ONLINE MASTERS DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
In 1998, the School of Criminal Justice began offering its Masters of Science in Criminal Justice program on the Internet – the first online degree program offered by MSU.
The program is designed to add new dimensions to the skills of career people in various areas of criminal justice and security. A number of online support services are available to assist students as they progress through the program.
Students enrolled in the program may choose to follow the general requirements for the Masters in Criminal Justice, specialize in Security Management or follow an international focus. Please see Program Requirements for more information.
Courses are offered entirely online, and are taught by the same faculty members that are involved in the on-campus program. Many students complete the program within a year and a half to two years; however, it is also common for students to take three years to complete the program due to work and personal commitments.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications for the Criminal Justice Internet Masters program are screened for fall and spring semester entry. All application material must be received before February 1 for consideration for the following Fall semester and by September 1 for consideration for the following Spring semester. Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions within 6-8 weeks of the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Please send all application material to the following address:
Criminal Justice Online Masters Program
Michigan State University
560 Baker Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Application materials include:
- Application for Graduate Study at Michigan State University. May be requested from the Graduate School or submitted online. The major code for the Criminal Justice Internet Masters program is 4702. A check or money order for the application fee, payable to Michigan State University, must accompany the application if it is not submitted online.
- Departmental application. May be submitted online.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (a transcript of work at MSU is not required). Please send ONE copy of each. Applicants must have or be near completion of their bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general scores from an exam taken within the last five years. The GRE exam is waived for candidates with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher or for applicants with a completed graduate degree. Please note that your overall GPA will be determined by combining the credits and quality points earned throughout your undergraduate studies. Test preparation material and information about test dates can be found at www.gre.com. Please note when scheduling your exam that it may take 4-6 weeks for your scores to be forwarded to the university and this department. The institution code for MSU is 1465. Admission requires scores at or above the 50th percentile.
- A personal statement of your academic and professional goals.
This should include information about your motivation to study criminal
justice, a description of relevant research and/or work experience,
and any other information about yourself that you would like the
admissions committee to know. The Application for Graduate Study
has fields for an academic statement and a personal statement, and
you may either submit your statements there or type "submitted
to department" in the fields and mail or email a single combined
essay to the program office at 560 Baker Hall or burrier@msu.edu.
- Three letters of recommendation from people who can comment on your ability to perform graduate work. At least two letters must be from tenure-track faculty from your undergraduate or graduate institution, if you have graduated within the past five years. It is important for the Graduate Review Committee to obtain an outside evaluation and recommendation from a person who has an understanding of your time management skills, abilities and work progression. The recommender must be familiar with the demands and rigor of graduate eduation, and must comment on the candidate's potential sucess in the program. Please use the Recommendation for Admission form found in the Application for Graduate Study at Michigan State University. The form should be included with all letters of recommendation.
- International students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, exam scores. Students from countries where the primary language is English may have the TOEFL requirement waived with the approval of the department, college, and Graduate School. Please contact the graduate secretary at burrier@msu.edu to determine whether the requirement may be waived. When sending TOEFL scores, please use institution code 1465.
Please note: While a criminal justice undergraduate major is not required for admission to the program, the applicant must have a background of education and occupational experience appropriate to the successful pursuit of graduate work. Applicants insufficiently prepared for graduate studies in criminal justice may be required to complete collateral coursework or pursue individualized study.
Applicants must have at least 12 credits of undergraduate coursework in political science, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, social work, or any combination of such courses. At least six of these credits must be in sociology, psychology, social work or any combination of such courses.
A limited number of applicants who do not satisfy the school's regular admission requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis. The decision to grant provisional admission is based on the student's potential contributions to the field of criminal justice, and is offered at the discretion of the department. A student may be enrolled on a provisional basis for only two semesters and must be admitted on a regular basis to be considered a degree candidate.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Peg Mohr at mmohr@msu.edu or 517-353-5272.
For questions about the application procedure, contact Melissa Christle at burrier@msu.edu or 517-353-7133.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES
CJ 433 Law Enforcement Intelligence Operations (3 credits)
Law enforcement intelligence as an analytic tool for case development and resource allocation. Historical, ethical, legal and operational issues affecting current practice.
CJ 439 Homeland Security (3)
Broad overview and assessment of the contemporary homeland security program.
CJ 801 Crime Causation, Prevention and Control (3)
Theories of crime causation. Translation of theory to policy.
CJ 809 Issues in Criminal Justice (3)
Special issues in criminal justice research and management. Please check MSU's Schedule of Courses to determine which sections are offered in a given semester.
CJ 810 Proseminar in Criminal Justice (3)
Survey of classical and recent literature in criminal justice. Trends and issues that transcend the components of the criminal justice system.
