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Criminology and Criminal Justice - M.A.

The Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice program provides a deep understanding of the social and psychological factors that contribute to crime and criminal behavior. With courses taught by experienced faculty and a focus on research, this program equips you with the skills needed to succeed in a wide range of criminal justice careers.

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Master's Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Enhance your expertise in the criminal justice field with Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State’s Master of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Engage in advanced coursework that delves into key areas such as criminal behavior, law enforcement, and the justice system. Our program is designed to deepen your knowledge and analytical skills, preparing you for leadership roles in law enforcement, criminal justice policy, and related fields.

Program Information for Criminology and Criminal Justice - M.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice is designed to challenge experienced and aspiring professionals who want to expand their scope of knowledge and move into career and leadership positions. The program prepares graduates as next-generation leaders in this complex, global, and interconnected field. The flexible online program is structured  to fit the lives of full-time working professionals.

The Criminology and Criminal Justice major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Global Security concentration focuses on issues related to global security, U.S. national security policy and strategy, as well as transnational issues and the concerns of other countries or regions. It provides students with a strong foundation to confront the ever-changing, fast-paced, and challenging international security environment. With an emphasis on traditional and emerging transnational security threats, students are prepared for analytical, operational and leadership careers in global security in the public and private sectors. The goal is to produce a new generation of analysts, policymakers and scholars knowledgeable about the wide range of international and national security problems and foreign policy issues of the 21st century.
  • The Policing concentration examines the historical ideas of police service and the lessons that can be learned from those ideas. Students learn about the research that has challenged traditional ideas and the implications of that research for revision. The program provides students the tools to analyze the implications of contemporary research to guide new innovations in policies, management, strategies and tactics of police service delivery.
  • The Victimology concentration provides specialized knowledge about the scientific study of crime victims, their treatment within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, the legal rights of victims and victim assistance and restorative justice programs. This concentration will prepare students to develop and lead initiatives that help prevent victimization, to engage in victimological research and evaluation, and to respond to victims in culturally appropriate ways.
Admissions for Criminology and Criminal Justice - M.A.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation (preferably academic)
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 120 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions
Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a practical understanding of criminological theory by using it to better understand crime and criminal behavior, pose and attempt to answer research questions and see its connection to crime policy.
  2. Demonstrate mastery of the significant empirical findings in the major areas of criminology and criminal justice.
  3. Demonstrate an appreciation for the use of the scientific method in the study of crime, a practical understanding of research methods used in the field and a practical understanding of statistics in social science research.
  4. Develop basic skills in planning and conducting research projects, including evaluation research in particular.
  5. Describe the role of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and social class as they relate to crime and victimization.
  6. Effectively communicate criminological knowledge and write a clear and concise analysis of issues, policies and research in the field.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
CRIM 56800INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY 3
CRIM 66761LAW, JUSTICE AND SOCIETY 3
CRIM 66763THEORIES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY 3
CRIM 66768RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3
CRIM 66770JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS 3
CRIM 66772VICTIMOLOGY 3
Culminating Requirement
CRIM 66899PROSEMINAR CAPSTONE: ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY JUSTICE 3
Concentrations
Choose from the following:9
Minimum Total Credit Hours:30

Global Security Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
CRIM 56801HOMELAND SECURITY 3
CRIM 56802TERRORISM AND COUNTERTERRORISM 3
CRIM 56803INFORMATION AND CYBER SECURITY 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:9

Policing Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
CRIM 56904ISSUES IN POLICE WORK 3
CRIM 66767JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION 3
CRIM 66773CONTEMPORARY POLICING 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:9

Victimology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
CRIM 57002HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES AND THE LAW 3
CRIM 57003RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE 3
CRIM 57004LEGAL PERSPECTIVES AND RIGHTS IN VICTIMIZATION 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:9

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Fully Online

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Criminology and Criminal Justice - M.A.

Graduates of Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University's Master of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice can pursue advanced careers in law enforcement, corrections, and criminal justice policy. They are equipped to work as criminal justice administrators, supervisors, and teachers, where they can contribute to criminal justice reform, manage law enforcement agencies, and develop strategies to improve public safety.

Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

6.7%

faster than the average

16,800

number of jobs

$63,560

potential earnings

First-line supervisors of correctional officers

-7.8%

decline

48,700

number of jobs

$60,910

potential earnings

First-line supervisors of police and detectives

5.2%

faster than the average

126,100

number of jobs

$92,970

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.