Application Deadlines
Applications for this program are accepted throughout the year in the fall, spring, and summer.
Application Materials Required for the MS in Criminal Justice
Applicants for the MS in Criminal Justice must submit the following documentation to Graduate Admissions to be considered for admission:
Graduate Admissions
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602
- Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission.
- Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee.
- Official transcripts from the baccalaureate degree awarding institution and all transcripts from institutions where post-baccalaureate work has been completed. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a degree from a institutionally accredited institution or its foreign equivalent. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.)
- Three Graduate Reference Forms completed by individuals who can provide qualitative assessment of the applicant’s potential for success in graduate coursework. At least two of these must be academic or professional references. Reference forms will be submitted electronically. Instructions for submission will be sent through email to the applicant upon submission of the online graduate application.
- International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements.
Admission Requirements for the MS in Criminal Justice
Applicants for the MS in Criminal Justice must meet both the Graduate Schools requirements and Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation requirements.
Unconditional Admission
- Applicants to the MS in Criminal Justice must have an undergraduate major in Criminal Justice or its equivalent, as determined by the Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation.
- Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) are eligible for unconditional admission.
Conditional Admission
- Any applicant failing to meet the requirements for unconditional admission may be conditionally admitted with the recommendation of the graduate faculty in the Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation and approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.
Applicants who are granted conditional admission must achieve a GPA of at least 3.00 on the first 12 graduate hours attempted. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the student being dropped from graduate studies.
Minimum Requirements for the MS in Criminal Justice
An overall 3.00 GPA is required on all coursework attempted for the master’s degree. Transfer credit cannot be used to raise the GPA to the required 3.00.
Non-Thesis Option
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Criminal Justice Courses | ||
| CJ 500 | Seminar in Contemporary Criminal Justice Issues | 3 |
| CJ 501 | Applied Data Analysis for Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 502 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 505 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
| CJ 521 | Seminar in Criminological Theory | 3 |
| Select nine semester hours of graduate Criminal Justice electives | 9 | |
| Select six semester hours of graduate courses in Criminal Justice OR in a related field 1 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
30 Graduate Semester Hours Required for this Degree
| 1 | Selected graduate courses in a related field must be approved in advance by the head, or the graduate coordinator, of the Criminal Justice Department and the Forensic Investigation Department. |
Thesis Option
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Criminal Justice Courses | ||
| CJ 500 | Seminar in Contemporary Criminal Justice Issues | 3 |
| CJ 501 | Applied Data Analysis for Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 502 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 505 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
| CJ 521 | Seminar in Criminological Theory | 3 |
| Six semester hours of Thesis CJ 599 | 6 | |
| Select three semester hours of graduate Criminal Justice electives | 3 | |
| Select six semester hours of graduate courses in Criminal Justice OR in a related field 1 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
30 Graduate Semester Hours Required for this Degree
| 1 | Selected graduate courses in a related field must be approved in advance by the head, or the graduate coordinator, of the Criminal Justice Department and the Forensic Investigation Department. |
Thesis students should contact the Graduate School to receive an orientation to the thesis process prior to enrolling in the first three semester hours of thesis, CJ 599. This orientation can be completed either in person or via email. The purpose of the orientation is to provide the thesis student with information concerning required forms, due dates, and to answer any questions concerning thesis options and/or procedure. For further information concerning this orientation, please contact Ashlee Hanvey, ahanvey@jsu.edu, 321 Angle Hall, (256) 782-5348. See Thesis Options and Procedures in this catalog for more information.
Graduation and Portfolio
A portfolio is required for the non-thesis option of this degree; please see the graduate advisor for full details. For students choosing the thesis option, the thesis defense serves as the portfolio. All students must apply for graduation by the given deadline of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Please see the Graduation and Comprehensive Exam section of this catalog for more information.