General Information

Department of Criminal Justice Graduate Programs

The Department of Criminal Justice offers two Master degree programs leading to the Master of Science degree in Criminal Science and the Master of Education degree in Correctional Education. The Master degree programs provides the criminal justice student with a broad knowledge base, as well as, specialized technical training in criminal justice.

The coursework is designed to increase individual competency, develop analytical thought processes and facilitate the development of abilities and skills. It focuses on examination of contemporary issues in the administration of justice counseling, research and management problems in the fields of criminal justice and correctional education. Through the advanced study of theoretical and applied issues the Master's degree student will be prepared to assume leadership positions in the field of criminal justice.

The areas of specialization for the Master of Science degree include: administration, correctional counseling, crime and delinquency, prevention and control, and criminal justice planning and research.

The areas of specialization for the Master of Education degree include: correctional education, correctional counseling, and correctional administration.

Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program may pursue studies on a full-time or part time basis in either a degree or non-degree capacity. A student desiring to work toward either of the degrees must confer with the department chairperson for initial advisement and for the assignment of a faculty advisor.

With the written approval of the department chairperson, a non-degree seeking student may register for criminal justice courses while acceptance to a degree program is pending. No more than twenty-one credit hours completed as a non-degree seeking student may be applied toward either the M.S. or M.Ed. degree.

The Department of Criminal Justice offers two options for completion of the Masters degree:

• Option I - Comprehensive Examination: Students choosing Option I must complete a minimum of 33 hours coursework in the graduate curriculum, submit a completed seminar paper meeting accepted standards in the discipline and pass a comprehensive examination.
• Option II-Thesis: Students choosing Option II must complete 33 hours of coursework plus CRJU 583 and 584. The final written thesis must show evidence of research rigor and meet accepted standards in the discipline. Each student is required to present an oral defense of the thesis before a faculty thesis advisor.

A highly qualified student oriented faculty comprise the criminal justice program. Moreover, faculty members hold advanced degrees from leading universities throughout the United States and have considerable practical, teaching, research, and service experience. The students’ interests and needs are the faculty’s most important concerns. Faculty are actively involved with students through collegiate and community activities.

Each student working towards a Master's degree in Criminal Justice is encouraged to complete a minimum of three credit hours in either field training or internship in a criminal justice setting related to the area of specialization. The field training/internship experience consists of a minimum of 90 clock hours of field-related experience for one full semester.

The primary objective of the field training/internship is to enable the student to experience criminal justice system practices in action. Field training/internship involves placement in agencies that agree to provide supervised experience at a level corresponding to the student's academic development and career goals. Because field training/internship is viewed as an opportunity to integrate concepts acquired on campus with the practical problems of the criminal justice field, students will normally not be approved for enrollment in the field training/internship prior to completion of a minimum of 25 hours of graduate credit.

1. The study of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge to enable entry into a variety of positions requiring insight into law enforcement and corrections.



2. Career opportunities exist in many areas of the Criminal Justice System. Among the most popular are local, state and federal law enforcement; juvenile and adult corrections, both institutional and community based; pre-trial release; business and industrial security; and court, police and correctional management and administration.



3. Aside from direct entry into professional positions, the study of criminal justice can be an excellent strategy for one’s preparation for graduate study in various disciplines. Many department graduates continue advanced studies in criminal justice at Coppin State College, in pursuit of the M.S. Degree in Criminal Justice.



4. Beginning salaries for recent graduates vary with the position, locale, and the student.

Since there is more to obtaining employment or seeking graduate or law school admission than simply having a college degree, faculty take special interest and pride in assisting students to achieve their objectives following graduation. The College’s Career Development Center also provides excellent assistance in helping graduates to secure employment.