Program Description | Admission | Degree Requirements | Courses
Program Description
The Master of Science program in Criminal Justice is designed primarily for persons with or without previous employment experience in the field of criminal justice. It is designed for nontraditional students who have full-time jobs. This degree is available via distance education. Courses are sequenced so that students can complete the degree in two years. The degree prepares students to work in various areas of the criminal justice system including, but not limited to, field positions, administration, organizational management, and social policy. Students who are potentially interested in applying for the PhD program should complete the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Admission
Applications to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program are on a rolling basis, where the fall semester deadline is May 1, and the spring semester deadline is November 1.
Admission considerations include: (1) an undergraduate degree from an accredited academic institution in an allied field; (2) official transcripts of all academic coursework previously undertaken; (3) an GPA of 3.0 or higher; (4) official GRE scores; (5) at least three letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors referencing the applicant’s ability to perform graduate work; (6) a personal essay regarding career background and goals; and (7) international students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based) is required.
A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed with admission offered on a competitive basis.
Degree Requirements
The MS in Criminal Justice does not require a thesis; however, the student must complete a capstone course (CRIJ 6388
Degree Plan - MS in Criminal Justice
|
Item
|
Requirement |
Options |
Hours Required |
| 1 | Required Courses |
Choose all from: CJ 530 <CRIJ 5330> Critical Analysis of Justice Administration CJ 633 <CRIJ 6333> Seminar in Organization and Administration CJ 634 <CRIJ 6334> Research Methods and Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice CJ 636 <CRIJ 6336> Computer/Technology Applications for Criminal Justice CJ 692 <CRIJ 6392> Program Evaluation in Criminal Justice CJ 665 <CRIJ 6365> Community Theory and the Administration of Justice CJ 688 <CRIJ 6388> Emergent Issues in Criminal Justice Leadership1 |
21 |
| 2 | Electives |
Choose five from: 5000/6000 level graduate courses in CRIJ |
15 |
TOTAL |
36 |
||
| Notes: |
| 1 | A grade of B or better in CJ 688 <CRIJ 6388> is required for graduation. |