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Master of Science in Criminal Justice

This accredited graduate degree in Criminal Justice provides graduates tremendous career opportunities and salary advantages.  It also opens the door to positions of high responsibilities in related areas. 

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program prepares graduates for positions of responsibility in the Criminal Justice System and related areas.  The curriculum provides a melding of professionally structured knowledge and the ethical imperatives of Criminal Justice in a constitutional democracy.

Degree Requirements
  • The requirement for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice is 36 semester hours above the Baccalaureate Degree in Criminal Justice or a closely related field, or in the social sciences.
  • The student must complete a minimum of 27 semester hours, 9 courses, with Southwest University.
Courses

CJ 600 Police Administration and Management
CJ 604 Justice Administration
CJ 605 Organizational Theory and Management
CJ 612 Juvenile Justice
CJ 622 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
CJ 630 Criminal Investigation Restructuring the Past
CJ 640 Administration of Corrections
CJ 650 Deviant Behavior
CJ 655  Perspectives in Criminology
CJ 660  Criminal Behavior
CJ 665  Research Methods
CJ 674  Negotiations: Crisis and Hostage
CJ 680 Special Topics in Criminal Justice
  
Course Descriptions
CJ-600
Police Administration and Management

3 Semester Hours

Complete coverage and comprehensive study course in police administration and other aspects of police work. Major subjects are addressed in the text such as police professionalization, politics and administration.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-604
Justice Administration

3 Semester Hours

A comprehensive study that encompasses all three components of the Criminal Justice system: police, courts and corrections and also other contemporary administrative issues. It also includes a look at the challenges of the future. 
[ Book Required ]  

CJ-605
Organizational Theory and Management

3 Semester Hours

This course presents an analysis of criminal justice administration. It introduces a combination of theory and research. This course was designed with the active criminal justice professional in mind. Its purpose is to increase the effectiveness and productivity of criminal justice organizations. 
[ Book Required ]

CJ-612
Juvenile Justice

3 Semester Hours

A study course that presents a comprehensive overview of the juvenile justice philosophy and procedure in a no nonsense forum. Presents the Uniform Juvenile Court Act, the Gault, the Kent and the Winship decisions in their entirety.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-622
Comparative Criminal Justice Systems

3 Semester Hours

This course discusses how countries around the world have organized their police, courts and correctional agencies. The course presents a rationale for studying other systems of justice and discusses crime as a world problem. This course allows students to reach a better understanding of comparative and international issues.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-630
Criminal Investigation:  Restructuring
the Past

3 Semester Hours

Provides sound methods for reconstructing a past event based on three major sources of information: people, physical evidence and records. Introduces newer technological advances in the field.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-640
Administration of Corrections

3 Semester Hours

Discusses the practical application of acceptable principles and procedures in the correctional setting. Includes: inmate processing and culture.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-650
Deviant Behavior

3 Semester Hours

A study of deviant behavior as an inescapable feature of modern, complex society. Incorporates contemporary issues with theories of deviant behavior. Case information included.
[ Book Required ]

CJ-655
Perspectives in Criminology

3 Semester Hours

Discusses the traditional areas of criminology and addresses popular topics as policy debate, deterrence and incapacitation, race and social class, rights of the accused.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-660
Criminal Behavior

3 Semester Hours

A complete study course on criminal justice and social psychological analysis as applicable to the criminal justice profession. Major issues addressed include theoretical issues, social psychology and the law, the offender's decision and the victim's decision to report crime and much more.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-665
Research Methods

3 Semester Hours

Presents a survey of research methods including research design, measurement, experimental and data collection and analysis. Emphasis is on interpreting and critically evaluating research in Criminal Justice.  [ Book Required ]

CJ-674
Negotiations:  Crisis and Hostage

3 Semester Hours

Combines principles and applications from criminal justice, psychology, communications, business and other disciplines into a framework for hostage negotiations.   [ Book Required ]

CJ-680
Special Topics in Criminal Justice

3 Semester Hours

Subject to faculty approval.  A project or an independent paper that will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a specific subject.  

 

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