University of Arkansas at Little Rock

On-line Master of Science Program in Criminal Justice

The MSCJ is offered completely on line. It is designed for persons currently working within the criminal justice system or closely related fields. It provides students with advanced academic training, special expertise in advanced issues within the criminal justice system, supervisory and administrative proficiency, and the methodological and statistical skills necessary to understand research and new developments in criminal justice. Graduates of this program will be expected to continue their work in the criminal justice field, be prepared to handle increasing responsibilities in their jobs, and gain promotions to the highest levels of their organizations.

What does an MSCJ degree offer?

• Advanced academic knowledge for working professionals
• Mastery of creation, presentation, and analysis of criminal justice policy briefs
• Special expertise in advanced issues covering the criminal justice system
• Increased supervisory and administrative proficiency and implementation of policies
• Methodological and statistical skills necessary to understand research and new developments in the criminal justice field

What are the requirements to complete an MSCJ?

• 36 hours of coursework, including 24 hours of required courses and 12 hours of electives
• A final project, a policy-oriented thesis where students conduct original research related to a policy issue in criminal justice.

What will the average class be like?

• Classes are offered entirely on-line and provide flexibility matched with academic rigor
• Lectures may take the form of guided lectures with voice-over visual resources, material presented by the professor (text, PowerPoint, etc.), or video presentations students download and watch
• Students will participate through presentations and discussions on the class discussion list

This program is not designed for people who are not working in the field and do not need supervisory/administrative skills. People seeking to enter the criminal justice system or who want to work in research positions or continue their education in a PhD program should apply for the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program.

Required Courses and Degree Plan
Fall Semester, Year 1		Spring Semester, Year 1
CRJU 7301 Proseminar	CRJU 7321 CJ Organiztions & Management	CRJU 7320 Applied Research & Analysis	CRJU 7303 Criminal Justice Systems
Fall Semester, Year 2		Spring Semester, Year 2
CRJU 7323 Ethics in Criminal Justice	Elective (Juvenile Justice, Homeland Security)	CRJU 7305 Criminal Law	Elective (Corrections)
Fall Semester, Year 3		Spring Semester, Year 3
CRJU 7304 Criminal Justice Policy	Elective (Cybercrime)	CRJU 8302 Policy Thesis Prep	Elective (Policing)

The final project of the MSCJ program is a policy-oriented thesis where students conduct original research related to a policy issue in criminal justice.

So what do I do now?

• Applications are due in June and spaces fill quickly
• Contact Dr. David R. Montague (see contact information below)

Admissions

Admission to the program requires a baccalaureate degree in criminal justice or a related field. Applicants are required to have completed an undergraduate statistics and research methodology course prior to enrolling in graduate courses.

Application requirements for admission to the MSCJ program are:

• Submission of all undergraduate transcripts. Minimum undergraduate GPA is 2.75.
• Submission of GRE or MAT scores.
• Applicants are required to score at least 900 on the verbal and quantitative portions and at least 4 on the written portion of the GRE or…
• Score of at least 400 on the Miller Analogies Test.
• A written statement that includes your current position in the criminal justice system, educational goals, career goals, and how completion of the MSCJ would further career and educational goals.
• The reference code to submit either MAT or GRE scores to UALR is 6368.
• The tuition for the program is the standard UALR graduate rate for Arkansas residents and for out-of-state residents [Tiotion Fees]. A technology fee of $25.00 per credit hour applies for courses offered completely online. Financial aid information can be found at Financial Aid

All materials should be sent to the UALR Graduate School. Do not send materials to the Department of Criminal Justice.

Applications for the MSCJ program will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee upon receipt. Each cohort will be limited to 20 students. Students will be admitted competitively based on the requirements listed above.

For further information, contact Dr. David Montague at DRMONTAGUE@UALR.EDU or by phone at (501) 683-7509.