Master of Arts in Criminal Justice with Specialization in Victimology

Degree Requirements:

The MACJ with Specialization in Victimology curriculum consists of 55 Credits: Eighteen 3-credit courses and one 1-credit course. Students will take ten foundation courses (28 credits), four specialization area courses (12 credits) and five elective courses (15 credits):

I. Foundation Courses

28 credits, including:

II. Specialization Area Courses

12 credits, including:

III. Elective Courses

Choose 15 credits from the following:

With no more than two courses from the following:

The courses below are joint undergraduate/graduate courses. Students may take up to two (6 credits) to fulfill MACJ elective course requirements.

NOTE:

Students who have previously taken CRJS 522 , CRJS 523 , CRJS 526 , CRJS 550 , CRJS 560 , or CRJS 565 at the undergraduate level as CRJS 422, 423, 426, 450, 460, or 465 may choose to apply the course(s) as MACJ electives (6 credits maximum–3 credits per course) but may not take additional joint courses OR may choose not to apply the course(s) and instead take up to 6 credits joint undergraduate/graduate courses not previously completed at the undergraduate level.

IV. Comprehensive Examination

Students have the option of taking the comprehensive exam or completing a master’s thesis. The comprehensive examination may be taken as soon as the foundation courses and comprehensive exam readings are completed. The exam must be completed prior to the last quarter of the program. The exam includes questions based on the MACJ foundation curriculum and comprehensive examination reading list. A student may retake the comprehensive exam once. Students planning to take the comprehensive examination must make an appointment to do so with the criminal justice department chair. The comprehensive exam will be offered fall and spring quarters. Students retaking the examination will be required to answer questions only in areas not passed in the first exam.

V. Thesis Option

Students planning to go on to a doctorate program or who are interested in completing an independent research project may select the thesis option in lieu of completing the comprehensive exam. Students wishing to pursue this option must obtain approval from the department chair by submitting a thesis proposal and identifying a thesis chair and committee. The thesis committee must include at least two criminal justice faculty members and one external member with expertise in an area relevant to the thesis topic. The proposal must include:

Importance of research to the field of criminal justice
Literature Review
Method

Students completing the thesis must enroll in CRJS 599 (1-3 credits per quarter). Students may first register for thesis credit after completing the MACJ foundation courses and receiving departmental approval. A copy of the completed version of the thesis should be given to all members of the thesis committee. The thesis requires a formal defense which involves oral examination/response to questions by the thesis committee.