Criminal Justice, M.S. (30 hrs)

Location(s): 100% Online

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Program Overview

The criminal justice master’s program is a practitioner-based program offered fully online. The 30-hour program is available to students with or without previous criminal justice coursework. Students have the option of seeking a Master of Science degree with a thesis or a Master of Science degree without the thesis. Students pursuing the Master of Science without the thesis option will be required to take comprehensive exams during the last trimester of their coursework. Students pursuing the Master of Science degree with the thesis option must appear in person to defend his/her thesis during the last trimester of enrollment in the program. Students accepted into the program will complete an individual plan of study ranging from 30-39 hours, depending on previous criminal justice coursework.

Program Admission Requirements

General Admissions Requirements

Meet the university’s general admission requirements;
GPA > 2.75 on last 64 hours of coursework
Letter of recommendation from a former professor or current supervisor

Admissions Status

Regular
- Has met the university’s general admission requirements
- GPA > 2.75 on last 64 hours of coursework
- Letter of recommendation from a former professor or current supervisor
Nondegree
- Nondegree status may be assigned to those students who meet the requirements for admissions, but do not otherwise wish to become a candidate for a degree. The nondegree status also applies to students who are ineligible to pursue a graduate degree but wish to take course work for nondegree purposes. No more than nine hours of credit from a nondegree status may apply toward a degree. Admission on a nondegree status does not imply admission to any program.

Program Progression and Graduation Requirements

Refer to the Academic Regulations section in this catalog for program progression and graduation requirements.

Program of Study (30 hrs)

MCJ 5800 - Understanding Criminal Justice 3 hrs
MCJ 6000 - Administration of Justice 3 hrs
MCJ 6100 - Applied Ethics 3 hrs
MCJ 6200 - Seminar in Homeland Security 3 hrs
MCJ 6300 - Leadership 3 hrs
MCJ 6400 - Applied Research Methods 3 hrs
MCJ 6500 - Human Resource Management in Criminal Justice 3 hrs
MCJ 6700 - Community Service in Criminal Justice 3 hrs
Non thesis Option: Select 2 courses:
MCJ 6050 - Juvenile Delinquency 3 hrs
MCJ 6150 - Advanced Criminal Investigation 3 hrs
MCJ 6250 - Industrial Security 3 hrs
MCJ 6350 - Civil Liberties 3 hrs
MCJ 6450 - Community Corrections 3 hrs
MCJ 6750 - Independent Study and Research 3 hrs
Or
Thesis Option:
MCJ 6980 - Thesis I 3 hrs
MCJ 6990 - Thesis II 3 hrs
Students pursuing a Master of Science degree with the thesis option must appear in person to defend their thesis during their last trimester.