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Criminology and Criminal Justice, M.A.

A student and a law enforcement officer look at a computer screen while sitting in a police car.

Communities and organizations in the 21st century require professionals with interdisciplinary skills and preparation to handle many complex challenges. Saint ֱοƵ University’s Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree provides students with a core criminological knowledge foundation and the opportunity to gain additional skills.

Enhance your graduate education in criminology and criminal justice by selecting one of three diverse concentrations:

  • Administration of justice
  • Emergency management
  • Treatment and rehabilitation

SLU's Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree prepares graduates to be advanced practitioners in various community and justice agency/organizational settings. The program is offered in variable formats.Part-time and full-time degree options are available.Most classes are offered on campus in the evening, but one concentration, emergency management, is currently offered online only.

Curriculum Overview

SLU's M.A.in criminology and criminal justice prepares students to take on leadership roles in various community settings. Students must select one of the following areas as the concentration of their graduate studies:

Administration of Justice

Prepare for leadership roles in justice-serving organizations through coursework designed to increase your knowledge about the justice system, techniques and challenges of administration, and issues in jurisprudence. Students integrate this knowledge through rigorous coursework with community-based learning opportunities to create solutions to complex social and organizational challenges.

Emergency Management

Justice personnel are often among the first responders to a crisis. Students in our emergency management concentration learn critical thinking, leadership, and crisis management skills through seminars and challenging simulations that put their academic knowledge to the test. All courses in this concentration are offered online.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Students in our treatment and rehabilitation concentration gain an in-depth understanding of human behavior, issues related to the treatment of high-risk populations, and evidence-based practices for improving the health of offenders and the communities in which they reside. A blend of in-class training and community-based practice experiences prepares students to become effective treatment agents.

Careers

Graduates of the administration of justice concentration are prepared for leadership roles in justice-serving organizations.

Graduates of the treatment and rehabilitation concentration are prepared to be effective treatment agents.

Graduates of the emergency management concentration are trained to be leaders in emergency response.

Recent graduates from SLU's M.A.in criminology and criminal justice program have accepted professional opportunities with the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, IRS and the St. ֱοƵ Circuit Attorney’s Office.

ֱοƵ Requirements

Successful applicants to SLU's Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. Conditional admission may be considered for students with cumulative GPAs below 3.00.

Application Requirements

  • Application form
  • Transcript(s)
  • Two letters of recommendation (one academic, one professional)
    • One academic letter of recommendation from a professor who has evaluated your academic performance in the classroom
    • One professional letter of recommendation from a supervisor who has evaluated your work in the field or related volunteer experience
    • If you have been out of school for five or more years, you may submit two professional letters
    • If you are entering the program directly from an undergraduate program, you may submit two academic letters
  • éܳé
  • A professional statement not to exceed three double-spaced pages with the following information:
    • What knowledge, values and skills do you have now that are critical to criminology and criminal justice?
    • Describe your strengths and areas of growth.
    • What are your future aspirations in criminology and criminal justice?
    • Describe a social justice issue that is important to you and what you as a criminologist or criminal justice professional would do to make a difference.
    • What are your experiences interacting with diverse populations? (Diverse populations include groups distinguished by age, race, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, and ethnicity.)

The professional statement informs the Student Affairs Committee of the applicant's background and professional goals and is an indicator of the applicant's writing ability. The content and the quality of the composition will be used to judge your preparedness for graduate school. Following a review of admissions materials, an on-site writing sample may be required.

Requirements for International Students

SLU's M.A.in criminology and criminal justice requires a TOEFL of 92 or higher.

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

  • ٱ𳾴DzԲٰٱEnglish Language Proficiency
  • Financial documents are required to complete an application for admission and be reviewed for admission and merit scholarships.
  • Proof of financial support that must include:
    • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint ֱοƵ University
    • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University
  • Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
    • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
    • Practical laboratory work
    • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
    • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
    • Any honors or degrees received.

WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application Deadlines

All applicants who apply are reviewed for merit-based scholarships. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed for admission until August 1.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The admissions committee considers several factors to determine a candidate's eligibility:

  • Academic achievement
  • Strength of the undergraduate program
  • Application information
  • Professional statement
  • Work experience
  • Any graduate degrees earned
  • Motivation
  • Leadership and service

The undergraduate GPA is weighted with other criteria in the admissions process.

Tuition

Tuition Total Program Cost
MA Criminology and Criminal Justice $33,000

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Financial Aid

We recognize that cost can be a concern when choosing to continue your education and have identified the following financial aid resources to assist you.

