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Master of Science

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Barbara Warner

Internship Coordinator: Dr. Sue Carter Collins

Crime and criminal justice are at the forefront of national policy and practice. The increasing emphasis on professional preparation in criminal justice careers places additional academic demands on the in-service professional. To meet this need, Georgia State University's Department of Criminal Justice offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in criminal justice.

The MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) degree represents a broad range of study designed to meet the academic needs of both pre-professional students and those already employed in the wide range of agencies, which make up the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. The master's program focuses on the preparation of criminal justice professionals with advanced competencies in their respective specialties and areas of interest and emphasizes excellence in practice, problem-solving, critical thinking, inquiry, and leadership.

The department, which has graduated criminal justice professionals for over 30 years, is staffed by twelve full-time faculty with backgrounds in criminal justice, criminology, government, history, law, psychology, and sociology. The Journal of Criminal Justice recently ranked the department's faculty 14th in the nation in terms of articles published in leading criminology and criminal justice journals. Subsequently, the department is seeking to establish a Ph.D. program to serve our students, the criminal justice field, and the scholarly community.
For more information on the Master of Science degree program, contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Barbara Warner or visit the department's website. For application materials, contact the Department of Criminal Justice at (404) 651-3515.
Graduate Student Handbook

Application Deadlines:
Students are accepted for admission into the program twice a year in the fall and spring semesters. Deadlines are September 15 for spring semester and May 15 for fall semester.
Graduate Application

Admission Requirements. Applicants Must:

  1. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
  2. Complete an application for graduate study and submit it with the $50 application fee.
  3. Supply two copies of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  4. Provide official scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants should take the GRE at least six weeks prior to the admission deadline. Scores must be five years old or less.
  5. Submit a two to three page, typed statement of professional and academic goals containing fields of interest and how the degree program will contribute to those goals.
  6. Provide three letters of recommendation from people who are qualified to assess your academic potential in graduate school.
  7. Submit official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if English is not the applicant's native language.
  8. Furnish a certificate of immunization.

Non-Degree Status Admissions
The purpose of taking courses as a non-degree status student is to gain knowledge about criminal justice issues to supplement current professional goals. For example, persons with a graduate degree in another field who are currently working in criminal justice may want to take some criminal justice graduate courses. Students that are enrolled as non-degree seeking students are not eligible for graduate assistantships or tuition waivers, nor are they guaranteed admission to the degree program, regardless of their performance while a non-degree student.
 
A student is admitted as a non-degree seeking student at the option of the Department of Criminal Justice.  Under this category, a student is limited to 12 credit hours of graduate course work and must obtain permission of the Graduate Program Coordinator before enrolling in desired courses each semester. Students who have previously been denied admission to the graduate program are not eligible for non-degree status.
Admission to graduate study in the Department of Criminal Justice as a non-degree seeking student, is based upon the graduate committee’s evaluation of the candidate’s ability to do graduate level work and space availability. In considering candidates for admission as non-degree seeking students the graduate committee will consider, in its determination of academic preparedness,  previous academic preparation and/or professional experience relevant to academic success. Candidates must provide evidence of preparedness in at least one of these categories.

To demonstrate academic preparedness a candidate should submit at least one of the following: a paper authored by the applicant for a course; GRE scores; transcripts of previous graduate level work or advanced degree; 

To demonstrate professional experience the candidate must submit a letter describing their professional experience as it relates to their preparedness for graduate level study in criminal justice, including job responsibilities, noted successes (such as awards or promotions), and supervisory and/or leadership responsibilities; professional reports written as part of their job.

In addition to relevant supporting materials described above, all applicants must submit the following:

  1. Application for Graduate Study, College of Health and Human Sciences, available on our website www.chhs.gsu.edu/cj.asp
  2. A $50 application fee
  3. Two copies of official transcripts from the institution where the baccalaureate or higher degree was earned
  4. A personal statement describing educational and/or professional goals and how these can be met through graduate level courses in the Department of Criminal Justice at Georgia State University
  5. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), for applicants whose native language is not English. See section on “International Admissions” in this chapter for more information.
  6. A Certificate of Immunization.

Curriculum:
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice curriculum provides the student with a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system and its components. The program prepares graduates in the specialties of policing, courts, corrections, and the law. Students also study theory and analytical tools used in criminal justice and criminology. The curriculum includes required and elective courses, and either a thesis or non-thesis option. The graduate degree requires completion of 36 credit hours, of which 18 credit hours are required courses and 18 credit hours are elective courses.
The term "criminal justice" refers to police, courts, and corrections as a system for the administration of city, county, state, and federal laws. The requirements of the program stress an integrated view of the criminal justice system. In this view all components of the system interrelate with all other components to provide coordinated justice administration. The curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of the developing theoretical knowledge base in this field of study while simultaneously providing an understanding of how each of the component parts relates in forming the criminal justice system. The curriculum is built on a common core of courses and allows for maximum flexibility to meet the needs of the student and their respective areas of interest or expertise. In this way, the program may be individualized to meet the student's professional goals in keeping with the overall objectives of the program.
Curriculum

Funding and Financial Aid:
A limited number of university- and grant-funded graduate research assistantships are available in the department. The department also provides tuition waivers to qualified out-of-state students. The Phil Peters Scholarship is a competitive award aimed at students who have indicated career goals in law enforcement or students who are already in the law enforcement field. The Office of Student Financial Aid provides financial assistance to students who, without such help, would be unable to attend Georgia State University. The assistance available includes scholarships, grants, loans, and employment.
GRA Application

Career Opportunities:
Career opportunities for graduates of the master's program in criminal justice are numerous, diverse, and rewarding. GSU graduates have found employment at the following: FBI, ATF, GBI, EPA, Secret Service, numerous local and state law enforcement and correctional agencies, probation and parole agencies, juvenile justice agencies, and the research branches of federal, state, and local agencies.

Forms:

Links:
Graduate Catalog Information
Register Online