Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) is a graduate program designed to prepare students for careers in federal, state, county, and local criminal justice agencies, including management and administration, research and analysis, teaching positions, and continued education at the doctoral level.

Program Details

The program requires a minimum of 33 credit hours, including 24 credit hours of criminal justice coursework. There are two options: an internship option (Option 1) and an area research paper option (Option 2).

Program Options

• Option 1: Internship
  • 15 credit hours of required coursework
  • 3-credit hour internship
  • 6 credit hours minimum of criminal justice electives
  • 9 credit hours of criminal justice or noncriminal justice electives
• Option 2: Area Research Paper
  • 15 credit hours of required coursework
  • 3-credit hour area paper
  • 6 credit hours minimum of criminal justice electives
  • 9 credit hours of criminal justice or noncriminal justice electives

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is based on a holistic review of credentials, including:

• Undergraduate institutional GPA
• Academic preparation as demonstrated by quality and relevance of undergraduate degree major
• Personal statement outlining future career goals in criminal justice and how the degree will help achieve those goals
• Letter of recommendation from a current or past professor, or two letters from supervisors or professional colleagues
• Resume or CV

Degree Requirements

To earn the degree, students must:

• Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the core
• Earn no less than a "C+" in any core course
• Maintain an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher

Criminal Justice Course Requirements

The program includes the following major courses:

• CCJ 6008: Criminal Justice Theory (3 credits)
• CCJ 6061: Criminological Theory (3 credits)
• CCJ 6704: Research Methodology (3 credits)
• CCJ 6705: Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Data (3 credits)
• Select one of the following:
  • CCJ 6006: Criminal Justice Administration
  • CCJ 6745: Policing and Society
  • CJC 6021: Penology
  • CJL 6521: Courts and Society

Total Hours

The program requires a total of 33 semester hours.