Program Overview

University Catalog

Criminal Justice Master's

Program Information

The Criminal Justice Master's program is offered by the Department of Criminal Justice. The program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system, including its policies, practices, and theories.

Department Information

• Credential Offered: M.S.
• English Proficiency Requirements: TOEFL ibT 100, IELTS 7, Duolingo 125; to qualify for assistantship TOEFL ibT 114, IELTS 8, Duolingo 135
• Application Deadline: Rolling admission schedule

Course List

The program requires a total of 30 credits. The course list includes:

• Required Foundation Courses:
  • CJ 702: Program Evaluation (3 credits)
  • CJ 703: Advanced Criminology (3 credits)
  • CJ 709: Criminal Justice Policy (3 credits)
  • CJ 734: Advanced Criminal Justice Methods (3 credits)
  • STAT 725: Applied Statistics (not required for Plan C option) (3 credits)
• Plan A - Thesis Option:
  • Foundation Courses (15 credits)
  • Electives (9 credits)
  • CJ 798: Master's Thesis (6 credits)
• Plan B - Master's Paper Option:
  • Foundation Courses (15 credits)
  • Electives (12 credits)
  • CJ 797: Master's Paper (3 credits)
• Plan C - Culminating Experience:
  • Foundation Courses (12 credits)
  • Electives (15 credits)
  • CJ 793: Individual Study (3 credits)
• Electives:
  • Corrections:
    • CJ 707: Juvenile Corrections
    • CJ 733: Issues in Institutional Corrections
    • CJ 762: Community Corrections
    • CJ 763: Correctional Rehabilitation
    • CJ 764: Punishment and Society
  • Policing:
    • CJ 754: Police and Society
    • CJ 760: Police and Race Issues
    • CJ 761: Police Effectiveness
    • CJ 765: Classics in Policing
  • Criminology:
    • CJ 721: Individual Theories of Crime
    • CJ 722: Structural Theories of Crime
    • CJ 752: Crime and the Life Course
    • CJ 750: Violence
    • CJ 768: Gender and Justice
  • Other Electives:
    • CJ 606: Crime and Delinquency
    • CJ 607: Deviant Behavior
    • CJ 660: Criminal Court System (3 credits)
    • CJ 661: Corrections (3 credits)
    • CJ 665: Gender, Race and Ethnicity in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
    • CJ 732: Applied Interpretation of Criminal Justice Methods (3 credits)
    • CJ 755: Criminal Justice Leadership and Administration
    • CJ 759: Advanced Research Design in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
    • CJ 766: Managing Liability and Risk in Criminal Justice
    • CJ 767: Reform and Accountability in Criminal Justice and Crime Policies (3 credits)
    • CJ 796: Special Topics

Admission and Application Requirements

• Graduate School admission and application requirements are found on the Admission Information page.
• In addition, this program requires applicants to have had one course in research methods and one course in statistics.
• Applicants must have documented adequate background preparation or demonstrated potential in the field of criminology or criminal justice.