To receive a master of arts degree in criminal justice, graduates must:
1. Complete 30 credits of coursework with a minimum cumulative average of 3.0 and no more than three courses with a grade of C or C+.
2. Demonstrate to the faculty the ability to write a policy analysis, research proposal, literature review, or other substantial paper as part of regular coursework.
3. Pass a set of comprehensive examinations in four areas (policy analysis, research methods, data analysis, and a specialized area) OR complete a research or evaluation study, demonstrating proficiency in policy analysis, research methods, data analysis, and a specialized area.
The 30 credits of coursework are divided into 9 credits of required core courses, 12 credits of crime and justice electives, and 9 credits of electives from the Graduate School–Camden or the School of Law-Camden.
The master of arts requires students to complete a core of 9 credits as follows:
56:202:500 Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice (3)
56:202:600 Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
56:202:601 Data Analysis in Criminal Justice (3)
Students also complete 12 credits from among crime and justice electives offered by but not restricted to our program. The list that follows is not exhaustive. Students interested in other courses related to crime or justice must get the permission of the graduate program director before taking them. Current electives include:
56:202:510 Criminal Justice Issues and Trends (3)
56:202:513 Criminology (3)
56:202:521 Social Inequities in the Criminal Justice System (3)
56:202:522 Juvenile Justice (3)
56:202:529 Law and Society (3)
56:202:540 Victimology (3)
56:202:552 Community Corrections (3)
56:202:566 Family Violence (3)
56:202:567 Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (3)
56:202:573 Violent Crime (3)
56:202:605 Gender, Crime, and Justice (3)
56:202:673,674 Special Topics in Criminal Justice (3,3)
Students also complete 9 credits of electives from among the offerings of the Graduate School–Camden and School of Law-Camden. Courses in public administration, liberal studies, history, and social work fulfill this requirement.
On the Graduate Courses page for criminal justice in this catalog, elective courses marked with an asterisk (*) are offered by the School of Law-Camden. Students should be aware that the law school semester begins and ends on different dates than does the semester for the Graduate School–Camden.
Newark or New Brunswick courses may be taken to fulfill criminal justice or general electives, but students must apply to the graduate program director for prior approval to count these transient credits toward the degree.
