Criminal Justice, MCJ
Introduction
Graduate Education Policies and Procedures apply to this program. Nonresident students from western states may qualify for reduced tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program.
Program Director: Mary Dodge, PhD
The Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) program is designed for students interested in comprehensive graduate education in criminology and criminal justice. It is intended to provide an in-depth understanding of existing structures, practices, and challenges within this field of study.
Part of an academic and professional field of study, the MCJ program prepares students to administer, analyze, evaluate, and facilitate improvements in the rationality and responsiveness of the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Research design capability is emphasized alongside skills required for analyzing empirical data and innovating in crime control and prevention. Students who advance through the program acquire strategies and skills necessary for promoting individual, organizational, and social change.
To learn more about our renowned faculty, please view their bios on the School of Public Affairs website.
Program Delivery
- Courses are offered on campus, online, and hybrid formats.
Program Requirements
- Students must successfully complete 36 semester hours of approved coursework.
- Students who have not had at least one year of professional work experience in the criminal justice must complete an internship through a 3-semester-hour course, which will count as one elective course.
- Students must maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA in this program.
- Students must earn at least a B- in all coursework to be accepted for graduate credit towards the degree.
- No more than 6 semester hours of Independent Study may be applied toward the degree.
- This program must be completed within 7 years.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| CRJU 5001 | Criminal Justice Systems, Policies, and Practice | 3 |
| CRJU 5002 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CRJU 5003 | Research Methods | 3 |
| CRJU 5004 | Statistics for Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 5005 | Law & Society | 3 |
| Required Elective Courses | 18 | |
Students must complete six elective courses, including the Internship course, from a pre-approved list and/or with approval from the program director. | ||
| Internship in Criminal Justice 1 | ||
| Capstone | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Capstone Seminar (during the final semester) | ||
| Master's Thesis 2 | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Students who have not had one year of criminal justice experience following the awarding of their bachelor's degree will be required to complete CRJU 6910 Internship in Criminal Justice. A minimum of 240 hours of supervised work is required to earn 3 hours of credit. The internship requirement may only be waived with the permission of the MCJ Program Director. If required, the internship will count for 1 of the 6 elective courses. Students must complete 18 credit hours of MCJ coursework with at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA prior to enrolling in the internship course.
- 2
With approval by and in consultation with the program director prior to enrolling in the course
Optional Concentrations
Students may select one of the concentrations below or complete the MCJ without a specified concentration. Students completing a concentration take their electives in the area of their concentration, complete the advanced seminar project in the area of their concentration, and are advised by faculty from the concentration.
Crime Analysis Concentration
The Crime Analysis concentration coursework emphasizes criminal justice and criminology related subjects; however, the analytic skills learned in this concentration can easily be applied to many fields.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| CRJU 5003 | Research Methods | 3 |
| CRJU 5004 | Statistics for Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 5015 | Intelligence Writing and Briefing | 3 |
| CRJU 5325 | Qualitative Methods for Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 5331 | Crime Analysis and GIS | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Disaster, Hazards, and Emergency Management Concentration
The concentration in Disasters, Hazards, and Emergency Management (DHEM) provides advanced education in the management of emergencies, hazards, disasters, and community resilience. DHEM is designed for students who work or will work in the field of natural and man-made hazards, community resilience, and emergency management.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| CRJU 5720 | Public Policies for Hazards and Disasters | 3 |
| Select at least one of the following courses. The remaining courses may be taken as elective credits: | 3 | |
| Public Service in Emergency Management and Homeland Security | ||
| Principles of Emergency Management | ||
| Disaster/ClimateChangePlanning | ||
| Required Elective Courses | 6 | |
| Select elective courses have been approved in advance by the concentration director to reach 12 credits. | ||
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Emergency Management and Homeland Security Concentration
The concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) provides advanced education in the management of emergencies, hazards, disasters, and homeland security. The EMHS program is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to work, or are currently working, in the field of emergency management and homeland security.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| CRJU 5650 | Public Service in Emergency Management and Homeland Security | 3 |
| Select at least one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Emergency Management | ||
| Public Policies for Hazards and Disasters | ||
| Required Elective Courses | 6 | |
| Select two pre-approved elective courses. For a list pre-approved electives, please consult your Academic Advisor. | ||
| Total Hours | 12 | |