six credit hours in each of the fall and spring semesters and combined summer sessions, totaling 18 credit hours per year.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice Management students are admitted only in the fall semester. The deadline for submitting applications to the Master of Science program is July 1.

Admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Management program in the College of Criminal Justice requires: (1) an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in an allied field; (2) a minimum of 3.0 undergraduate grade point average; (3) a score of 500 in each of the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination; (4) a reference letter from the applicant's employer indicating awareness of the time commitment involved over the next two-year period, and willingness to enable the employee to keep his/her weekend commitments; (5) current employment in a criminal justice occupation with a minimum of two years experience, and (6) foreign students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) is required.

The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management is a 36-hour degree. No thesis is required, but the student completes a directed management project which involves a major analysis of an occupationally-related problem. Students complete a capstone course with a grade of B or better to satisfy the University's comprehensive examination requirement.

Other elective special readings courses may be substituted with the approval of the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.

*Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The Master of Science Degree Program Major in Criminal Justice

The Master of Science program in Criminal Justice is designed primarily for persons who aspire to management positions in the field of criminal justice. It is designed for nontraditional students who have full-time jobs. Courses are scheduled primarily at night at The University Center in The Woodlands, and sequenced so that students can complete the degree in two years. The degree prepares students to work in various areas of criminal justice administration including, but not limited to, organizational management and social policy. The deadline for fall admission is April 1 and the deadline for spring admissions is October 1. Admissions are considered after the deadlines, but priority is given to those applicants who complete the admissions process on time.

Admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program in the College of Criminal Justice requires documentation of: (1) successful completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited academic institution in an allied field; (2) a minimum of 3.0 overall undergraduate grade point average; (3) a score of 500 in each of the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination; (4) at least two letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors referencing the applicant's ability to perform graduate work, and (5) foreign students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) is required.

There is no thesis requirement, but the student completes a directed management project which involves a major analysis of an occupationally-related problem. Students complete a capstone course (CJ 637) with a grade of B or better to satisfy the University's comprehensive exam requirement. Students should seek advisement from the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs in planning a course of study. The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice is a 36-hour degree.

Required Substantive Courses: 21 hours

CJ 530	Critical Analysis of Justice Administration
CJ 532	Perspectives in Criminology
CJ 633	Seminar in Organization and Administration
CJ 634	Basic Research Methods and Planning Resources
CJ 636	Computer Applications for Criminal Justice Management
CJ 637	Directed Management and Development Projects
CJ 665	Community Theory and the Administration of Justice

Electives: 15 hours

Five elective courses will be chosen around a coherent theme based on the student's area of interest with the guidance of the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs. The Graduate Office will provide students with a list of suggested electives for a particular area

Master of Science in Forensic Science*

The Master of Science in Forensic Science program requires completion of 45 graduate semester hours and can be completed in two years. Coursework will focus on the collection, preservation, analysis, and presentation of forensic evidence. Graduates of this scientist-practitioner program will be prepared to consult with various agencies within the criminal justice system. This unique program will be the first of its kind in Texas and one of only a handful of such programs in North America.

The minimum requirements for application to the program are: (1) a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in chemistry, or biology, or criminal justice (with a strong background in chemistry, biology, physics, botany), or a related field; (2) a score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination, adding the Verbal and Quantitative Scores; (3) three letters of recommendation, at least two from academic sources; and (4) a 3.0 undergraduate GPA.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice is designed to produce students of crime and justice who possess (1) a deep and extensive awareness of the body of knowledge in the field of criminal justice and, (2) the intellectual and methodological skills necessary for the continuing process of discovery and understanding of crime and justice related issues. The graduate should be capable of integrative and analytical thinking, competent at transmitting knowledge, able to engage in various accepted modes of research, and should possess skills in problem-solving.

To accomplish this, the College of Criminal Justice has a faculty of diverse scholars committed to the study of crime and justice issues. The curriculum includes courses that provide theoretical and applied knowledge of the phenomena of crime and criminal justice. In addition to the demonstration of excellence in the classroom, students are expected to engage in research in accordance with personal specialized interests beyond specified courses.

Through the combined efforts of faculty and students, the Doctor of Philosophy program in Criminal Justice produces students capable of making contributions to criminal justice through the academic and applied components of the discipline. The curriculum is designed to ensure that graduates are well equipped to participate in criminological positions emphasizing research, theory, and administration.

Requirements for Admission

1. A master's degree in Criminal Justice or an allied field. In exceptional cases, students may be admitted into an integrated Master of Arts-Ph.D. program. See the Doctoral Curriculum, Master's Degree Not Completed, described below.
2. A minimum score of 500 in each of the Verbal and Quantitative Sections of the Graduate Record Examination.
3. Undergraduate and graduate transcripts for all academic work. Grades must show evidence of the ability to do doctoral level work. A minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average and a minimum 3.5 graduate grade point average are required.
4. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty who are sufficiently acquainted with the student to comment on potential for success in the doctoral program.
5. An original essay as described in the doctoral application form.
6. Foreign students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless they have completed a degree in the United States. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) is required.

All of the foregoing items must be on file in the College of Criminal Justice prior to admission to the program. The candidate for admission will be advised of the committee's decision in writing.

