Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Helen Bader School of Social Welfare offers a master's program in Criminal Justice and Criminology. This program is designed to educate students for leadership positions in the field of criminal justice and provides a strong foundation for those anticipating advanced study at the doctoral level.

Overview of the Program

The curriculum is designed to prepare criminal justice professionals to understand all aspects of criminal justice policy, using legal, organizational, political, and behavioral frameworks to analyze the operation of the criminal justice system. Students are introduced to advanced knowledge on the nature and causes of crime, the justification and means of social control, the administration of the justice system, and the evaluation of criminal justice programs.

Requirements for Admission

To be considered for admission, an applicant must meet all Graduate School requirements plus the following program-specific requirements:

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited university in criminal justice, a related social science, or other relevant educational background.
• Undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.
• Applicants with an undergraduate cumulative GPA between 2.75-2.99 may be considered for admission but should address their lower cumulative GPA within their reason statement.
• Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic record and suitability for graduate work.
• It is recommended that applicants have completed a research methods course and a statistics course at the undergraduate level prior to beginning the program.
• Applicants must also submit a brief narrative statement indicating reasons for interest in graduate study.

Credits and Courses

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice consists of a minimum of 30 graduate credits, including:

• 15 credits of required courses:
  • CRM JST 713: Measuring Crime & Analyzing Crime Data
  • CRM JST 743: Proseminar: Administration of Criminal Justice Systems
  • CRM JST 756: Proseminar: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research
  • CRM JST 773: Criminological Perspectives
  • CRM JST 920: Criminal Justice Masters Capstone Seminar
• 9 credits of Criminal Justice Electives
• 6 credit hours taken elsewhere in the School of Social Welfare or in other UWM departments with the prior consent of advisor

Program Options

The student must pursue either Option A: Essay Option, or Option B: Non-Essay Option.

Option A: Essay Option

• Complete the required proseminars.
• Complete 3 credits of research and a graduate-level statistics course approved by the student's faculty advisor.
• Write an acceptable essay on the student's area of concentration.
• Pass a final oral examination in defense of the essay.

Option B: Non-Essay Option

• Complete the 30 graduate credits required, including the three proseminars and the criminal justice capstone seminar course.

Additional Requirements

• The student must have a faculty advisor to advise and supervise the student's studies.
• The student must complete all degree requirements within seven years of initial enrollment.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the MS in Criminal Justice & Criminology Program will be able to:

• Explain the relationship between criminal justice organizations, administration, and policy.
• Explain and critically assess criminological theories to patterns of behavior.
• Explain social science research methods and basic statistical applications.
• Analyze and synthesize empirical research.
• Develop and implement a strong research project in a substantive area of interest within criminal justice and criminology.

Accelerated Program Option

This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program, providing further information on accelerated graduate degrees.