Criminal Justice - MS

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice degree program prepares students for 21^st century careers in criminal justice and related fields.  The program provides students with an academically rigorous learning experience based on an advanced understanding of criminal justice and criminology, with balanced coverage of crime causation, management issues, technology and research, ethics, and diversity in criminal justice.  The program links criminological and management theory with policy and practice, and give students the opportunity to learn and utilize skills required for leadership positions, specialized criminal justice positions, pursuit of further education in a doctoral program or law school, and/or teaching positions.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are expected to:

• Demonstrate how criminological theory informs public policy and shapes the operation of the American criminal justice system.
• Use management theory to evaluate the operation of a criminal justice agency and suggest policy changes to improve the operational effectiveness of the organization.
• Articulate the importance of cultural and global diversity in creating a fair and just criminal justice system.
• Apply moral philosophy to professional and ethical decision making in the field of criminal justice.
• Utilize team leadership skills that include collaboration, problem solving, ethical awareness, and appreciation of diversity to address problems faced by criminal justice agencies.
• Communicate appropriately and effectively within various organizational contexts, employing appropriate technologies to organize and present information to address a range of audiences and purposes.
• Conduct, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize original criminal justice research utilizing the scientific method; appropriate sampling, measurement, and data collection techniques; and data analysis including descriptive and inferential statistics, central tendency, variability, analysis of variance and correlation.

Criminal Justice

Master of Science (M.S.)