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The Criminal Justice Master of Arts degree is a broad-based graduate program. The program addresses issues of crime and criminal justice within an analytical framework and emphasizes theory and research and their implications for social policy. The curriculum is grounded in the social and behavioral sciences and in legal approaches to crime and social control. It draws from contemporary research and theoretical developments across a spectrum of academic disciplines. There are two M.A. degree options. The traditional master’s degree is designed to prepare students for doctoral studies in the field and in related areas of the social and behavioral sciences. Those who obtain this degree may also assume teaching positions at the community college level. The professional master’s degree is designed to serve the needs of professionals currently working in justice-related agencies by providing the knowledge and skills to enhance their performance in current positions and/or prepare them for career advancement.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the Criminal Justice Master's Degree Program, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced theoretical knowledge of the nature of crime and patterns of criminal activity.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the law and the legal system, as well as decision-making in the criminal justice process, the social and political context of the legal system, important constitutional issues, and how criminal law differs from other forms of law.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of criminal justice institutions and processes, and current criminal justice policy.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of research methods, statistics and program evaluation.
• Demonstrate the basic theoretical, empirical, and substantive knowledge and skills required for graduate education at the doctoral level, teaching at the community college level, and for research, social policy positions, and professional positions in criminal justice-related fields.