Master of Science in Criminal Justice

This accredited graduate degree in Criminal Justice provides graduates career opportunities and salary advantages. It also opens the door to positions of high responsibilities in related areas.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program prepares graduates for positions of responsibility in the Criminal Justice System and related areas. The curriculum provides a melding of professionally structured knowledge and the ethical imperatives of Criminal Justice in a constitutional democracy.

A Baccalaureate Degree in Criminal Justice or related fields
The requirement for the Master of Science in Criminal justice is 36 semester hours, 12 courses, beyond the Bachelor's Degree.
CJ 665 Research Methods is required and the final course.
No thesis is required.
Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Upon completion of this program, you should be able to:

Explain the rationale for studying other systems of justice and rationalize crime as a world problem.
Analyze and define methods of intelligence and principles of communication. Apply these principles to hostage negotiations.
Analyze, report and utilize findings of research methods.
Examine criminological and criminal justice studies.
Critique criminal justice organizations, including supervision and evaluation of the principles on which criminal justice administration is based.
Evaluate issues of race and ethnicity, gender and social class and explain the need to understand social causes of crime in order to reduce crime.

Course Requirements
CJ-600	Police Administration and Management	3	[+ More Info]
	Complete coverage and comprehensive course study in police administration other aspects of police work. Major subjects are addressed in the text such as police professionalization, politics and administration. [Book Required]
CJ-604	Justice Administration	3	[+ More Info]
	A comprehensive study that encompasses all three components of the Criminal Justice system: police, courts and corrections and also other contemporary administrative issues. It also includes a look at the challenges of the future. [Book Required]
CJ-605	Organizational Theory and Management	3	[+ More Info]
	This course presents an analysis of criminal justice administration. It introduces a combination of theory and research. This course was designed with the active criminal justice professional in mind. Its purpose is to increase the effectiveness and productivity of criminal justice organizations. [Book Required]
CJ-612	Juvenile Justice	3	[+ More Info]
	A study course that presents a comprehensive overview of the juvenile justice philosophy and procedure in a no-nonsense forum. Presents the Uniform Juvenile Court Act, the Gault, the Kent and the Windship decisions in their entirety. [Book Required]
CJ-622	Comparative Criminal Justice Systems	3	[+ More Info]
	This course discusses how countries around the world have organized their police, courts and correctional agencies. The course presents a rationale for studying other systems of justice and crime as a world problem. This course allows students to reach a better understanding of comparative and international issues. [Book Required]
CJ-630	Criminal Investigation: Restructuring the Past	3	[+ More Info]
	Provides sound methods for reconstructing a past event based on three major sources of information: people, physical evidence and records. Introduces newer technological advances in the field.
CJ-640	Administration of Corrections	3	[+ More Info]
	Discusses the practical application of acceptable principles and procedures in the correctional setting. Includes: inmate processing and culture. [Book Required]
CJ-650	Deviant Behavior	3	[+ More Info]
	A study of deviant behavior as an inescapable feature of modern, complex society. Incorporates contemporary issues with theories of deviant behavior. Case information included. [Book Required]
CJ-655	Perspectives in Criminology	3	[+ More Info]
	Discusses the traditional areas of criminology and addresses popular topics such as policy debate, deterrence and incapacitation, race and social class, rights of the accused. [Book Required]
CJ-660	Criminal Behavior	3	[+ More Info]
	A complete study on criminal justice and social psychological analysis as applicable to the criminal justice profession. Major issues addressed include theoretical issues, social psychology and the law, the offender's decision and the victim's decision to report crime and much more. [Book Required]
CJ-665	Research Methods	3	[+ More Info]
	Presents a survey of research methods including research design, measurement, experimental and data collection and analysis. Emphasis is on interpreting and critically evaluating research in Criminal Justice.
CJ-674	Negotiations: Crisis and Hostage	3	[+ More Info]
	Combines principles and applications from criminal justice, psychology, communications, business and other disciplines into a framework for hostage negotiation. [Book Required]
CJ-680	Special Topics in Criminal Justice	3	[+ More Info]
	Subject to faculty approval. A project or independent paper that will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a specific subject. [Book Required]

For complete details related to this or any program, please download our catalog.
For information on all SWU programs, visit our consumer information disclosure page.