MS in Criminal Justice

The interdisciplinary field of criminal justice has grown exponentially over the last two decades. This incredibly rich discipline seeks not solely to explain the dysfunctional aspects of society but to contribute to the civilizing of the larger society. The criminal justice professional has developed a social science arsenal that transcends the use of deadly force. The incorporation of crime reduction strategies, the burgeoning impact of forensics, and advanced criminological theories have made the study of criminal justice exciting and gratifying. Courses in this major, with the exception of Internships, are offered either in a hybrid format or fully on-line. The hybrid courses meet 2/3 on-site and 1/3 on-line.

Graduates are expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Proficiency in writing and oral communication skills
2. Knowledge of the causes of crime and effective measures to reduce crime
3. The ability to critically analyze scholarly articles in the field of Criminal Justice
4. Competence in the application of criminological theory and the framing of the scientific method
5. An integrated knowledge of the various components of the Criminal Justice System
6. Knowledge of the transnational nature of crime in the age of globalization