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 outlined below.

The CJA graduate student will:

1. Analyze critical crime and justice issues and/or information utilizing theoretical, methodological, and statistical skill bases.

2. Synthesize core theoretical knowledge with practice and application in criminology and criminal justice.

3. Evaluate the challenges of a socially and culturally diverse society and how to prepare for them in an ethical and principled manner.

4. Evaluate and problem-solve in areas related to effective leadership such as administrative management, budget and finance, and organizational change.

The curriculum is an accelerated, cohort format that follows an established sequence of courses over a 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 acts as a foundation upon which to ground and challenge theory to a practical application, culminating in a final capstone major project.