Criminal Justice BA, Criminal Justice MA

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 two designated graduate 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 64 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.

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 Courses (36 credits)

CRIM1101 Intro. to Criminal Justice
CRIM1102 Criminology & Social Theory
CRIM2100 Professional & Legal Writing
CRIM2201 Police and Society
CRIM2202 Corrections, Parole and Probation
CRIM2204 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
CRIM2205 CJ Research Methods
CRIM2208 Victimology
CRIM3319 Courts and Judicial Process
CRIM6000 Criminal Justice
CRIM6010 U.S. Constitution, Public Policy and Criminal Justice
Any CRIM 6000 or 7000 level course (3 credits)

Major Electives (12 credits)

Students in the BA/MA Combined Degree Program are advised to confer with their advisor before registering for elective courses.

Master’s Degree Courses (24 credits)

CRIM6005 Advanced Criminological Theory
CRIM6015 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology
CRIM6020 Statistics and Data Analysis Graduate Electives (15 credits)
- 15 credits of graduate electives may be selected from any CRIM 6000 or 7000 level courses, in consultation with the advisor.

Note: It is recommended that CRIM6020 Statistics and Data Analysis serve as a prerequisite to CRIM6015 Research Methods.