Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ)

DESCRIPTION

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to provide qualified students with an interdisciplinary graduate level education in criminal justice. It provides the student with knowledge for professional entry, advancement or enhancement in the Criminal Justice career field, or entry into advanced studies. Specifically, the program is designed to:

1. Fulfill a need in American society by helping to upgrade the criminal justice system through education.
2. Provide students seeking managerial or supervisory positions in law enforcement, with a means to qualify for such positions.
3. Assist qualified persons in the criminal justice system in professionalizing themselves through a graduate study program in criminal justice.
4. Provide a planned program of graduate study for those students interested in research in the areas of law enforcement, court and corrections.
5. Provide academic preparation for teaching criminal justice at the college level.
6. Provide the foundation for advanced graduate study leading to terminal degrees.
7. Provide opportunities for interdisciplinary study and research.

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 STANDARDS

Entrance Exam Required - NO EXCEPTIONS!

Unconditional Admission

A. Applicants who have completed a master's or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university will be admitted unconditionally.

B.

1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university,
2. Graduate Admission Exam (GRE, MAT, or GMAT) score on file.
3. At least 2.5 GPA on all undergraduate work or at least 3.0 GPA on the last 30 semester hours and score at least 850 on GRE (verbal and quantitative) 33 on MAT, 450 on GMAT.

Conditional Admission

Students not satisfying the requirements stated in B (3) above may be conditionally admitted to the program. Students thus admitted must complete 12 semester hours with a "B" or better average. After completion of the first 12 semester hours with a "B" or better average, unconditional admission will be granted, Students not satisfying conditional admission requirements will be dropped from the program for one calendar year at which time the student must petition for readmission.

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 TSU courses in the CJ graduate program and be approved by the appropriate main campus dean/department chair. If the student transfers a "core" or "required course," they are still subject to a written comprehensive exam based on the material presented at TSU-Troy.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

1. To be admitted to candidacy, students must have a 3.0 GPA on all work attempted.
2. Unconditionally admitted graduate students may apply for admission to candidacy for a degree program after completing 6 semester graduate hours at TSU - Troy. A student will be admitted to candidacy the term following completion of 12 semester hours.

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