Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MCJ)

Admission Requirements

Admission to the master’s program will be competitive and entrance restricted to a limited number of well qualified applicants. Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university or college.  Specific admissions criteria include:

• A completed application to the Master of Criminal Justice Program
• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0; or if the cumulative undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, a 3.0 GPA calculated on the last undergraduate work comprising a minimum of 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate work.*
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• A current resume or vita
• A written personal statement explaining interest in the program
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
• TOEFL (required for International students and may be required for students who do not use English as their primary language)

*Simply meeting the minimum overall GPA of 3.0 does not guarantee admission into the program

Students should familiarize themselves with the MCJ program policies found on the Criminal Justice Department website.

Graduation Requirements

The Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice requires the completion of 36 semester hours. Three core courses totaling 12 semester hours are required. These courses are: 

• MCJ 6100 - Contemporary Criminal Justice
    (3)
• MCJ 6110 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice
    (3)
• MCJ 6120 - Theories of Crime and Delinquency
    (3)

A minimum GPA of 3.0 for all courses is required.  No “C” grade or lower is allowed in core courses.

The remaining hours will be chosen from elective courses of interest to the student. More than one “C” grade in these courses will not count toward completion of the degree.

• Program Code: 7033MS
• CIPC: 430104

Program Learning Outcomes

• Critically analyze key issues, ideas, and/or concepts affecting the criminal justice system. (Critical analysis)
• Design and/or implement empirically valid research related to criminal justice. (Research methods)
• Model professional-level writing skills in academic and/or non-academic settings. (Writing)
• Create and/or defend an evidence-based argument regarding criminal justice law, policies, or procedures. (Evaluation)