Criminology and Criminal Justice, MS
Advocacy, Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Emergency Management, Justice, Juvenile Justice, Management, Police, Policing, Social Justice, law, sociology
Looking to develop skills not found in traditional criminal justice programs? At ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus, you'll work with nationally recognized professors with diverse expertise to prepare for a career in research, policy or justice, or for competitive admission to a leading PhD program or law school.
The MS in criminology and criminal justice is a research degree program designed to provide students with a high level of theoretical and empirical knowledge about crime and criminal justice.
The program provides students with advanced research skills and training in program planning and management and in policy and statistical analysis.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
Students can choose to create their own concurrent degree combination to match their interests by working with their academic advisor during or after their first semester of study. Some concurrent combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum; students should speak with their academic advisor for more details.
This degree is also offered as a concurrent program with the following:
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
33 credit hours and a thesis, or
33 credit hours including the required capstone course (CRJ 505)
Required Core (12 credit hours) Systems Courses (6 credit hours) Electives (6 or 12 credits hours) Other Requirement (0 or 3 credit hours) Culminating Experience: (3 or 6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information For the culminating experience, students choose either the thesis option or the capstone course. CRJ 604 Regression Models is only required for the thesis option. To satisfy the thesis requirements for the degree, candidates must write a thesis and defend it in an oral examination conducted by the student's thesis committee. Students in the capstone option are not required to take CRJ 604. Each student's program is designed in consultation with the faculty advisor.
CRJ 501 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
CRJ 502 Seminar in Criminology (3)
CRJ 503 Research Methods (3)
CRJ 504 Statistical Tools for Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
CRJ 512 Seminar in Policing (3)
CRJ 513 Seminar in Courts and Sentencing (3)
CRJ 514 Seminar in Corrections (3)
CRJ 604 Regression Models (3)
CRJ 505 Theory and Practice in Criminal Justice (3) or
CRJ 599 Thesis (6)
Students select two of the three systems courses listed above.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in criminology or criminal justice or another closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- two letters of recommendation
- personal statement
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The personal statement should address the applicant's prior education and professional experience, discuss their career goals, and explain how the degree can help them achieve these goals.
Applicants should see the program website for application deadlines.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/01 | Priority |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Apply theory and empirical knowledge about crime and the criminal justice system.
- Use the fundamental methodological and statistical techniques required to produce valid and reliable information of utility to policymakers and practitioners.
- Demonstrate the essential qualifications for employment in criminal justice agencies and related occupations by applying their research skills and foundational knowledge of criminology and criminal justice to a final written project.
Graduates of the Master of Science program in criminology and criminal justice find a strong job market in the public and private sectors. They are prepared for careers as criminal justice researchers, for leadership roles in criminal justice and related agencies and organizations, and for continued study in doctoral programs in criminology and criminal justice. Employment opportunities include supervisory and management positions in criminal justice agencies at federal, state and local levels, such as:
- city, county, and state government liaison to criminal justice agencies
- communications supervisor (911 and dispatch)
- court administrator
- evidence and crime scene supervisor (CSI activities)
- law enforcement professional
- police crime analysis supervisor
- pretrial release specialist
- probation, parole or community supervisor
- property management and evidence retention supervisor
- risk manager
Opportunities also include supervisory and management positions in social service agencies, such as:
- child and family services (e.g., Head Start, child support enforcement, foster care, elder care)
- Department of Economic Security
- homeless outreach
- victim advocacy
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
|
UCENT 600
gradsccj@asu.edu
602-496-2356
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
