Advisor: Patrick Cundiff
Room 3225, Sangren Hall
he Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies consists of an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to provide perspective on crime and (in)justice at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. The program provides a well-rounded, theoretical, and practical education necessary for careers in criminal justice and social justice fields. The curriculum consists of a foundational core (18 hours), a choice of one of three tracks - career track with four specializations, social justice track with two specializations, or thesis track (12-14 hours), and a required application experience (4-6 hours). In addition, students may be able to complete a graduate certificate program – the Addiction Specialization or Clinical Addiction Certificate, the Climate Change Policy and Management Certificate, the Cybersecurity: Computer Information Systems Graduate Certificate, or the Geographic Information Sciences Certificate – as part of the M.A. in Criminal Justice Studies.
Program Goals
1. Understand criminological theories used to explain law making, criminal behavior and patterns of crime, and social control.
2. Develop a basic understanding of social science research methods of data collection and analysis.
3. Develop a foundational understanding of the criminal justice system, policy making, and current issues related to criminal/social justice.
4. Develop specialized skills and knowledge for pursuing professional careers in criminal/social justice, or for advanced doctoral work in criminology, sociology, or related fields.
5. Demonstrate proficiency in selected track/specialty area by successfully completing the required application experience.
Admission Requirements
1. Twenty-four semester hours in undergraduate social sciences, with at least fifteen semester hours in sociology, criminal justice, or criminology, including courses in theory and research methods (applicants without the requisite hours of undergraduate sociology, criminal justice, and/or criminology course may be permitted to make up deficiencies as a condition of matriculation).
2. Grade-point average of 3.0 or better in undergraduate sociology, criminal justice, and/or criminology courses.
3. Applicants must upload a biographical statement, sample of original academic writing, official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended, TOEFL or equivalent English language proficiency scores (international applicants only), and three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources to the online admissions application. Additional information may be obtained from the departmental academic advisor.
Financial Assistance
A number of departmental, University, and governmental assistantships, fellowships, and associateships are available to qualified students. Educational opportunities and part-time employment may be available through the facilities of the Leonard C. Kercher Center for Social Research. Research through the Kercher Center includes studies of education, mental illness, marital roles, race relations, group dynamics, deviant behavior, comparative institutions, and numerous other topics. Graduate students frequently participate in these studies.
Program Requirements
Complete at least 36 graduate hours elected in consultation with the student’s master’s committee. Students must earn a “B” or better in all required courses, and a “C” or better in any other graduate courses. Grades of “D/C” and below are failing grades. A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 (A=4.0) must be maintained during every semester.
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