The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program will broaden and deepen students’ understanding of the criminal justice system through advanced analysis and research combined with extensive experiential-learning opportunities.
Program Highlights
Flexible Format
In-person
Full- or part-time available
Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà undergraduate students can take credit hours towards a master's degree before they earn their bachelor’s degree
33 credit hours
No GMAT/GRE Required
Program Objectives
The goal is to train students to become thoughtful, caring, inclusive, and active professionals committed to fairness, human rights, and constitutional remedies. This program will sharpen research and critical thinking skills and develop advanced knowledge in criminal justice content areas. The goals of this program include:
Preparing students to be mature, competent, and effective scholars and/or working professionals in the criminal justice field.
Developing in students advanced understanding of criminal justice content areas such as criminal justice policy, law and society, criminal procedure, crime prevention, juvenile justice, policing and corrections.
Promoting and developing in students an understanding of multiple perspectives, conflicting values, and the role of advanced research-based knowledge and critical thinking in the criminal justice field.
Preparing students for application to Ph.D. programs in criminal justice.
Graduation Requirements
Before completion of the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program, students will take the required 33 credit hours and:
Demonstrate an understanding of how to function effectively and with advanced competence in criminal justice occupations and organizations.
Demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking skills to sophisticated criminal justice readings, produce publication-quality academic writing, and deliver professional presentations.
Demonstrate the ability to apply advanced theoretical frameworks to the criminal justice system and explain the multiple perspectives and value conflicts inherent in the history of the U.S. criminal justice system.
Demonstrate the ability to analyze, formulate, and assess social policies.
Demonstrate professional values and conduct such that the program faculty can recommend the student to employers, doctoral programs, and law schools.
Additionally, a 3.0 cumulative GPA is required to continue in each program. Please review the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy in the Graduate Catalog for information regarding good academic standing.
Admissions
Requirements
Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Undergraduates Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà undergraduate students are eligible for provisional admission if they have earned a minimum of 90 credit hours and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above.
Prospective Graduate Students with Bachelor’s Degrees Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited higher education institution are eligible for admission if they have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. They may apply prior to the semester in which they wish to matriculate.
Application Process and Deadlines
External applicants interested in the Criminal Justice master’s program should apply during the semester before they wish to begin taking courses. Internal applicants who are interested in participating in the 4+1 Criminal Justice program should apply during the second semester of their junior year. Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
Application Requirements
Completed application
Official final transcripts (unofficial copy accepted for Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà applicants)
Statement of Purpose detailing why you are seeking admission and how you would be successful in the program
Three letters of recommendation
Bachelor's degree from an accredited higher education institution
