Program Overview

Combined Criminal Justice Degrees

Program Overview

The University of North Texas offers a combined Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice. This program empowers students with the knowledge and skills needed to create just and safe communities.

Program Type

• Major: Criminal Justice
• Grad Track: Yes
• Format: On Campus
• Estimated Time to Complete: 5-6 years
• Credit Hours: 156

Program Description

UNT's Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice provides students with an understanding of the nature and scope of problems posed by crime and the operation and administration of the criminal justice system. The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice improves students' ability to take informed and thoughtful actions as leaders, policymakers, or researchers in the criminal justice system.

Curriculum

The curriculum educates students in the theoretical, practical, and empirical aspects of criminal justice, preparing them for potential careers or graduate studies. Coursework addresses a wide variety of subjects, including:

• Criminal justice and public policy
• Criminal law and procedure
• Criminological theory
• Ethical and diversity issues in criminal justice
• History of crime and justice in the United States
• Police and correctional systems
• Research methods

Faculty and Research

Faculty members have diverse educational and professional backgrounds. They assist the Department of Criminal Justice in applied research projects, program evaluation studies, and scholarly research. Current research focuses on:

• Capital punishment
• Homeland security
• Juvenile delinquency
• Police operations and tactics
• Prison violence
• Victimization
• White collar crime

Benefits of Grad Track

• Earn an M.S. in less time
• Cut expenses with undergraduate tuition rates
• Prepare for graduate-level coursework while still an undergraduate
• Provide uninterrupted continuity of knowledge gained as an undergraduate to graduate-level courses

Marketable Skills

• Leadership ability
• Oral and written communication
• Law and policy awareness
• Information collection, analysis, and interpretation
• Teamwork
• Technical and academic writing
• Abstract problem-solving
• Knowledge of government operations
• Research interpretation/implementation
• Information verification

Program Highlights

• Some courses incorporate experiential activities in jails, prisons, or courtrooms, or require completing service-learning activities.
• Electives and seminars allow students to focus on a particular interest, and study abroad opportunities are available.
• The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Justice Policy and Administration is ranked #4 in Texas and #26 in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.
• All courses are designed and developed by full-time Criminal Justice graduate faculty, featuring quality instruction, standards of excellence, and innovation in teaching and learning.

Career Opportunities

Pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas can lay the groundwork for becoming a:

• Law enforcement officer
• Court administrator
• Probation or parole officer
• Crime and intelligence analyst
• Correctional treatment expert
• Victim's advocate
• Policy analyst
• Social service provider
• Loss prevention officer
• Fraud investigator
• Corporate security administrator

Many alumni serve in agencies throughout the North Texas region as:

• Police chiefs, supervisors, and officers
• Special agents at federal agencies
• State law enforcement officers
• Supervisory staff at community corrections agencies

Sample Courses

• Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
• Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice (3 hrs)
• Criminal Justice Policy (3 hrs)
• Seminar in Criminal Justice Administration (3 hrs)
• Evaluation and Research Methodologies (3 hrs)
• Crime and Justice in the United States (3 hrs)