Master of Science in Criminal Justice Studies

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the M.S. in Criminal Justice Studies, students will be able to:

1. Apply the primary concepts and assumptions of the traditional and contemporary theories of addressing crime.
2. Identify and critique efficient criminal justice standards while recognizing basic rights guaranteed to each individual both by state and federal constitutions and laws.
3. Examine the problems associated with ethical administrative decision-making.
4. Integrate issues of race, ethnicity, gender, age, and social class and identify how they affect the criminal justice system in terms of understanding social causes of crime.
5. Develop and apply research methods as used in the social or natural sciences, with a particular emphasis on the basic skills necessary to conduct (and direct) research in criminal justice agencies and related institutions. 
6. Engage the Marianist tradition of education for service, peace, and justice as it pertains to local and national social justice, injustices, and inequities in the criminal justice field.

Curriculum

Core Courses (21 Credits)

• CJA 604 Constitutional Law & Civil Rights
• CJA 605 Criminology
• CJA 705 Forensic Psychology
• CJA 751 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
• CJA 766 Ethics in Criminal Justice & Public Administration
• CJA 790 Research Methods & Data Analysis
• CJA 791 Seminar in Criminal Justice Studies/Capstone

Elective Courses (9 credits)

• CJA 610 Law Enforcement
• CJA 630 Corrections
• CJA 680 Special Topics
• CJA 706 Managing Criminal Investigations
• CJA 708 Terrorism & Justice
• CJA 725 Cybercrime & Digital Security
• CJA 735 Trauma & Crisis Intervention
• CJA 795 Internship