Criminal Justice, MS
The interdisciplinary field of criminal justice has grown exponentially over the last two decades. The Master's of Science in Criminal Justice degree provides insight into this incredibly rich discipline and seeks not solely to explain the dysfunctional aspects of society but to contribute to the advancement of the larger society. The criminal justice professional has developed a social science arsenal that transcends the use of physical and/or deadly force. The incorporation of crime reduction strategies, the burgeoning impact of forensics, community-based initiatives, and advanced criminology theories have made the study of criminal justice exciting and gratifying. Courses in this major, notwithstanding internships, are offered either in a hybrid format or fully on-line. The hybrid courses meet 2/3 on-site and 1/3 on-line.
Graduates are expected to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Develop an expansive view and understanding of the American criminal justice system by evaluating and comparing it with criminal justice systems in other countries
- Apply social science research designs to support the mastery of empirical analysis
- Recognize the importance of trauma-informed practices in delivering appropriate care and services to survivors of domestic, family, and intimate partner violence, and to the forensic population
- Apply fundamental criminological theories to modern-day crime problems and in furtherance of reducing future criminal behavior
- Gain a comprehensive appreciation for the historical value of the U.S. Constitution on criminal law
- Identify and examine homeland security issues relating to emerging domestic and global terrorist threats and their impact on law enforcement strategies
- Evaluate the impact of emerging technologies and AI in expanding the leadership qualities of criminal justice professionals
- Articulate the socio-economic impact of public policy on various communities and formulate public policy initiatives that propose innovative solutions to community-based problems
In addition to the General Track, the MSCJ program offers three (3) concentrations:
- Community Justice
- Global Terrorism
- Human Services
General Track Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| CJ-615 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CJ-620 | Research Methods and Data Analysis | 3 |
| CJ-630 | The Supreme Court, U.S. Constitution, And Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ-640 | Perspective on Drugs, Alcohol, and the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ-730 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| CJ-755 | Terrorism & Counter Terrorism | 3 |
| CJ-780 | Public Policy in Criminal Justice Issues | 3 |
| KG-604 | Graduate Research & Critical Analysis | 3 |
| Required Core Courses Subtotal | 24 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Must choose any 4 classes, or any 2 classes and Master's Thesis | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 12 | |
Option One | ||
Four Concentration Courses | ||
Option Two | ||
Two Concentration Courses | ||
| Master's Thesis I | ||
| Master's Thesis II | ||
| Concentration Courses Subtotal | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Concentration in Global Terrorism
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Must choose any four concentration classes, or any two classes and Master's Thesis | ||
| Select one of the following: | 12 | |
Option One | ||
| Crisis Management & Disaster Preparedness | ||
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | ||
| Homeland Security: Programs, Policies & The Legal System | ||
| Cybercrime, Intelligence Systems, and National Security | ||
Option Two | ||
Select Two Concentration Courses | ||
| Master's Thesis I | ||
| Master's Thesis II | ||
| Concentration Courses Subtotal | 12 | |
| Required Core Courses Subtotal | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Concentration in Human Services
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Must choose any 4 concentration classes, or any 2 classes and the Master's Thesis | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 12 | |
Option One | ||
Select four of the following: | ||
| Crime Scene Investigation | ||
| The Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Psychology of Criminal Behavior | ||
| Crisis Management & Disaster Preparedness | ||
| Community Violence: Causes, Effects, And Solutions | ||
| Child Development, Trauma, and the Criminal Justice System | ||
| Urban Poverty and the Family | ||
Option Two | ||
Select Two Concentration Courses | ||
| Master's Thesis I | ||
| Master's Thesis II | ||
| Concentration Courses Subtotal | 12 | |
| Required Core Courses | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Concentration in Community Justice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Must choose any 4 concentration classes, or any 2 classes and the Master's Thesis | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 12 | |
Option One | ||
Select four of the following: | ||
| Crime Scene Investigation | ||
| Race, Class, Gender & Crime in America | ||
| Organized Crime& Transnational Crime | ||
| Perspectives on Mass Incarceration and The Death Penalty | ||
| The Use of Deadly Force in Contemporary America | ||
| Cybercrime, Intelligence Systems, and National Security | ||
Option Two | ||
Select Two Concentration Courses | ||
| Master's Thesis I | ||
| Master's Thesis II | ||
| Concentration Courses Subtotal | 12 | |
| Required Core Courses Subtotal | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Recommended Sequence
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CJ-615 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CJ-630 | The Supreme Court, U.S. Constitution, And Criminal Law | 3 |
| KG-604 | Graduate Research & Critical Analysis | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CJ-620 | Research Methods and Data Analysis | 3 |
| CJ-640 | Perspective on Drugs, Alcohol, and the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| CJ-730 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| CJ-755 | Terrorism & Counter Terrorism | 3 |
| CJ-ELE | Criminal Justice Elective | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Master's Thesis I | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| CJ-780 | Public Policy in Criminal Justice Issues | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Master's Thesis II 1 | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Criminal Justice Elective | ||
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
Continue if CJ-791 Master's Thesis I is taken