Criminal Justice (MCJ)
Description
The Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) promotes evidence-based policy and practice and prepares future leaders in the fields of criminal justice, emergency management, and homeland security by conducting relevant, innovative research and offering cutting-edge courses.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 30
Course Requirements
The M.C.J. is a 30-graduate-hour program. All students must complete the 12 hours of core courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 6000 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
| CRJU 6010 | Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| CRJU 6020 | Criminal Justice Research Methods | 3 |
| CRJU 6240 | Theories of Criminal Behavior | 3 |
Students will select an emphasis in either Criminal Justice Policy and Practice, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, or Criminal Justice Leadership.
Other Academic Requirements
The minimum requirements to graduate are: An overall graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher; must complete a minimum of three (3) classes in their emphasis; and students must complete all core classes with a minimum grade of B-.
Completion option for the degree will vary by emphasis area.
Specializations
- Emphasis - Criminal Justice Leadership
- Emphasis - Homeland Sec & Emergency Mgmt
Emphasis - Criminal Justice Leadership
Description
The M.C.J. with emphasis in emergency management and homeland security prepares a graduate for a variety of criminal justice and related positions.
Course Requirements
Students enrolled in Criminal Justice Leadership emphasis (online) are required to take the 12 hours of core classes as online courses. This emphasis also requires a minimum of three (3) of the following (i.e., 9 credits):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 6710 | Communications for Criminal Justice Lead | 3 |
| CRJU 6720 | Conflict Resolution and Decision Making | 3 |
| CRJU 6730 | Criminal Justice Evidence-Based Decision | 3 |
| CRJU 6740 | Budgeting & Finance | 3 |
| CRJU 6760 | Principles of Leadership | 3 |
| CRJU 6780 | Social Contexts in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 6999D | Special Topics in CJ Leadership (May be taken 2 times with different topics) | 3 |
| CRJU 6800 | Personnel Management | 3 |
| CRJU 6490 | Independent Study (May be taken 2 times with different topics) | 1-3 |
Degree Culmination: Criminal Justice Capstone
All students must complete the CRJU 6996A Criminal Justice Capstone 1 & CRJU 6996B Criminal Justice Capstone 2.
All students must complete a two-course capstone series (CRJU 6996A Criminal Justice Capstone 1 and CRJU 6996B Criminal Justice Capstone 2) to complete their degree. Each class is 3 credit hours and will be completed sequentially. As part of this capstone series, students will review, research, and evaluate a criminal justice, emergency management, or homeland security policy or issue. Students must complete this course series with a grade of B- or above and receive an 80% or above on their final capstone project to be eligible for their degree.
Students will enroll in the capstone series after the completion of 18 hours of coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must have successfully completed CRJU 6000 Criminal Justice Administration, CRJU 6010 Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis, CRJU 6020 Criminal Justice Research Methods, and CRJU 6240 Theories of Criminal Behavior with a grade of B- or above before enrolling in the capstone courses. Students must successfully pass CRJU 6996A Criminal Justice Capstone 1 with a B- or above to be eligible to continue on to CRJU 6996B Criminal Justice Capstone 2.
Emphasis - Homeland Sec & Emergency Mgmt
Description
The M.C.J. with emphasis in emergency management and homeland security prepares a graduate for a variety of criminal justice and related positions.
Course Requirements
Students enrolled in Homeland Security and Emergency Management emphasis (fully online) are required to take the 12 hours of core classes as online courses. This emphasis also requires a minimum of three (3) of the following (i.e., 9 credits):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 6300 | Seminar in Homeland Security | 3 |
| CRJU 6310 | Seminar in Emergency Management | 3 |
| CRJU 6320 | Seminar in Extremism and Terrorism | 3 |
| CRJU 6340 | Emergency Response Mgmt Policy & Plannin | 3 |
| CRJU 6360 | Critical Infrastructure Security | 3 |
| CRJU 6420 | Cybercrime and Cyber Security | 3 |
| CRJU 6410 | Transnational Crime | 3 |
| CRJU 6999B | Special Topics in HSEM | 3 |
| CRJU 6490 | Independent Study (May be taken 2 times with different topics) | 1-3 |
| Complete one additional elective | 3 | |
Degree Culmination: Criminal Justice Capstone
All students must complete the CRJU 6996A Criminal Justice Capstone 1 & CRJU 6996B Criminal Justice Capstone 2.
All students must complete a two-course capstone series (CRJU 6996A Criminal Justice Capstone 1 and CRJU 6996B Criminal Justice Capstone 2) to complete their degree. Each class is 3 credit hours and will be completed sequentially. As part of this capstone series, students will review, research, and evaluate a criminal justice, emergency management, or homeland security policy or issue. Students must complete this course series with a grade of B- or above and receive an 80% or above on their final capstone project to be eligible for their degree.
Students will enroll in the capstone series after the completion of 18 hours of coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must have successfully completed CRJU 6000 Criminal Justice Administration, CRJU 6010 Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis, CRJU 6020 Criminal Justice Research Methods, and CRJU 6240 Theories of Criminal Behavior with a grade of B- or above before enrolling in the capstone courses. Students must successfully pass CRJU 6996A Criminal Justice Capstone 1 with a B- or above to be eligible to continue on to CRJU 6996B Criminal Justice Capstone 2.
Admission Requirements
- Evidence of an awarded baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Quality of the applicant’s academic record, as evidenced by cumulative grade- point average. At least a 3.0 or equivalent grade-point average on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework is required.
- Three (3) letters of professional recommendation, preferably from professors familiar with your academic qualifications or others familiar with your work ethic and ability to be successful in graduate school.
- A 400- to 500-word statement of interest that describes your interest in pursuing the Master of Criminal Justice degree, your chosen emphasis in
- Policy and Practice (in-person),
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management (fully online),
- Criminal Justice Leadership (fully online), your future career goals, and why you believe you will be successful in graduate school.
- Submit a sample of your recent written work that best showcases your skills as a writer and critical thinker. Writing samples should be in English and no more than 10 double-spaced pages in length. There are no specific formatting requirements. This could be a term paper, professional report, policy brief, or any other document that demonstrates writing and analytic skills.
- Curriculum vitae or resume.
- International students must demonstrate compliance with the University of Mississippi's English Language Proficiency Score Requirements and Exemptions policy.
Prospective students that are interested in a graduate assistantship position (only applicable for the in-person emphasis in CJ policy and practice) should also submit:
- Resume or curriculum vitae.
- Brief statement of interest of no more than 300 words in the assistantship position, including interest in research and/or teaching and skills that you will bring to the position.