Master of Science in Criminal Justice

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Students should consult the General Regulations section of the Graduate Catalog for additional information regarding Graduate School admission requirements, transfer credit, and other critical policies and procedures.

The purpose of the Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice is to broaden and enhance each student’s ability to understand, analyze and evaluate issues that confront the American criminal justice system. The objectives of the program’s core coursework are (a) the analysis of personnel situations in light of standard personnel processes applying major personnel laws and regulations to situations arising in criminal justice organizations; (b) demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of criminal law and procedures as evidenced by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions; (c) critically evaluate the scholarly evidence considering the effectiveness of various crime control policies employed by the police, the courts, and the correctional system with both juvenile and adult offenders; and (d) explain situations in criminal justice and criminal behavior by applying various criminological theories; and (e) demonstrate an ability to appropriately apply various research designs and methodologies in criminal justice situations. Specific institutional objectives of the program are as follows:

to prepare students to fulfill a need in American society for professional law enforcement personnel and competent criminal justice administrators by providing educational programs that develop each student’s problem solving skills in ways that prepare the student to address the issues that arise in the dynamic and evolving criminal justice field;
to develop each student’s ability to synthesize and apply knowledge of the critical theories and concepts in the field of criminal justice in his/her problem solving analysis;
to develop each student’s ability to identify and develop alternative solutions to problems that confront the modern criminal justice system based on his/her knowledge of current theories and concepts;
to develop each student’s ability to evaluate and appropriately choose solutions to problems that confront the criminal justice system;
to develop each student’s ability to effectively communicate the results of his/her analysis;
to provide students who seek administrative and managerial positions in the field of criminal justice with the credentials to qualify for those positions;
to provide an appropriate program of graduate study for students who are interested in research in the field of criminal justice and in advanced graduate study.

Prerequisite Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission to the Master of Science program in Criminal Justice is a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution. Students who desire to enter this program but do not have a degree in criminal justice, police administration, law enforcement, or corrections may be required to meet other criteria such as additional coursework regarding undergraduate or professional preparation. Significant professional experience may be considered. However, admission to the program does not imply official admission for the degree.

Admission Requirements For Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Completed Application for Admission to the Graduate School;
Official transcript(s); AND
A letter of recommendation that addresses the applicant’s potential for success in the Master of Criminal Justice graduate program.

Unconditional Admission

Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) or a 3.0 grade point average on the last 30 semester hours. All hours attempted in the term in which the 30 semester hours were reached will be used to calculate the grade point average.

Conditional Admission

Conditional Admission does not apply to this program.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of four courses (12 semester hours) taken at another regionally accredited institution each with a grade of “B” or better can be applied toward the degree. These courses must be comparable in catalog description to Troy University courses in the Criminal Justice Graduate Program and be approved by the main campus dean/department chair. If the student transfers a “core” or “required course,” he/she is still subject to a written comprehensive exam based on the material presented at Troy University.

Degree Requirements

Students completing the degree program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a grade of “B” or better in CJ 6650 Survey of Research Methods in Criminal Justice and passing a written comprehensive exam will be eligible to be awarded the degree of Master of Science in Criminal Justice. If the student makes a “D” or “F” in a core course, the course must be retaken. If the student makes a “D” or “F” in an elective course, the course may either be retaken or another elective taken in its place.

Curriculum

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is a 30 semester hours program. Students may select either Criminal Justice Studies or Security Studies Concentration. All courses offer three semester hours of credit.

Required Courses (12 sh)

Criminal Justice, General Concentration (18 sh)

Select 18 semester hours of graduate coursework from Criminal Justice or Criminology, or SOC 6628 or SOC 6633 .

Security Studies Concentration: (18 sh)

Select any 4 courses (12 sh) from the following graduate courses and/or advisor approved electives.

Electives (6 sh)

Select 6 Semester Hours of graduate coursework from Criminal Justice or Criminology disciplines, or SOC 6628 or SOC 6633 .

Degree Plan

Master of Science in Criminal Justice Plan/Progress Record