Master of Criminal Justice
https://www.tamuct.edu/degrees/graduate/criminal-justice.html
OVERVIEW
In addition to advancing the mission of A&M-Central Texas and the College of Arts and Sciences, the mission of the Master of Criminal Justice program is to prepare students for advancement in criminal justice career fields and for further graduate study. Program objectives are based on the assumption that criminal justice decision making and policy making in society require broad academic experience, innovative thinking, understanding of the theoretical foundations of the field, knowledge of appropriate research methods, and principles of administration.
Graduates are expected to be:
1. conversant with the theoretical and legal principles implicit in criminal justice administration;
2. knowledgeable about essential research contributions in the field;
3. capable of research analysis appropriate to the field; and
4. competent to assume administrative responsibilities involving decision-making in criminal justice administration.
Program Level Student Learning Outcomes
The student will be able to:
- Identify current theories and research relating to criminal justice in order to implement appropriate responses to crime.
- Apply research methods to test theory and apply in addressing public safety concerns.
- Manage the specialized resources (physical and personnel) available to criminal justice agencies.
- Discuss the key concepts and evaluate the application of foundational ethical systems to criminal justice practice.
Entry Requirements
Students will be admitted into the MCJ major by the faculty once the following application criteria are met:
Successful admission to graduate school.
Master of Criminal Justice With Thesis Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRIJ 5300 | Quantitative Data Analysis I 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5301 | Advanced Criminology 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5303 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| CRIJ 5315 | Graduate Proseminar 2 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5322 | Advanced Criminal Justice Ethics 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5390 | Capstone 3 | 3 |
| Emphasis Courses | ||
| CRIJ 5304 | Advanced Research Methods 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5308 | Victimology | 3 |
| CRIJ 5311 | Quantitative Data Analysis II | 3 |
| CRIJ 5313 | Treatment in Corrections | 3 |
| Thesis - Two Semesters | ||
| CRIJ 5198 | Criminal Justice Thesis | 3 |
| CRIJ 5198 | Criminal Justice Thesis | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
- 1
These courses assume upper-level, undergraduate competency in applied statistics, criminology, research methods, and ethics. Lack of competency in any of these areas may require completing undergraduate coursework to satisfy competency.
- 2
Course should be taken within first 2 semesters in program.
- 3
B or better required for successful completion of program.
Master of Criminal Justice Without Thesis Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRIJ 5300 | Quantitative Data Analysis I 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5301 | Advanced Criminology 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5303 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| CRIJ 5315 | Graduate Proseminar 2 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5322 | Advanced Criminal Justice Ethics 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 5390 | Capstone 3 | 3 |
| Emphasis Courses | ||
| CRIJ 5306 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| CRIJ 5321 | Leadership and Supervision | 3 |
| HLS 5325 | Emergency Management | 3 |
| Choose three of the following | 9 | |
| Victimology | ||
or CRIJ 5304 | Advanced Research Methods | |
or CRIJ 5389 | Special Topics in Criminal Justice | |
or MGMT 5301 | Organizational Behavior | |
or MGMT 5307 | Responsibilities and Ethics of Leadership | |
or MGMT 5312 | Strategic Planning in the Public Sector | |
or MGMT 5320 | Negotiations | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
- 1
These courses assume upper-level, undergraduate competency in applied statistics, criminology, research methods, and ethics. Lack of competency in any of these areas may require completing undergraduate coursework to satisfy competency.
- 2
Course should be taken within first two semesters in program.
- 3
B or better required to successfully complete program.