CJ 811 Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research (3)
Scientific methods in criminal justice research. Design data collection and analysis, interpretation of findings and ethical concerns. Computer use in data analysis. Prerequisite to CJ 887.
CJ 812 Criminal Justice Management Seminar (3)
Organization theory and behavior for the criminal justice agency. Organization and policy planning budgeting, forecasting, human resource management and project implementation.
CJ 822 Comparative Criminal Justice(3)
Globalization, crime causation, measurement, and control in comparative and cross-national contexts. Nature of policing, courts, and corrections in select countries.
CJ 823 Globalization of Crime (3)
International crimes and organized crime. Trafficking in women, children, and body parts. Related problems such as firearm violence, money laundering, and corruption that transcend national boundaries.
CJ 829 National and Global Trends in Court Planning (3)
Emerging judicial trends. Stakeholder expectations. Impact on judicial branch planning. Regional, national, and global trends that frame strategic issues, planning, actions, and leadership.
CJ 837 Counterterrorism and Intelligence (3)
Integrates knowledge about intelligence and terrorism and examines what strategies—both tactical and strategic—can be used to counter the different types of terrorism. Examination of the nexus between terrorism and organized crime, challenges of counterterrorism initiatives and threat assessment.
CJ 838 Terrorism (3)
Overview of terrorism, both domestic and international. Examination of the causes and motives that drive terrorists, their methods of operation, and the impact of terrorism on the United States and other countries.
CJ 839 Analytical Thinking and Intelligence (3)
Analytic processes, tools, applications and contemporary issues as applied to the intelligence function.
CJ 885 Security Management (3)
Organization and management of security operations in business, industry and government.
CJ 886 Security Administration (3)
Administrative and quantitative techniques for security operations. Statistical analysis. Analysis of financial statements. Operations research and computer techniques.
CJ 887 Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice Research (3)
Descriptive and inferential statistics and computer use in criminal justice research.
CJ 890 Independent Study (1-3)
Individual research and writing under faculty supervision.
CJ 894 Practicum (1-6)
Observation, study and work in selected criminal justice agencies. Participation in domestic and foreign criminal justice systems.
CJ 896 Policy Analysis Under Conditions of Change (3)
Methods of policy analysis in criminal justice settings. Policy analysis for the formulation, adoption and implementation of change.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a typical course like?
Online courses are very similar to the on-campus program except for the method of delivery. Students get a syllabus outlining course requirements, be assigned weekly readings and required to post their evaluation of the readings in discussion rooms. Classmates then comment on the input of other students. Case problems may be required and the class may be broken into small groups with a team leader who is required to post the group's solution to the case. Research papers may be required with an executive summary being posted for review by students and a complete paper submitted to the professor. If the topic appears of interest to other students, they may request a copy by contacting the author. You may wish to view the online CJ demo course for a sample of how an online course in the program is structured.
Should I be concerned about taking the GRE since I have been out of school for several years?
Some students express concern about the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and their scores since they may have been out of college for a number of years. Remember this is only one area considered by the graduate review committee when making admissions decisions. Letters of reference, personal statement, prior grades, and success on the job are other factors considered. GRE practice exams, a list of testing centers and other information may be found at www.gre.com.
If the course is on the Internet, why do I have to order course books?
Volumes of written material on the Internet become difficult for students to manage. When supplemented with reading packs or books, students are able to do reading away from the computer. It is also important for students to acquire a professional library.
What university services are available to me?
Library access, a writing center, financial aid, bookstore and other university resources are available to virtual students. For example, students may order course books via e-mail from campus bookstores. Books and documents needed for course projects can be obtained from library via e-mail at no costs.
What type of financial aid is available?
Since most students are working, they may not qualify for financial aid. Students are eligible for loans if they are taking at least six credits. Loans are also available for computer equipment required for the program. For more information, contact the financial aid office at (517) 353-5940 or finaid@msu.edu.
Since this is a degree-granting program, veteran benefits may be applicable. Students eligible for veteran benefits must submit the required certificate to the VA Office on campus. Contact the Veteran benefit office at (517) 432-3952.
How many credits can I transfer into the program?
You may transfer up to nine graduate level credits from an accredited institution into the program. You must have received at least a 3.0 in each of the courses and we will need to review course descriptions and syllabi to determine if the courses meet the requirements of this program. Transfer credits are most often applied toward elective requirements. The department chair or dean has final approval.
How do I access grades?
Student’s grades may be obtained at http://stuinfo.msu.edu, along with other academic, personal and financial aid information.
