Admission Requirements

Master's Degree & Graduate Certificates

Master's Degree

Applicants should have the ability to pursue graduate education, as demonstrated by:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year institution
2. Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 or higher
3. Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test or Miller's Analogy
4. Three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the educational and/or professional performance of the applicant
5. Two copies of a complete and official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended
6. An interview may be requested by the Graduate Admissions Committee
7. Subject to departmental approval, a maximum of 12 credits of graduate level coursework taken at an accredited university outside of UML with a grade of B or better may be transferred into the Criminal Justice master's degree program
8. Prospective applicants may take a maximum of two classes at UML as a non-degree student which may be transferred into the masters program

Students with a bachelor's degree from an accredited program who have an undergraduate grade point average between 2.5 and 2.8 may, with the permission of the graduate coordinator, take two courses as non-degree students. These non-degree students should take 44.501 Foundations of Criminal Justice Scholarship and 44.503 Administration of Justice or other courses with approval. If they successfully complete these two courses with a grade of B or better, they may then make formal application to the program, submitting all required credentials. The Graduate Committee of the Criminal Justice Department then will review all relevant information and make a decision regarding admission to the program. Non-degree status: when space permits, qualified students will be allowed to enroll in selected courses. Subsequent application to the program will permit transfer into the program of no more than six credits of course work with grades of B or better.

Master's Degree Requirements

All students must complete a minimum of 33 credits for the Master of Arts degree. Included in the 33 credits requirement is a core course sequence of 15 credits. The core consists of:

1) 44.503 Administration of Justice

2) 44.521 Criminological Theory

3) 44.580 Quantitative Research

4) 44.590 Research Methods in Criminal Justice

5) 44.501 Foundations of Criminal Justice Scholarship

OR

44.570 Criminal Justice Management and Planning

In addition, all students may complete: 44.746 Master's Thesis. This is not a requirement.

Graduate Certificates

Applicants should have the ability to pursue graduate education, as demonstrated by:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year institution
2. Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 or
   higher
3. Two copies of a complete and official transcript from
   each undergraduate and graduate institution attended
4. An interview may be requested by the Graduate
   Admissions Committee
5. University regulations do not allow transfer of class(es)
   from another institution for the graduate certificate
   program
6. Classes may count for both the Masters degree and one certificate program, the same class can not be used for two different certificates

top