MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION

This program is offered in both a traditional format and fully online. Please reach out to Director of Graduate Admissions and Student Services for further information.

The Hilbert College 36 credit hour graduate degree program in Criminal Justice Administration will prepare students with the practical, academic and professional skills needed to become effective and successful leaders. The major program learning outcomes are as follows

1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively;

2. Critically analyze crime and justice issues and/or information utilizing theoretic, methodological, and statistical skill bases;

3. Demonstrate an understanding of core theoretical knowledge bases in criminology and criminal justice;

4. Demonstrate an understanding of social and cultural diversity;

5. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and problem-solve in areas related to effective leadership

6. Including administrative, management, budget & finance, and organizational change.

The curriculum is an accelerated, cohort format that follows an established sequence of courses over an 16 month period. Courses are delivered in both 7.5-week and 15-week sessions. The cohort model encourages the development of lifelong colleagues as students collaborate on group projects and discuss policy and subject matter related to the field of study.

The CJA program is academically rigorous, theoretically sound, yet practically based and focuses on providing future leaders with the skills and credentials necessary to succeed in any type of criminal justice agency. The optional Internship Experience, Managing Performance course and one-week study away experience will offer another unique perspective of criminal justice administration.

The CJA curriculum includes an integrated research project threaded throughout the program. Unlike most graduate programs that ask for a final semester thesis, the Hilbert program allows for a more thorough application of theory and research since the project starts early in the program. The research act as a foundation upon which to ground and challenge theory to a practical application, culminating in a final capstone major project.