The Accelerated Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies program allows undergraduate students to begin accumulating credits toward the completion of a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies while still enrolled in the Department of Sociology as undergraduate majors. Students participating in this program are allowed to take a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours during their senior year that will count toward completion of their bachelor’s degree. After completing the undergraduate degree, students are admitted to the master’s program in Criminal Justice Studies at which point the graduate credits they earned as undergraduates are credited towards the completion of their M.A. degree. 

Degree Hours

An undergraduate degree in sociology, criminal justice, or sociology – social psychology concentration requires a total of 122 credit hours. The Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Studies requires a total of 36-42 hours. Students enrolling in the accelerated M.A. program for the maximum of 12 graduate credits would earn 146-152 total undergraduate and graduate credits in contrast to the typical 158-164 undergraduate and graduate credit hours under the usual progression to degree(s). In addition, students enrolled in the accelerated M.A. program pay undergraduate tuition for the graduate courses they take as undergraduate students and these courses are included in the flat tuition rate. On completion of the undergraduate degree, the student is reclassified as a graduate student and must pay graduate tuition rates for the remaining classes in the M.A. program.

Admission Criteria

The accelerated M.A. program in Criminal Justice Studies is available for all undergraduate majors in the Department of Sociology: sociology, criminal justice, and sociology – social psychology concentration, although students should note that there are undergraduate criminal justice studies courses that are prerequisites for the graduate courses in the foundational core of the Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies program. Students must have senior status, earned a minimum of 15 credit hours at Western Michigan University, and have taken 20 hours in their major including, SOC 2820 Methods of Data Collection, SOC 2830 Methods of Data Analysis, SOC 2600 Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies, SOC 3620 Criminology, SOC 3630 Counts and Society, SOC 3640 Policing and Society, and SOC 3650 Punishment and Society. They also must have a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5, evidence of strong potential and motivation to pursue graduate work in criminal justice studies, and excellent writing skills. In addition, students must meet all admission requirements for the M.A. in Criminal Justice Studies, fill out an online application for admission to the M.A. program in Criminal Justice Studies , and be accepted for admission by the Central Graduate Committee. The M.A. in Criminal Justice Studies admission requirements include:

1. A biographical statement that explains interest in the field of criminal justice and specifically the reason for pursuing the accelerated M.A. option.
2. A sample of original academic writing.
3. TOEFL or equivalent English proficiency scores (international applicants only).
4. Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources.
5. Original transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.
6. Students who have received their bachelor’s degrees will be ineligible to apply for this program and retroactively claim credits to apply toward the M.A. degree in Criminal Justice Studies .

Admission Procedures

1. Early in the junior year, potential accelerated M.A. students should contact the Graduate Program Director or the department’s academic advisor to discuss the accelerated M.A. option and review admission requirements, timelines, and application procedures.
2. Students must submit an online application via ApplyYourself on the Office of Admissions/Graduate Admissions website for admission to the Criminal Justice Studies M.A. program. The online application must include all the required materials listed above.
3. Upon acceptance to the accelerated M.A. program, the Central Graduate Committee approves a conditional admission to the M.A. program pending completion of the bachelor’s degree. The effective term of admission to the M.A. program is the term following receipt of the bachelor’s degree.
4. Upon acceptance to the accelerated M.A. program, the student must complete their undergraduate graduation audit online and meet with an advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences advising office.
5. After acceptance to the accelerated M.A. program, the student must have a joint meeting with the Graduate Program Director and the department’s academic advisor to prepare a program of study that meets the requirements for the bachelor’s and M.A. degrees. The student must complete and have approved the M.A. program of study form. This completed form and the undergraduate audit from the College of Arts and Sciences must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office to become part of the student’s permanent file.

Requirements for Continuing Eligibility and Graduation

1. The bachelor’s degree must be awarded within one calendar year after initial enrollment in the accelerated M.A. program. Students who fail to complete the bachelor’s degree in this time-frame must reapply to be admitted to the M.A. program.
2. In order to move automatically into the M.A. program, students must achieve a grade of “B” or better in each graduate course being counted toward the bachelor’s degree. Students who do not meet this requirement will have the earned grade applied to their undergraduate degrees only and must reapply for admission to the M.A. program. Students who meet this requirement will be admitted as M.A. students (with the relevant graduate credits) in the next semester or session after receiving the bachelor’s degree
3. Students must follow the program of study on file with the Registrar’s Office. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility for the accelerated M.A. program.
4. A student completing the undergraduate degree with a GPA within the major of less than 3.0 automatically will be ineligible for the accelerated M.A. program.
5. Students must complete the requirements for the M.A. degree within 24 months after completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students unable to meet this requirement must apply for an extension from the Central Graduate Committee.
6. Students who have completed the accelerated M.A. program will have this noted on their undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
7. Any student who becomes ineligible for the accelerated M.A. program will be notified in writing by the Graduate Program Director at the time of annual review.

Withdrawal

A student may withdraw from the accelerated M.A. program by informing the Graduate Program Director in the Department of Sociology in writing. A copy of the request to withdraw must also be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Course Requirements

Accelerated M.A. students will take 12 credit hours (four courses) selected in consultation with the departmental academic advisor. Undergraduate students enrolled in the accelerated M.A. program will be required to meet graduate-level expectations in their graduate classes. Students must complete the requirements of the M.A. in Criminal Justice.