The Department of Criminal Justice offers a program leading to the M.S. or M.Ed. degree. The primary purpose of the program is to provide the criminal justice student with a broad knowledge base and specialized technical training in criminal justice. Course work in the program is designed to increase individual competency, develop analytical thought processes and facilitate the development of abilities and skills. Course work focuses on examination of contemporary issues in the administration of justice counseling, research and management problems in the fields of criminal justice and correctional education. Through the advanced study of theoretical and applied issues the Master’s degree student will be prepared to assume leadership positions in the field of criminal justice.
Programs of Study
For the Master of Science degree, areas of specialization include administration, correctional counseling, crime and delinquency prevention and control, and criminal justice planning and research. For the Master of Education degree, areas of specialization include correctional education, correctional counseling, and correctional administration.
Students enrolled in the criminal justice program may pursue studies on a full-time or part-time basis in either a degree or non-degree capacity. A student desiring to work toward either of the degrees must confer with the department chairperson for initial advisement and for the assignment of a faculty advisor.
With the written approval of the department chairperson, a non-degree-seeking student may register for criminal justice courses while acceptance to a degree program is pending. No more than twenty-one (21) credit hours completed as a non-degree-seeking student may be applied toward either the M.S. or M.Ed. degree.