Criminal Justice Administration MA

Program is pending final Board of Regents approval.

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration is specifically designed for working professionals in the Criminal Justice System and related fields. The foundation of the program is a Leadership Certificate that will provide students with core knowledge and skills to be effective leaders at any organizational level. Upon completion of the Leadership Certificate, students can then choose from the remaining certificate and elective courses geared toward their professional area of expertise to complete requirements for the master’s degree.

To complete the M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration, students must complete the Criminal Justice Leadership certificate (12 credits), and 18 additional credits of electives to reach 30 credits in total. A special Project Plan E capstone is required.

The program is offered in a fully online format.

The foundation of the program is a Criminal Justice Leadership Certificate that will provide students with core knowledge and skills to be effective leaders at any organizational level.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. In addition to the standard University graduate admissions requirements, the department requires:

• Students must have a minimum of 3 years of full-time work experience in Criminal Justice or a related field, or currently serve in a verifiable leadership role/position within a criminal justice agency with no less than 2 years of CJ experience.
• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants may also be considered for conditional admission if they have a 2.70 to 2.99 GPA and/or commensurate work experience.
• Resume

Students will complete a capstone project for the M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration, embedded in CJ 571: Applied Research and Data Interpretation. This capstone will provide students with an opportunity to apply their academic learning to a real-world problem within their criminal justice agency. Students are tasked with identifying a significant issue affecting their organization, such as inefficiencies, policy gaps, or operational challenges, and producing a comprehensive 10-12 page executive report. This report will include an executive summary, a synthesis of relevant scientific research, a critical review of literature, and policy recommendations. The assignment requires students to evaluate and analyze the evidence within the context of their agency’s needs, fostering critical thinking and strategic decision-making. By adhering to APA formatting and preparing a formal report for both agency leadership and the course instructor, students will gain practical experience in presenting data-driven solutions, enhancing their leadership skills, and directly contributing to the improvement of their workplace. This applied experience prepares students for higher-level responsibilities within their organization and reinforces the integration of theory and practice in criminal justice leadership.