Criminal Justice (MS)

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to meet the needs of students preparing for careers in the field of criminal justice. The curriculum focuses on the traditional issues such as management, administrative and criminal justice theory, as well as basic research methods and descriptive statistics.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice core and elective courses focus on the complex and changing world in which criminal justice systems operate in this country and abroad. This plan of study is designed to equip future criminal justice leaders to be critical consumers of criminal justice research.

The benefits of an advanced graduate degree in criminal justice are self-evident and are being increasingly recognized by employers in central Florida and throughout the United States. Federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies benefit from an informed and innovative workforce that is aware of the complex issues and problems faced by the system regardless of geographic locale. Furthermore, graduates of the program are grounded in the latest theories and learn how these theories affect each individual or organization within the system.

International applicants should be aware the program may not offer sufficient on-campus courses for F or J visa holders. Please contact the program for more information before applying.

The Criminal Justice MS program currently offers limited face-to-face courses. The program is offered primarily online. Contact the program for additional information.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice requires 36 credit hours, including 21 credit hours of core courses, 6 credit hours of restricted electives, and 9 credit hours of general electives. For students electing to complete a thesis, 6 credit hours of the general elective requirements will be thesis hours.

Total Credit Hours Required: 36 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Please note: Criminal Justice (MS) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. International applicants should be aware the program may not offer sufficient on-campus courses for F or J visa holders. Please contact the program for more information before applying. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit UCF Global. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at (407) 823-2337.

UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.

Degree Requirements

Core

• Complete the following:
  • CCJ5015 - The Nature of Crime (3)
  • CCJ5456 - The Administration of Justice (3)
  • CCJ6704 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
  • CCJ6706 - Data Analysis in Criminal Justice I (3)
  • CCJ6106 - Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice (3)
  • CCJ6118 - Criminal Justice Organizations (3)

Capstone

• Complete the following:
  • CJE6718 - Proseminar in Criminal Justice (3)

Electives

• The combined total of Restricted and Unrestricted 5000 level electives may not exceed 12 credit hours.

Restricted

• Complete at least 2 of the following:
  • CJC5020 - Foundations of Corrections (3)
  • CJE5021 - Foundations of Law Enforcement (3)
  • CJJ6020 - The Juvenile Justice System (3)
  • CJL6568 - Law and Social Control (3)
  • CJL6520 - American Criminal Courts (3)

Unrestricted

• Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: Additional Elective Coursework Students should consult with the Criminal Justice adviser for approval of general electives outside of the Criminal Justice program prior to enrolling. Criminal Justice courses at the 5000 or 6000 level, not used toward core or restricted electives, are pre-approved general electives.

Grand Total Credits: 36

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.

Students must achieve a grade of a solid "B" (3.0) or higher in every course listed under core requirements and in the capstone course CJE 6718.

Thesis Option: 6 Credit Hours of the general elective requirements may be thesis hours

All MSCJ students are automatically placed into the nonthesis option. Students electing to complete a thesis should consult the program adviser. The thesis option will consist of 6 hours of thesis credit and a successful defense of the research. Students should select a faculty adviser, form a thesis committee, and complete core/restricted elective requirements before enrolling in thesis hours. A thesis proposal must also be submitted to an approved committee before enrolling thesis hours. Students who elect to write a thesis should become familiar with the university's requirements and deadlines for organizing and submitting the thesis.

Independent Learning

Independent learning is demonstrated throughout the curriculum through the process of inquiry and dialogue. Tangible projects such as advanced research projects, scholarly papers, internships, practicum, and presentations at professional conferences also contribute to the self-development of our students. The culminating experience for students is completion of the CJE 6718 - Proseminar in Criminal Justice, which serves as the capstone for the program.