Thirty (30) credits are required to graduate from the MA in Criminal Justice program. Courses are offered during the evening and online, and part-time students are welcome. Students must complete eighteen required credits of the core curriculum plus an additional twelve credits of any elective courses. Students may also choose the twelve credits for a concentration in national security or criminal justice management. In order to receive the MA in Criminal Justice, students are required to either prepare a thesis or complete a comprehensive examination. The thesis would count as one of the four elective courses required for the completion of the thirty credits. The comprehensive examination offers no credit. It may be taken at the end of the fall or spring semester. The student must complete the required thirty credits by the end of the semester in which the student takes the comprehensive examination.
MACJ Curriculum
Students who did not receive an undergraduate degree in criminal justice will be required to complete the prerequisite courses listed below prior to taking any graduate courses.
- CJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CJ 200 Constitutional Law
MACJ Core Requirements (18 credits)
- CJ 401 - Theories and Analysis of Crime Causation and Deviance
- CJ 402 - Critical Issues in the Administration and Management of the Criminal Justice System
- CJ 403 - Law, Society and Ethics
- CJ 404 - Issues in the Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correctional Systems
- CJ 405 - Criminal Law
- CJ 406 - Methods of Research Design and Statistical Analysis
MACJ Electives (12 credits)
- CJ 506 - Victimology
- CJ 507 - Organizational Procedures
- CJ 508 - Capital Punishment
- CJ 509 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
- CJ 510 - Criminal Profiling
- CJ 511 - Emergency Management
- CJ 513 - Issues in National Security
- CJ 514 - Domestic and International Terrorism
- CJ 515 - Budgetary Planning in Public Agencies
- CJ 601 - Internship/Practicum Experience in Criminal Justice
- CJ 650 - Criminal Justice Thesis
Concentrations
As part of your elective work, you may choose one of two areas of concentration:
Concentration in National Security (12 credits)
- CJ 510 - Criminal Profiling
- CJ 511 - Emergency Management
- CJ 513 - Issues in National Security
- CJ 514 - Domestic and International Terrorism
Concentration in Criminal Justice Management (12 credits)
- CJ 507 - Organizational Procedures
- CJ 511 - Emergency Management
- CJ 515 - Budgetary Planning in Public Agencies
- CJ 601 - Internship/Practicum Experience in Criminal Justice
If you are interested in the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program at Sacred Heart University,
apply online today!