Program Overview

Online Criminal Justice Administration, M.I.S.

The online master's degree in criminal justice administration at Georgia State blends courses in criminal justice and criminology with managerial principles and practices in public management.

Program Overview

The criminal justice system is affected and influenced by social, political, and economic factors. This program will have students studying these interconnected facets, including:

• How offenders and victims fit within the criminal justice system.
• How society influences and is influenced by crime and criminal justice institutions.
• Evidence-based solutions for crime prevention and restorative justice practices.
• Knowledge of how governments fund the criminal justice system and the financial challenges they face to support services.

Program Objectives

The criminal justice administration master's degree prepares students to:

• Lead and manage in criminal justice systems at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Think critically to solve problems and make decisions that affect short- and long-term outcomes for the institutions they lead.
• Articulate and apply a set of ethical principles in the criminal justice system that comports with democratic values and respect for human rights.
• Understand and analyze research on crime and criminal justice policy.
• Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

Program Details

Tuition and Fees

• $450 tuition per credit hour (same for all fully online students, regardless of geographic location).
• $660 per semester online learning fee (if enrolled in 6 or more credit hours).

Duration and Format

• This is a fully online program.
• Students complete 30 credit hours of coursework that can be completed in 2 years.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester:
  • Early deadline: February 15
  • Regular deadline: April 1
  • Late deadline: June 1
• Spring Semester:
  • Early deadline: October 1
  • Late deadline: November 1
• Summer Semester: Does not admit.

Admissions Requirements

A completed application includes:

• Submitted online application.
• Application fee: A nonrefundable fee of $50.
• Personal statement: A brief personal essay explaining the applicant's interest in the program.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) Academic scores (International applicants only).
• Two letters of recommendation.
• Upload transcripts from each post-secondary college/university attended.

Curriculum

• 30 credit hours: 27 hours of core courses and 3 hours of capstone course.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for graduates of the online criminal justice administration master's degree are numerous, diverse, and rewarding. Graduates find employment at:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Secret Service
• Local and state law enforcement and correctional agencies
• Probation and parole agencies
• Juvenile justice agencies.

Learning Objectives

The master's degree in criminal justice administration has three learning objectives:

• Increase knowledge of current and emerging criminal justice issues and how to address them.
• Increase knowledge of how to more effectively and efficiently lead and manage criminal justice institutions.
• Increase understanding of ethical principles and their application in the criminal justice system.

Program Outcomes

At the conclusion of their programs, M.I.S. C.J.A. graduates should be able to:

• Lead and manage in criminal justice systems in democratic societies.
• Understand, analyze, and synthesize research on crime and criminal justice policy.
• Think critically to solve problems and make decisions that affect short- and long-term outcomes for the institutions they lead.
• Articulate and apply a set of ethical principles in the criminal justice system that comports with democratic values and respect for human rights.
• Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.