Master of Science in Criminal Justice

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice offers two plans of study. The first option, a professional track, is designed to meet the needs of students preparing for careers in the field of criminal justice. The curriculum focuses on the traditional issues such as management, administrative and criminal justice theory, as well as basic research methods and descriptive statistics. Other core and elective courses focus on the complex and changing world in which criminal justice systems operate in this country and abroad. This plan of study is designed to equip future criminal justice leaders to be critical consumers of criminal justice research.

The second option, a research track, is designed for students who plan careers as research analysts or who plan to enroll in a PhD program when they complete the master’s program. This program of study also focuses on traditional criminal justice issues but places greater emphasis on advanced research design and quantitative methods. This program of study is designed to prepare future analysts and criminal justice scholars who will produce criminal justice research.

The benefits of an advanced graduate degree in criminal justice are self-evident and are being increasingly recognized by employers in central Florida and throughout the United States. Federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies benefit from an informed and innovative workforce that is aware of the complex issues and problems faced by the system regardless of geographic locale. Furthermore, graduates of the program are grounded in the latest theories and learn how these theories affect each individual or organization within the system. Students can have more information on the program mailed to them by submitting the information request form here: https://www.graduate.ucf.edu/inquiry/

Students can have more information on the program mailed to them by submitting the information request form here: https://www.graduate.ucf.edu/inquiry/

Admission requirements to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program include the following:

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 attempted semester hours of credit earned for the bachelor's degree
• A statement of the students career goals
• A two page professional resume
• And for those applying for the Research Track a score of at least 1,000 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within the last five years.

The department has the authority to set higher admission standards. A limited number of students may be considered for provisional admission based on additional admission criteria. Applicants will also be asked to submit a personal statement reflecting their educational and career goals and a resume. Individuals whose native language is other than English are required to have a minimum TOEFL score of 220.

Students should be aware that admission to any graduate program is granted on a competitive basis. There may be cases where students meeting minimum requirements are denied admission based on such factors as program capacity or academic discretion.

Students can apply for admission into the Criminal Justice Master of Science program at this address: http://graduate.ucf.edu/gradonlineapp/

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program consists of 30 semester hours. Each student must complete four core courses and six advanced-curriculum courses selected in consultation with the advisor.

Below is a sample of courses and topical areas that students will be exposed to:

• The Nature of Crime
• The Administration of Justice
• Research Methods of Criminal Justice
• Quantitative Methods and Computer Utilization in Criminal Justice
• Foundations of Law Enforcement
• Foundations of Corrections
• Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice
• Law and Social Control
• Investigative and Intelligence Analysis
• Perspectives on Genocide
• The Juvenile Justice System
• Applied Criminal Justice Research
• Planned Change and Innovation in Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice, Crime and Popular Culture

Students should be aware that department rules prohibit the counting of more than 6 credit hours of special courses in their program of study. This includes seminars (CCJ 5931 or CCJ 5934), Study Abroad (CCJ 5957), Criminal Justice Practicum (CCJ 6946), and Independent Study (CCJ 6908). Those students who choose to complete a thesis may only count a maximum of 6 credit hours of thesis towards their program of study and will only be allowed an additional 3 credit hours of special courses.

The official program of study for the master's degree in criminal justice is available online in the UCF Graduate Catalog.

Students should also feel free to contact the Graduate Advising Office at 407-823-3738 or cjgrad@mail.ucf.edu if they have any questions about the Criminal Justice Master of Science.