Emphasis - MCJ Criminal Justice
M.C.J. in Criminal Justice
Description
The Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) provides a person with educational experiences beyond the bachelor’s degree to enhance skills and knowledge so as to allow graduates of the program to work in the field of criminal justice, as well as attend doctoral programs. As part of the degree, two emphases are offered: criminal justice and homeland security.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 36
Course Requirements
The M.C.J. is a 36-graduate-hour program. All students must complete the 12 hours of core courses (CJ 600, 625, 635, and 655), 9 hours from either the criminal justice or homeland security emphasis area, 9 hours of electives (from the courses included in this program or up to 6 hours of graduate courses either from another department or institution approved by legal studies graduate program coordinator and the department chair), and 6 hours of program completion options of: 1) thesis (CJ 697, 6 credit hours); 2) practicum (CJ 690, 6 credit hours); or 3) non-thesis/non-practicum option of taking at a minimum of 6 more additional credit hours of criminal justice elective classes.
Other Academic Requirements
The minimum requirements to take the comprehensive exam and/or to graduate are: a. An overall graduate grade point of 3.0 or higher; b. No more than two grades of C in the core classes; and c. Grades of C- or D are not passing grades for a core class.
Students must pass an oral comprehensive examination for the thesis and practicum program completion options and a written comprehensive exam for the non-thesis/non-practicum option (i.e., completing at least 6 additional credit hours of criminal justice elective courses).
Emphasis - MCJ Criminal Justice
Description
The M.C.J. with emphasis in criminal justice prepares a graduate for a variety of criminal justice and related positions.
Course Requirements
In addition to the core, elective, and the program completion option requirements, the M.C.J. degree with emphasis in criminal justice requires completion of three of the following courses (i.e., 9 credit hours):
- CJ 615 Transnational Organized Crime
- CJ 620 Criminal Justice in American Society
- CJ 625 Criminal Justice Theory
- CJ 640 Legal Issues in Criminal Justice
- CJ 660 Operational & Staff Planning