Criminal Justice (M.S.)
Admission Requirements
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. Strong undergraduate social science preparation is recommended, and additional undergraduate course work may be specified in criminal justice or related areas where such preparation is inadequate.
In the application for graduate admission, students must indicate whether they will be completing the M.S. in Criminal Justice in
- the traditional/hybrid program (students in the traditional program can take online courses except for CRJ 7030);
2. the completely online program (students in the online program are only permitted to take online courses).
In determining admission for the individual applicant, the Graduate Committee evaluates the student's undergraduate record (with special emphasis on upper division courses: junior/senior year), the level of difficulty of course work, as well as grade point average (GPA) in the student's major, the strength of the recommendations, and the quality of the personal statement. The minimum standard for admission as a regular Master's student is a cumulative weighted undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may be considered for admission, but are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and provide a written exception statement justifying why they are capable of graduate work and explaining why their undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.
Applicants to the Master of Science program in Criminal Justice must:
- complete and submit the Graduate School's online application;
- submit transcripts from the applicant's undergraduate school/college;
- have two (2) letters of recommendation, at least one of which is strongly encouraged to be written by a former professor/instructor, submitted online; and
- submit a personal statement.
Personal statements should address the applicant’s qualifications, career goals, and interest in crime and justice related issues more generally. Personal statements must be no longer than two single-spaced pages. Statements must be submitted as part of the online application process.
Questions concerning the admission process should be directed to the Criminal Justice Department at 313-577-0772.
Requirements – Traditional Program
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree is awarded upon successful completion of thirty credits. All coursework must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The traditional degree program is offered as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 12 | |
| CRJ 7020 | The Nature of Crime | 3 |
| CRJ 7040 | Evidence-Based Practices in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 7860 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Data Management and Analysis for Criminal Justice | ||
| Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science I | ||
| Social Statistics | ||
| Electives (12-18 credit hours): | ||
Students may choose any graduate level CRJ electives | ||
Students electing a master's thesis (Plan A) take approved electives totaling at least 12 credits | ||
Students electing a master's essay (Plan B) choose electives totaling at least 15 credits | ||
Students electing coursework only option (Plan C) take approved electives totaling at least 18 credits | ||
| Special Topics in Criminal Justice | ||
| Contemporary Criminal Justice | ||
| Public Policy and Criminal Justice | ||
| Administration in Criminal Justice | ||
| Wrongful Conviction | ||
| Administration in Criminal Justice | ||
| Master's Capstone Seminar in Criminal Justice | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Special Topics in Criminal Justice and Criminology | ||
| Delinquency and Justice | ||
| Policing and Society | ||
| Corrections | ||
| Students choosing plan A elect the following: | 6 | |
| Master's Thesis Research and Direction | ||
| Students choosing Plan B elect the following: | 3 | |
| Master's Essay Direction | ||
Elective Courses: The elective courses are to be chosen after a conference with the Graduate Director to determine the plan which is most consistent with the student's educational and career goals. These courses will be specified in the student Plan of Work. Some elective credit may have to be used to satisfy the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirement that at least six credits in course work be at the 7000 level or higher, and that at least six credits (excluding core courses) be taken in the major area. With the exception of one 5000-level elective course, all remaining courses toward the degree must be taken at the 6000 level or higher.
Transfer Credits: The maximum number of credits that may be transferred in from other accredited colleges and universities is between six and eight semester credits for two courses. Transfer courses must be taken at the graduate level with a passing grade of ‘B’ or higher; the student must have had graduate status at the time the courses were taken.
Requirements – Online Program
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice online degree is awarded upon successful completion of thirty credits. All coursework must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The online degree program is offered as as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses (Online Program) | 12 | |
| CRJ 7020 | The Nature of Crime | 3 |
| CRJ 7030 | Research Methods for Professionals | 3 |
| CRJ 7040 | Evidence-Based Practices in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 7060 | Administration in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Electives (15 - 18 credit hours): | ||
Students may choose any graduate level CRJ electives | ||
Students electing a master's essay (Plan B) choose electives totaling at least 15 credits | ||
Students electing coursework only option (Plan C) take approved electives totaling at least 18 credits | ||
| Special Topics in Criminal Justice | ||
| Contemporary Criminal Justice | ||
| Public Policy and Criminal Justice | ||
| Administration in Criminal Justice | ||
| Wrongful Conviction | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Special Topics in Criminal Justice and Criminology | ||
| Delinquency and Justice | ||
| Policing and Society | ||
| Corrections | ||
| Data Management and Analysis for Criminal Justice | ||
| Students choosing plan B select master's essay direction: | 3 | |
| Master's Essay Direction | ||
Elective Courses: The elective courses are to be chosen after a conference with the Graduate Director to determine the plan which is most consistent with the student's educational and career goals. These courses will be specified in the student Plan of Work. Some elective credit may have to be used to satisfy the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirement that at least six credits in course work be at the 7000 level or higher, and that at least six credits (excluding core courses) be taken in the major area. With the exception of one 5000-level elective course, all remaining courses toward the degree must be taken at the 6000 level or higher.
Transfer Credits: The maximum number of credits that may be transferred in from other accredited colleges and universities is between six and eight semester credits for two courses. Transfer courses must be taken at the graduate level with a passing grade of ‘B’ or higher; the student must have had graduate status at the time the courses were taken.