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Master of Criminal Justice (MSCJ) for catalog year 2008-2009 The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice is designed to broaden and enhance each student’s ability to understand, analyze and evaluate issues that confront the American criminal justice system. Included in the objectives of the program’s core coursework are (a) to prepare students to understand, analyze and evaluate the principles and functions of personnel administration in criminal justice applications; (b) to prepare students to understand, analyze and evaluate trends and developments affecting the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution in light of historical case precedent; (c) to prepare students to understand, analyze and evaluate issues that affect the structure and functioning of the criminal justice system; and (d) to understand, analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the American judicial process with respect to its legal basis, organization and management. Specific institutional objectives of the program are as follows:
Prerequisite Requirements The minimum requirement for admission to the Master of Science program in Criminal Justice is a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution. Students who desire to enter this program but do not have a degree in criminal justice, police administration, law enforcement, or corrections may be required to meet other criteria such as additional coursework regarding undergraduate or professional preparation. Significant professional experience may be considered. However, admission to the program does not imply official admission for the degree. Admission Requirements Unconditional Admission Students may be admitted unconditionally if they meet the following requirements: 1. Hold a master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited university. No test score is required. An official transcript showing completion of a master’s or higher degree is required. OR 2. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) or a 3.0 grade point average on the last 30 semester hours. All hours attempted in the term in which the 30 semester hours were reached will be used to calculate the grade point average. All transcripts from all colleges or universities attended are required. AND 3. Have an acceptable score on the appropriate entrance exam (GRE 850– (verbal plus quantitative), MAT 385 or 33). Conditional Admission Conditional admission may be granted under certain circumstances to applicants who cannot satisfy all unconditional admission requirements to the graduate program. See Conditional Admission requirements in the general regulations section of this catalog. Students with a baccalaureate degree from an unaccredited or otherwise accredited institution should see Unaccredited or Otherwise Accredited Student Admission. Students with academic deficiencies (course work, GPA, GRE, or MAT scores) may be required to complete additional course work before being granted unconditional admission to the program. Curriculum All courses offer three semester hours credit. Transfer Credit A maximum of four courses (12 semester hours) taken at another regionally accredited institution each with a grade of “B” or better can be applied toward the degree. These courses must be comparable in catalog description to Troy University courses in the Criminal Justice Graduate Program and be approved by the appropriate main campus dean/department chair. If the student transfers a “core” or “required course,” he/she is still subject to a written comprehensive exam based on the material presented at Troy University. Requirements for Admission to Candidacy To be admitted to candidacy, students must have a 3.0 GPA on all work attempted. Unconditionally admitted graduate students may apply for admission to candidacy after completing nine semester hours of requirements as outlined for the specific degree program. The Admission to Candidacy form must be completed within the first 18 semester hours of the program. If the Admission to Candidacy form is not completed by the conclusion of 18 semester hours, a hold will be placed on the student's registration until Admission to Candidacy process is completed. Degree Requirements Any student completing the course work with a 3.0 GPA or better, fulfilling candidacy requirements, successfully completing the required comprehensive examinations (for CJ 6610, 6620, 6622 and 6624) and the research requirement (CJ 6650), will be awarded the master’s degree. (If the student makes a “D” or “F” in a core course, the course must be retaken. If the student makes a “D” or “F” in an elective course, the course may be retaken or another elective taken in its place.) Required Courses (15 credits) CJ 6610 (3) Principles of Administration CJ 6620 (3) Current Trends in Criminal Law CJ 6622 (3) Seminar in the Administration of Justice CJ 6624 (3) Court Administration CJ 6650 (3) Survey of Research Methods in Criminal Justice Electives (15 credits) Select any 15 hours of graduate course work from the following: CJ 5571 (3) Probation, Pardons, and Parole CJ 6621 (3) Current Issues in Corrections CJ 6625 (3) Specialized Study CJ 6630 (3) Juvenile Justice CJ 6635 (3) Community-Based Corrections/Correctional Systems CJ 6636 (3) Criminological Theory CJ 6638 (3) Seminar in Civil Liberties Related to Corrections CJ 6640 (3) Seminar in Law Enforcement CJ 6644 (3) Administrative Law CJ 6649 (3) Statistics for Criminal Justice Research CJ 6652 (3) Seminar in Corrections CJ 6655 (3) Special Topics in Criminal Justice CJ 6660 (3) Advanced Readings in Criminal Justice CJ 6671 (3) Organizational Theory |