GRADUATE HANDBOOK
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
To obtain a master’s degree in Criminal Justice with an International Focus, a student must complete a minimum of 30 credits of coursework as follows:
| CJ 801 Crime Causation, Prevention, and Control | |
| CJ 810 Proseminar in Criminal Justice | |
| CJ 811 Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research | |
| CJ 812 Criminal Justice Management Seminar | |
| CJ 887 Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice Research | |
| CJ 822 Comparative Criminal Justice | |
| CJ 823 Globalization of Crime | |
| Approved Electives | |
| CJ 896 Policy Analysis Under Conditions of Change |
MINIMUM EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
To participate in the Criminal Justice Internet Masters program, students must have access to and be comfortable with a computer with an Internet connection. See the Virtual University Home Page and the appropriate course previews for current minimum equipment requirements for specific courses.
At a minimum, each student needs access to:
- A browser that meets the ANGEL minimum requirements.
- Minimum screen resolution of 800x600 (1024x768 recommended).
- 56K modem or direct connection to the Internet. A broadband (high-speed) Internet connection is recommended (and required for some courses).
- Adequate responsiveness and performance from your computer. Most computers manufactured within the last four years will meet your needs.
Every MSU Virtual University student will receive an MSU NetID and password. MSU Mail is an MSU information technology resource used by all MSU students.
PROGRAM COSTS
Tuition rates and billing information may be found at the Controller's Office website under Online Program Rates.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
To obtain a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, a student must complete a minimum of 30 credits of coursework as follows:
| CJ 801 Crime Causation, Prevention and Control | |
| CJ 810 Proseminar in Criminal Justice | |
| CJ 811 Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research | |
| CJ 812 Criminal Justice Management Seminar | |
| CJ 887 Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice Research | |
| Two 800-level CJ electives | |
| Approved Electives | |
| CJ 896 Policy Analysis Under Conditions of Change |
SCHEDULE OF ONLINE COURSES
This is our general rotation of online courses. However, scheduling conflicts and faculty sabbaticals may sometimes change the timing of offerings. In addition, new courses are frequently added to the schedule, typically as CJ809-Special Topics. Be sure to check the online Schedule of Courses for the most recent schedule of online courses.
Electives not yet placed into "regular" rotation:
CJ 809-The Management of Change in the Justice System Organizations
Fall of odd years
CJ 801-Crime, Causation, Prevention & Control
CJ 809-Public/Private Partnerships in Emergency Preparedness
CJ 812-Criminal Justice Management Seminar (Preparing to Lead: Analyzing and Developing Organization and Personal Leadership)
CJ 814-Seminar in Management Topics (Historical Foundations/Contemporary Frameworks of Judicial Administration)
CJ 821-Food Protection and Defense
CJ 837-Counterterrorism & Intelligence
CJ 839-Analytic Thinking and Intelligence
CJ 886-Security Administration
CJ 896-Policy Analysis Under Conditions of Change
Spring of even years
CJ 433-Law Enforcement Intelligence
CJ 439-Homeland Security
CJ 809-Elements of Essential Court Operation
CJ 810-Proseminar in Criminal Justice
CJ 821-Food Protection and Defense
CJ 822-Comparative Criminal Justice
CJ 829-National and Global Trends in Court Planning
CJ 838-Terrorism
CJ 846-Corporate Environmental Crime and Risk
Fall of even years
CJ 809-Public-Private Partnerships in Homeland Security
CJ 811-Design & Analysis in Criminal Justice Research
CJ 812-Criminal Justice Management Seminar (Preparing to Lead: Analyzing
and Developing Organization and Personal Leadership)
CJ 814-Seminar in Management Topics (Historical Foundations/Contemporary
Frameworks of Judicial Administration)
CJ 821-Food Protection and Defense
CJ 823-Globalization of Crime
CJ 837-Counterterrorism & Intelligence
CJ 847-Global Risk, Conservation and Criminology
Spring of odd years
CJ 433-Law Enforcement Intelligence
CJ 439-Homeland Security
CJ 809-Elements of Essential Court Operation
CJ 812-Criminal Justice Management Seminar
CJ 821-Food Protection and Defense
CJ 829-National and Global Trends in Court Planning
CJ 838-Terrorism
CJ 845-Environmental Risk, Perception and Decision-Making
CJ 885-Security Management
CJ 887-Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice Research
SECURITY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIZATION
To obtain a graduate specialization in Security Management, a student must complete 18* credits as follows:
| CJ 801 Crime Causation, Prevention and Control | |
| CJ 811 Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research | |
| CJ 812 Criminal Justice Management Seminar | |
| CJ 885 Security Management | |
| CJ 886 Security Administrattion | |
| CJ 809 Public/Private Partnerships in Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security | |
| CJ 890 Independent Study | |
The specialization which is administered by the School of Criminal Justice, is available as an elective to students enrolled in Masters degree programs at Michigan State University.
* Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice Masters program will note that CJ 801, CJ 811, and CJ 812 are core courses applicable to Masters program requirements.