Criminal Justice
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Master of Science in Criminal Justice
A Master’s in Criminal Justice prepares students to identify causes of crime and strategies to manage it. South University’s Virginia Beach campus offers a Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree for individuals employed in the criminal justice system, as well as those in other careers, both public and private, who wish to acquire further education in criminal justice. Prerequisites for the degree in criminal justice are limited so that qualified students with bachelor’s degrees in related fields such as criminology, psychology, business or public administration, anthropology, political science, sociology, or related social sciences may enroll along with students who have undergraduate degrees in criminal justice. The Master of Criminal Justice program is designed to foster a learning community of criminal justice professionals who will use their knowledge within law enforcement, correctional, political, and legal arenas*.
Please note: While you may be able to take some general education courses at the campus, all other courses, including specialized courses, will be taken online.
*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
South University, Richmond, and South University, Virginia Beach, are certified to operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia pursuant to Title 23, Chapter 21.1, §23-276.4 of the Code of Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (James Monroe Building, 101 North 14th St; Richmond, VA 23219; 804-225-2600; www.schev.edu).
Admission Requirements
Admissions criteria for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Program
Graduate Admissions - Masters level
Prospective students are required to submit the following:
- Completion of application for admission
- Official transcripts for bachelor or graduate degree within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance). (All credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service). Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.
Note: See program notes and specific requirements below for each graduate - masters level degree program
Specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- Completion of application for admission.
- A 2.0 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
Foundational Undergraduate Courses for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Completion of an undergraduate statistics course (with a grade of C or better) is required for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice. If the student does not have the course as part of their undergraduate degree, the course needs to be completed in the first two quarters of the program. Foundation undergraduate course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation, nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR). MSCJ students enrolled in foundation undergraduate course must successfully complete the course within their first three attempts or the student will be academically dismissed from the University.
For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.
Course Requirements
Note(s):
The student will choose four courses (16 credits) from the remaining graduate level criminal justice curriculum listed below or from other graduate offerings with the guidance and approval of the Program Director in Criminal Justice or appropriate Program Chair and with the advice of the related Program Director if courses from other programs are desired. The student should plan to take at least 50% of this part of the degree program in criminal justice courses. Students may construct an area of emphasis with the guidance of the Program Director or Chair or pursue a more general set of elective course courses. Students may emphasize a traditional area of the field such as Corrections or Homeland Security, but elective choices may also reflect the particular professional goals and aspirations of the student. Thus, courses in areas such as Public Administration, Business, or Clinical Mental Health Counseling may be included as desired and approved and if the student completes the required prerequisites for such courses. Please note that Financial Aid may not cover prerequisite courses. Please see the Coursework Taken Outside a Student's Degree Program Policy found in the Academic Affairs section of this catalog.
Note(s):
Acceptance into a South University Criminal Justice program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain employment in law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, or related fields. The student should contact the national, state, or local agency/institution in which the perspective student intends to gain employment for specific requirements and the application process.
Outcomes
Offered at Austin, Columbia, Online Programs, Richmond, Savannah, Tampa, Virginia Beach, and West Palm Beach.
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
The South University Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program is designed for students who want to enter leadership roles within the criminal justice field. It provides an advanced education in criminal justice theory and practice and prepares graduates to excel in multiple areas of the criminal justice arena.
The program is primarily designed to foster a learning community of criminal justice professionals who will use their knowledge within law enforcement, correctional, political, and legal arenas. Program graduates will be prepared to seek admission to doctoral programs in criminal justice, criminology, and related fields, as well as to seek advancement within law enforcement, correctional, local and state government, and legal institutions.
The goals of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program are that graduates will acquire:
- The skills necessary to achieve professional advancement in criminal justice agencies.
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of the administration of criminal justice organizations.
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of criminal justice theory.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Apply criminal justice theories to a variety of real-life problems within complex organizations.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of organizational policy in professional practice.
- Develop strategies for improving systemic communication within and between criminal justice agencies.
- Integrate research methodology central to the field of criminal justice.
Career Outlook
These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:
- Corrections Manager
- Intelligence Analyst
- Crime Reduction Manager
- Law Enforcement Administrative Manager
- Investigators
- Law Enforcement (*Additional training is required)
*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
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Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.
*Clinical, practicum, and externship requirements exist in certain programs and require field experiences. Learning formats may not be flexible.
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