Objectives of the Graduate Program

Objectives

The Master’s Degree program in criminal justice and criminology has four major objectives:

  1. To provide present and future criminal justice personnel with the educational background necessary to function effectively in the dynamic field of criminal justice.
  2. To familiarize students with the nature, functions, and methods of research and with the existing body of knowledge on criminal justice.
  3. To provide criminal justice agencies with qualified candidates for careers in administration, law enforcement, planning and analysis, juvenile justice, corrections and teaching in community colleges.
  4. To prepare students for entry into doctoral programs.

Students may enroll in the program on either a part-time or full- time basis. To accommodate part-time and employed students, most graduate courses are scheduled in the evenings (generally from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM). Nine or more credit hours per semester are required for full-time status. In no case should graduate students register for more than 12 semester hours due to the level of work expected.