Criminology & Criminal Justice BA, Criminal Justice MA 4 Plus 1

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a combined degree program that affords students the opportunity to combine their undergraduate and graduate studies. With the approval of their academic advisor and the program director, students can take up to three designated graduate courses (referred to as dual courses) that fulfill the requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, thus accelerating completion of their Master of Arts in Criminal Justice.

Admission Requirements

Students opting for the combined degree program must meet the minimum admission requirements for students applying to the graduate program in criminal justice as set forth in the current issue of the Graduate Studies Bulletin; the only exception of having obtained their baccalaureate degree.

It is recommended that students interested in the combined degree program declare their candidacy upon successful completion of 60 credits and/or upon entering their junior year; however, no later than having completed 90 undergraduate credits. This affords students the opportunity to collaborate with their advisor in the timely and appropriate selection of undergraduate and graduate courses.

To qualify for the combined program in Criminal Justice, students must possess and maintain a minimum of a 3.00 overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA), a 3.25 grade point average (GPA) within the criminal justice major and be able to demonstrate a proficiency in writing. Students in the combined degree program must maintain a minimum of a 3.00 GPA in the graduate courses for which they have been approved.

Program Learning Objectives

At the completion of the MA, students will:

  1. Be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of (1) administration of justice, (2) corrections, (3) criminological theory, (4) law adjudication, (5) law enforcement, and (6) research and analytic methods.
  2. Be able to demonstrate critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to problem solving by selecting and organizing information, identifying assumptions and causal relationships, distinguish between verifiable facts and value claims, determine the credibility of sources, distinguish between warranted or unwarranted reasons or conclusions, detect biases, and evaluate appropriate problem-solving strategies, their feasibility and efficacy.
  3. Be able to communicate effectively, in writing and verbally, the conventions of the English language in a clear, concise, articulate, literate, and professional manner consistent with those of college writing and those specific to the discipline of law and criminal justice.
  4. Be able to use, manage, understand, and evaluate technologies to aid and solve practical problems. It involves possessing the knowledge and ability to access and research information utilizing contemporary technologies (hardware and software), as well as the ability to identify and discern qualified data, academic knowledge and information from unqualified data, non-academic knowledge and information.
  5. Be able to identify, evaluate, assess, and employ appropriate legal, ethical, and professional behaviors and practices within all aspects of their life, including, but not limited to an academic and criminal justice environment.

Degree Plan

Note: All students are required to complete the General Education Requirements of their campus in fulfillment of their bachelor’s degree requirements.

Required Undergraduate Major Courses (45 credits)

Core Requirements (18 credits)

  • CJUS1101 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • SOCI1201 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
  • CJUS1102 Criminology & Social Theory (3 credits)
  • CJUS3500 Research Methods in Criminology & Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJUS3941 Criminal Justice Internship (3 credits)
  • CJUS4405 Criminology & Criminal Justice Capstone (3 credits)

Dual Courses (9 credits)

Dual courses are to be taken during senior year of the undergraduate program. Free electives are reduced by 9 credits to accommodate dual credit courses in the undergraduate degree plan.

Elective Courses (18 credits)

Take any six courses in the Criminology & Criminal Justice major.

OR choose one of the following concentrations:

Justice Systems Concentration (18 credits)

Take six courses from the following:

Crime, Law, & Society Concentration (18 credits)

Take six courses from the following:

Master’s Degree Courses (24 credits)

  • CRIM6005 Advanced Criminological Theory (3 credits)
  • CRIM6015 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology (3 credits)
  • CRIM6020 Statistics and Data Analysis Graduate Electives (3 credits)
  • CRIM8001 Qualifying Exam/Thesis (0 credits)
  • 15 credits of graduate electives may be selected from any CRIM6000 or 7000 level courses.