Requirements for Completing the Ph.D. Program

All formal requirements for completing the Ph.D. are described in the Graduate Student Handbook (available on-line) and may vary from one student to another, depending upon previous academic preparation. The following guidelines are offered to demonstrate the nature of the doctoral program and should not be misconstrued as representing the formal requirements for a Ph.D.

1. Students should consult with the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs to design a course of study beyond the master's degree that will provide an in-depth knowledge in the areas of research and statistics, criminological theory, criminal justice administration and legal issues in criminal justice.
2. Students must register full-time, a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester, on campus for at least two consecutive long semesters. Transfer credit of up to a maximum of six hours of post-master's course work may be allowed toward electives, at the discretion of the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.
3. Students must maintain a B average in all courses. Students should consult the Graduate Student Handbook (available on-line) for a more detailed description of policies regarding academic standards.
4. Students must pass comprehensive examinations.
5. Students must complete and defend a doctoral dissertation, which is the product of original scholarly research and is of such quality as to represent a meaningful contribution to knowledge in the field of criminal justice.
6. Students who enter with a master's degree have six years to complete the doctoral degree from the first semester they register.

THE DOCTORAL CURRICULUM Master's Degree Completed

Possible Stem Work Required
Substantive Courses

CJ 530	Critical Analysis of Justice Administration (3 hours)
CJ 532	Perspectives in Criminology (3 hours)
CJ 593	Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System (3 hours)

Support Sequence

CJ 592	Survey of Research Methods (3 hours)
CJ 685	Statistics for Criminal Justice Research (3 hours)
CJ 615	Criminal Justice Statistics Lab (1 hour)

Required Substantive Courses
To be chosen from:

Criminology*	9 hours
Criminal Justice**	9 hours
Subtotal Number of Hours		18 hours

*(CJ 532, 563, 660, 737, 739 or 760)
**(CJ 530, 533, 534, 572, 593, 632, 633, 635, 639, 661, 693, 696, 730, 733,
734, 736, 738 or 780)

Required Support Sequence

CJ 742 Advanced Statistics I	4 hours
CJ 787 Research Design	3 hours
CJ 793 Practicum in Data Analysis	3 hours
Subtotal Number of Hours		10 hours
Electives		18 hours
Dissertation		12 hours
Total Hours		58 hours

Comprehensive Exams: Criminology, Criminal Justice

THE DOCTORAL CURRICULUM Master's Degree Not Completed

Required Substantive Courses

CJ 530 Critical Analysis of Justice Administration	3 hours
CJ 532 Perspectives in Criminology	3 hours
CJ 593 Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System	3 hours

And to be chosen from:

Criminology*	9 hours
Criminal Justice**	9 hours
Subtotal Number of Hours		27 hours

*(CJ 532, 563, 660, 737, 739 or 760)
**(CJ 530, 533, 534, 572, 593, 632, 633, 635, 639, 661, 693, 696, 730, 733,
734, 736, 738 or 780)

Required Support Sequence

CJ 592 Survey of Research Methods	3 hours
CJ 685 Statistics for Criminal Justice Research	3 hours
CJ 615 Criminal Justice Statistics Lab	1 hour
CJ 742 Advanced Statistics I	4 hours
CJ 787 Research Design	3 hours
CJ 793 Practicum in Data Analysis	3 hours
Subtotal Number of Hours		17 hours

Comprehensive Exams: Criminology, Criminal Justice

ADVISEMENT

Academic Advisement

The Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs conducts all academic advisement. At least a month before the end of each semester, graduate students should contact that office for advisement for the next term. All the readings courses, special projects, internships, practicums, and workshops for students must be coordinated by the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs. The Degree Plan for each graduate student is developed in consultation with the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.

Students are encouraged to consider the makeup of the comprehensive examinations before they develop a degree plan to ensure they will have a base of knowledge in the primary areas of the curriculum by the time they finish the course work.

Doctoral students are authorized to enroll in courses at the 500 through the 800 levels. If it is necessary for a student to do stem work in order to meet the prerequisites for graduate courses, those credit hours will be in addition to the classroom hours required for the doctoral degree.

The normal course load during the fall or spring semester is 9 hours. During a summer session, the maximum permissible load is 6 hours.

NON-CLASSROOM COURSES

Specialized Readings (CJ 770): Enrollment requires prior permission of the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs and the supervising faculty which is given only when necessary to meet specific needs of the student and the College.

DOCTORAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

The purpose of the doctoral comprehensive examination is two-fold. The primary purpose is to ensure that each student has gained a satisfactory understanding of the core areas of the curriculum. The secondary purpose is to provide the student and faculty an opportunity to identify areas of deficiency and to establish for the student a program of study to remedy those deficiencies. Consult the Graduate Student Handbook (available on-line) for a more detailed description of the process.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

Admission to candidacy is granted upon successful completion of all course work and passing of the written comprehensive examinations.

DISSERTATION

A doctoral dissertation must be the product of original scholarly research and must be of such quality as to represent a meaningful contribution to knowledge in the field of criminal justice. It is expected that much time and effort will be devoted to the dissertation phase of the doctoral program. Consult the Graduate Student Handbook (available on-line) for a more detailed description of the doctoral dissertation requirements.

For application forms or further information, write or call:

Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs
College of Criminal Justice
Sam Houston State University
Box 2296
Huntsville, Texas 77341-2296
Phone: (936) 294-1647
FAX: (936) 294-1653
E-mail inquiries can be made through the College of Criminal Justice's internet address (www.shsu.edu/cjcenter).