Criminal Justice M.S.

(36 Semester Hours)

PURPOSE

The Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice is a 36-hour program designed to provide the student with a foundation in five specific areas:

1. Criminal Justice Systems;
2. Crime Theory;
3. Criminal Justice Administration;
4. Legal Aspects; and
5. Research Methods.

Additional elective courses offer the student an opportunity to acquire some background in forensics and investigative techniques. The student who successfully completes this program should be adequately prepared to assume administrative, managerial, training, or research responsibilities in the applied criminal justice arena, or to pursue doctoral level education in Criminal Justice or a related discipline.

LOCATION OF PROGRAM

The program is offered primarily through evening classes at the NSU campus in Broken Arrow.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Criteria for provisional admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program include:

1. An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A completed application for graduate admission.
3. An official transcript of all previous college course work sent directly from the schools attended to the Graduate College.
4. An overall grade point average of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate course work, or a 2.75 in the last 60 undergraduate semester hours attempted , or a score in the upper three-fourths of national norms on either the MAT or the GRE (verbal plus quantitative). Scores on the general aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination or Miller Analogies Test must be no more than five years old.
   
   The MAT or GRE must be completed before the close of the first semester of enrollment. Students who fail to complete the entrance test on time will be blocked from enrollment until the requirement has been met.
    
5. Two references (forms provided) from professional or academic sources.
6. Prerequisites: A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or paralegal studies. An applicant with an unrelated undergraduate degree may be admitted provisionally, but may not be accepted to candidacy until 9 hours of specific undergraduate criminal justice courses, or their equivalents, have been completed. The prerequisite courses are:
   
   
   • CRJ 3083 Criminal Procedure or Criminal Law I and II (3013 & 3023)
   • CRJ 4113 American Court System
   • CRJ 4253 Juvenile Justice System or CRJ 5343 Seminar in Juvenile Justice

Undergraduate courses may be taken concurrently with graduate courses. Applicable prerequisite credit will also be recognized for work experience in the criminal justice system.

ADVISEMENT

After admission to graduate studies, the student will meet with the graduate faculty advisor for Criminal Justice. The advisor will assist the student in selecting an appropriate option (thesis or non-thesis). The advisor will further ensure that the student fully understands all program requirements. A Statement of Understanding will be signed by the student and the advisor and sent with a copy of the degree plan to the Graduate College for the Dean’s approval. Subsequent changes to the degree plan will require written approval of the advisor.

The student must maintain a “B” average in all graduate course work. If the student receives a grade below a “C” in any graduate course, the course must be repeated. Any student found to have serious writing deficiencies may be required to complete an approved writing course before being allowed to enroll in further graduate classes.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

The following requirements must be met before the student will be admitted to candidacy:

• be provisionally admitted to the graduate program in Criminal Justice
• file an approved Degree Plan and a signed Statement of Understanding with the Graduate College
• take the GRE or MAT
• complete a minimum of nine semester hours of graduate course work as prescribed by the plan of study.
• complete undergraduate prerequisites (if applicable).
• maintain a “B” average in all graduate course work completed prior to candidacy

Program Sequence

The Program sequence is designed to allow a student to complete all course work within a two year time frame. This would require that the student take a full course load each Fall, Spring and Summer session. Substitutions are discouraged and will only be made with consensus approval of three graduate faculty and subsequent approval by the Dean of the Graduate College.

Comprehensive Final Examination

The comprehensive final examination will be administered on Monday, three weeks prior to finals week.

Thesis

The student who chooses the thesis option will be required to complete 30 hours of course work. The remaining 6 hours will be used to complete the thesis. A criminal justice faculty member selected by the student will serve as the Chair of the Thesis Committee. The Committee will be comprised of at least three (3) criminal justice faculty (including the Chair), and one outside faculty member selected by the student. The Chair will be responsible for assisting the student with organization and research methodology, and for ensuring that the thesis is ready for presentation. Thesis format guidelines are available on the Graduate College web page.

The completed thesis will be presented and defended orally before the Committee. Once approved, a copy must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval at least one month prior to the end of the semester in which the student expects to complete degree requirements.

Four copies of the thesis will be provided for the University and will become the property of the University. Copies will be distributed to the University Library, the Dean of the Graduate College, the Criminal Justice Department Library at the Broken Arrow campus, and the Chair of the Thesis Committee.

Program Check List

1. Apply for admission 30 days prior to first enrollment for graduate studies.
2. Meet with advisor prior to enrollment to develop and file a degree plan and a Statement of Understanding.
3. Enroll in classes
4. Meet candidacy after completing 9 hours of graduate course work.
5. Request final degree check prior to the semester of expected graduation.
6. Apply for graduation at the beginning of the final semester (See academic calendar for deadlines).
7. Complete thesis (if applicable). The final copy must be presented to the committee six weeks prior to the end of the semester. The final copy must be provided to the Graduate College 30 days prior to the end of the semester of expected graduation.
8. For non-thesis option, complete comprehensive examination three weeks prior to the end of semester or summer term.