Master of Science in Criminal Justice
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program dives into the historical and contemporary criminal justice system, examining relationships among law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. Prerequisites for the graduate criminal justice program are limited so that qualified students with bachelor’s degrees in related fields such as criminology, psychology, business or public administration, anthropology, political science, sociology or related social sciences may enroll, along with students who have undergraduate degrees in criminal justice.
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program, you can choose to enter doctoral programs in related fields or seek a leadership position within law enforcement, corrections, local and state government, or legal institutions*.
*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
**Working in these environments may require additional education, certifications, or clearances, which South University cannot guarantee.
Course Requirements
Note(s):
The student will choose four courses (16 credits) from the remaining graduate level criminal justice curriculum listed below or from other graduate offerings with the guidance and approval of the Program Director in Criminal Justice or appropriate Program Chair and with the advice of the related Program Director if courses from other programs are desired. The student should plan to take at least 50% of this part of the degree program in criminal justice courses. Students may construct an area of emphasis with the guidance of the Program Director or Chair or pursue a more general set of elective course courses. Students may emphasize a traditional area of the field such as Corrections or Homeland Security, but elective choices may also reflect the particular professional goals and aspirations of the student. Thus, courses in areas such as Public Administration, Business, or Clinical Mental Health Counseling may be included as desired and approved and if the student completes the required prerequisites for such courses. Please note that Financial Aid may not cover prerequisite courses. Please see the Coursework Taken Outside a Student's Degree Program Policy found in the Academic Affairs section of this catalog.
Note(s):
Acceptance into a South University Criminal Justice program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain employment in law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, or related fields. The student should contact the national, state, or local agency/institution in which the perspective student intends to gain employment for specific requirements and the application process.
Admissions Requirements
Admissions criteria for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Program
Graduate Admissions - Masters level
Prospective students are required to submit the following:
- Completion of application for admission
- Official transcripts for bachelor or graduate degree within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance). (All credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service). Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.
Note: See program notes and specific requirements below for each graduate - masters level degree program
Specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- Completion of application for admission.
- A 2.0 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
Foundational Undergraduate Courses for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Completion of an undergraduate statistics course (with a grade of C or better) is required for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice. If the student does not have the course as part of their undergraduate degree, the course needs to be completed in the first two quarters of the program. Foundation undergraduate course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation, nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR). MSCJ students enrolled in foundation undergraduate course must successfully complete the course within their first three attempts or the student will be academically dismissed from the University.
For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Students will apply criminal justice theories to a variety of real-life problems within complex organizations.
- Students will evaluate the effectiveness of organizational policy in professional practice.
- Students will develop strategies for improving systemic communication within and between criminal justice agencies.
- Students will integrate research methodology central to the field of criminal justice.
Career Outlook
These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:
- Corrections Manager
- Intelligence Analyst
- Crime Reduction Manager
- Law Enforcement Administrative Manager
- Investigators
- Law Enforcement (*Additional training is required)
Individuals in these roles are typically found within various sectors, including but not limited to, the juvenile justice system, municipal courts, homeland security, and corrections facilities. They are established in the field; focused on examining relationships among law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.**
New Student Orientation
The New Student Orientation helps students develop skills and behaviors of a successful college student:
• Learn about South University and the resources available to support their success.• Practice using the same tools they will encounter in their courses, including Discussions, Microsoft Word/PDF document uploads, and Quizzes.
• Build confidence navigating University systems through an interactive Virtual Scavenger Hunt Quiz.
• Actively engage with course content rather than simply acknowledging completion.
BrightSpace
BrightSpace is an online learning management platform that keeps students connected to classwork and instructors.