- Location:
- Glassboro, United States
- Program Type:
- Full Degree
- Degree Level:
- Master
- Specialty:
- Criminal Justice
Program Overview
- Program Description:
The M.A. in Criminal Justice prepares students for leadership positions in criminal justice agencies; for research positions in federal, state, county, city, non-profit and private research institutions; and for further study in doctoral programs. In this changing field, successful professionals will need to know how to use research to evaluate the effectiveness of programs aimed at preventing and controlling crime. Upon degree completion, graduates will have an understanding of the causes of crime, the impact of law on society and contemporary issues in policing, courts and corrections.
There are two options for earning the M.A. in Criminal Justice:
Thesis Track - students choose four (4) 3-credit electives and earn six (6) credits for doing research and writing a thesis while working closely with faculty.
Non-Thesis Track - students choose six (6) 3-credit electives dealing with contemporary issues in the field and take a comprehensive exam after completing their coursework.
Both tracks in the M.A. program feature the same six (6) required courses and focus on the growing emphasis in the criminal justice system on using research evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies aimed at preventing and controlling crime.
Our graduate faculty have earned doctoral degrees from the best Criminal Justice programs in the country, and have practical experience working in the system as well as diverse academic interests. Graduate faculty are conducting research in areas such as:
- Domestic and International Policing
- Gun Violence
- Capital Juror Decision-Making
- Cognitive-Behavioral Programs
- Social Justice Issues
- White Collar Crime
- Incarceration Policy
- Role of Public Defenders and Prosecutors
- Criminological Theory
- Sentencing and Restorative Just
Additional Program Information
- Accreditation:
- .
- International Requirements:
- All transcripts must be evaluated by WES. TOEFL where applicable.