ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Application Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, administration of justice, or related social science field from a regionally accredited college or university.
Minimum grade point average of a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with less than a 2.75 undergraduate GPA will be required to take the Graduate Requisite Examination (GRE) and provide a sufficient score before they are eligible for admission. They may also take the Millers Analogies Test (MAT) and provide a sufficient score.
In 500 words or less, provide a Statement of Interest indicating your reasons for pursuing this program, your professional goals, and how this degree will help fulfill said goals through the “Program Statement or Questionnaire” link in your Ship Admission portal.
Resume (optional) through the resume link in your Ship Admission portal.
MISSION STATEMENT
Institutions of social control are in constant change due in part to the public’s demand for a quality system of justice. In this climate, government at all levels is insisting on a higher level of intellectual and educational preparation for those who desire to significantly participate in the operation and administration of its criminal justice systems. In response to these needs, the Department of Criminal Justice developed the master of science degree program in administration of justice in 1983. In 1999, the program was significantly revised to make it more consistent with its contemporaries yet unique enough to serve our special populations. The program is designed for in-service and pre-service students. Practitioners raise their level of education while adding research and theory to the in-field experiences. Pre-service students gain direct and indirect benefits from the program as they study and interact with experienced professionals. The program enhances career potentials for both groups of graduate students.
The program’s major strengths are its applied perspective and strong emphasis on theory, policy, research, and analysis. Philosophy, format, and implementation stresses the practical application of a higher level of knowledge, skills, and strategies. The methodological and theory components are highly suitable as a preparation for entering advanced graduate studies and other professional programs.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
The program’s major strengths are its applied perspective and strong emphasis on theory, policy, research, and analysis. Philosophy, format, and implementation stress the practical application of a higher level of knowledge, skills, and strategies.
The curriculum is guided by the following assessment objectives which are evaluated on a yearly basis:
OBJECTIVE 1: Comprehensive Knowledge of Criminal Justice: Students will understand more readily the operations of the criminal justice system and the many issues (both theoretical and practical) that confront the administration of justice in a democratic society.
OBJECTIVE 2: Critical Analysis: Students will understand more readily how to interpret, analyze and evaluate issues of importance in the field of criminal justice.
OBJECTIVE 3: Communication: Students will be able more readily to express their knowledge and critical analysis ability through both written work and oral presentation.
OBJECTIVE 4: Exposure to Human and Cultural Diversity: Faculty will expose students to the issues of diversity in the criminal justice system and provide opportunities for students to participate in experiences that promote diversity.
OBJECTIVE 5: Exposure to Ethical Problem Solving: Faculty will expose students to the nature of ethics in general and the role of normative ethics in the criminal justice system and provide opportunities for students to participate in criminal justice-related situations (hypothetical or actual) that deal with ethical issues.
OBJECTIVE 6: Exposure to Technology: Faculty will expose students to the use of technology in the field of criminal justice in general and provide opportunities for students to participate in criminal justice related situations that deal with technological issues.