Program Overview

Program Overview

The School of Criminal Justice and Criminology is a vibrant community, with approximately 1,300 baccalaureate students, and dozens of master's students and doctoral students. The School offers funding opportunities through scholarships and graduate assistantships. Graduate assistants aid our faculty in classroom instruction and research throughout the academic year.

Course Work

The School of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a master of science in criminal justice (M.S.C.J.) degree, with the choice of a thesis option (30 credit hours) and a non-thesis option (36 credit hours). The non-thesis option is a versatile program for those seeking to further their knowledge and skills in criminal justice. The thesis option is a rigorous program for those seeking research analyst positions or considering doctoral-level study.

All candidates on the thesis track complete an oral defense of their thesis prior to graduation. Candidates on the non-thesis track complete a comprehensive exam prior to graduation. Specific course and admission requirements vary by program.

Program Details

• Degree: M.S.C.J.
• Concentration: No concentration
• Hours: 30
• Thesis Option: Non-Thesis
• Location: San Marcos
• Degree: M.S.C.J.
• Concentration: No concentration
• Hours: 30
• Thesis Option: Thesis
• Location: San Marcos
• Degree: M.S.C.J.
• Concentration: Executive (Accelerated Online)
• Hours: 30
• Thesis Option: Non-Thesis
• Location: Online

Program Mission

The School of Criminal Justice and Criminology produces and disseminates knowledge through high-quality teaching, research, and service with a focus on empowering students and professionals to improve the criminal justice system.

The School offers courses in areas of study, such as policing, criminal justice policy, management principles, and criminological theory. The School also offers a variety of specialized courses on topics such as crime analysis and quantitative data analysis, and is associated with several centers, such as the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center and the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC).

Career Options

The M.S.C.J. will help to advance leadership roles and research and evaluation in a range of career opportunities:

• State and federal corrections
• Local, state, and federal police agencies
• Victim advocacy agencies
• Homeland security
• Asset protection
• Security
• Intelligence and crime analysis
• Research, planning, and evaluation
• Doctoral study

Program Faculty

The faculty in criminal justice are recognized nationally and internationally for their commitment to outstanding teaching, cutting-edge research, and unparalleled service to the field.

Their broad practical experiences and diverse academic backgrounds contribute to a curriculum that provides students the skills needed for criminal justice program planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below.

• Application
  • Completed online application
• Application Fee
  • $55 nonrefundable application fee, or
  • $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• Transcripts & GPA
  • Baccalaureate degree in criminal justice or related field from a regionally accredited university.
  • A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted.
  • A 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work, plus any completed graduate courses.
• Test Scores
  • GRE not required
  • Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
    • Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • Official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • Official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • Official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
    • Official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
• Documents
  • Statement of purpose indicating career aspirations and reasons for pursuing the M.S.C.J. program
  • Two letters of recommendation from persons best able to assess your ability to succeed in graduate school
  • Resume/CV

Application Deadlines

• In-Person Programs
  • Fall - Priority: February 1 (U.S. Citizen), February 1 (International)
  • Fall - Standard: August 1 (U.S. Citizen), June 1 (International)
  • Spring - Priority: September 1 (U.S. Citizen), September 1 (International)
  • Spring - Standard: November 1 (U.S. Citizen), October 1 (International)
• Accelerated Online Program
  • Summer: May 11 (Deadline), May 26 (Start Date)
  • Fall: August 5 (Deadline), August 19 (Start Date)
  • Fall: September 24 (Deadline), October 8 (Start Date)
  • Spring: January 4 (Deadline), January 19 (Start Date)
  • Spring: February 23 (Deadline), March 9 (Start Date)