M.A. in Criminal Justice

• About the Program
• Curriculum – including courses
• Admission Requirements
• Start Dates & Application Deadlines
• Tuition

About the Program

The M.A. in Criminal Justice prepares students for leadership positions in criminal justice agencies; for research positions in federal, state, county, city, non-profit and private research institutions; and for further study in doctoral programs. In this changing field, successful professionals will need to know how to use research to evaluate the effectiveness of programs aimed at preventing and controlling crime. Upon degree completion, graduates will have an understanding of the causes of crime, the impact of law on society and contemporary issues in policing, courts and corrections.

Curriculum

Program Code: MA- CRIMJUST / Major Code: G105

• Total semester hours required for program completion: 30 Semester Hours (s.h.)
• Students can opt to do either the thesis or non-thesis track M.A. in Criminal Justice.
  • Thesis Track - students choose two (2) 3-credit electives and earn six (6) credits for doing research and writing a thesis while working closely with faculty
  • Non-Thesis Track - students choose four (4) 3-credit electives dealing with contemporary issues in the field and take a comprehensive exam after completing their coursework

Coursework (Program Semester Hours: 30)
The courses listed here are not official and are subject to change. For an official list of available courses please visit the CGCE section tally.

Required Courses: 18 s.h.

Elective Courses: 12 s.h.
Choose three (3) from the following options. Not all electives will be offered every year. There may be options not included in the list below.

Admissions Requirements

The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for this program. There may be additional action or materials required for admission to the program. Upon receipt of the materials below a representative from the CGCE Admissions Processing Office will contact you with confirmation or indicating any missing items.

• CGCE Graduate Application Form (pdf)
• $65 (U.S.) non-refundable application fee
• Bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
• Current professional resume
• Typewritten statement of professional objectives
• Two letters of recommendation
• Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Submission of official GRE test results highly recommended
• It is highly recommended applicants have successfully completed an introductory class in Criminal Justice, Research Methods, or Statistics at the undergraduate level at an accredited institution.

Start Dates & Application Deadlines

Below is a list of anticipated start dates. The start dates indicated are based on the university calendar or the CGCE schedule. Your actual first day of class will depend on the course sequence which will be provided by a CGCE Enrollment Advisor once you have matriculated in the program.

Tuition & Costs

$638 tuition + $141.90 in fees = $779.90 per semester hour
(this rate applies to academic year 2013/2014 and is subject to change)

» Back to Top