FAFSA and Other Resources

All incoming students should complete the application. A step-by-step guide to submitting your FAFSA is available online. Saint ֱοƵ University Student Financial Services provides a Graduate Financial Aid Handbook that outlines the process of financing your graduate education.

The following links to resources in Saint ֱοƵ University Student Financial Services may also be helpful:

Scholarships

New and continuing students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. Prospective students will be automatically screened for scholarship eligibility. No additional application is required; awards are based on information provided in the admission application.

Please note that the terms of the scholarship are subject to change if a student petitions for a degree transfer or fails to remain in good academic standing.

Fellowships

The is a full-tuition fellowship funded by the School of Social Work for new and continuing students. A separate application is required with a deadline of March 1. This fellowship requires that recipients serve as members of the School of Social Work's Equity and Inclusion Committee. Recipients will also be expected to actively participate in the diversity, equity and inclusion activities sponsored by the Doerr Center throughout the year.

Newly accepted master's or doctoral students and students in the first year of a program are eligible to apply for a University-wide diversity, dissertation or presidential fellowship. Find more details on application components here.

Graduate Assistantships and Internships

By filling out a , you will automatically be considered for a graduate assistantship or a graduate internship with the School of Social Work. Assistantships are appointed for one year. Students must reapply to be considered for a second year, and recipients are not guaranteed to receive subsequent/continuing internships.

Graduate assistantships are University-funded assistantships awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters (a duration of nine months, 20 hours per week), working with designated faculty. Benefits include 12 months of health care coverage, a stipend and 18 credit hours of tuition remission.

Depending on faculty needs, the graduate assistant works with one or two faculty members. Time is divided between both faculty mentors if the student is assigned to two. Students who receive a fully-fundedUniversity-funded assistantship in one year may not receive it in subsequent years. However, they remain eligible for graduate internship while pursuing a graduate degree in the School of Social Work.

Graduate internships are funded and awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters (a duration of nine months, 8-16 hours per week), working with assigned faculty. Graduate interns may be assigned to assist with administrative work, research or faculty teaching. Depending on the hours assigned, tuition benefits will differ; health insurance and stipends are not awarded for graduate internships.

Other Funding for Current Students

Current students may be eligible for conference/training funding, graduate assistantships and scholarships.
  1. Graduates will be able toassess relevant criminology and criminal justice literature/scholarly contributions.
  2. Graduates will be able toapply criminology and criminal justice theories, practices, policies, or research methodologies.
  3. Graduates will be able toapply knowledge from criminology and criminal justice to address problems in broader contexts.
  4. Graduates will be able toarticulate criminology and criminal justice explanations/arguments to a disciplinary/professional audience in both written and oral formats.
  5. Graduates will be able toevidence scholarly/professional integrity (ethics) in criminology and criminal justice.
CCJ Core Courses
䴳5000Criminological Theory3
䴳5100Ethics in the Administration of Justice3
䴳5200Research Methods3
䴳5300Foundations of Criminal Justice3
䴳6400Issues in Jurisprudence3
CCJ Elective Courses
Select two (6 credits) of the following:6
䴳5910
Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship
䴳5990
Thesis Research (6 hours required if student chooses a thesis)
䴳6000
Issues in Policing
䴳6100
Issues in Corrections
䴳6200
Issues in Juvenile Justice Administration
Concentrations
Select one of the following concentrations:12
Total Credits33

Administration of Justice Concentration

Required Courses
䴳6000Issues in Policing3
ǰ䴳6100 Issues in Corrections
ѳҰ6000Management3
ǰѳҰ6300 Management of Human Resources
Select two additional graduate courses6
Total Credits12

Emergency ManagementConcentration

䴳6000Issues in Policing3
BSDP Foundational Course3
Select one of the following:
ٱ5100
Public Health and Disasters
ٱ5101
Fundamentals of Disaster Planning
ٱ5206
Disaster Management and Risk Analysis
Select two other graduate level BSDP classes6
Total Credits12

Treatment and RehabilitationConcentration

¸鰭5762Diagnosis & Assessment in Clinical Practice3
Select three other graduate level SWRK classes9
Total Credits12

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

1

CCJ Core classes can be taken in any sequence and are offered on a rotating basis given a student's starting semester (Fall or Spring). They are rotated on a four-semester basis.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollmentunless otherwise noted.

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Administration of Justice Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CCJ Core 3
¸鰭5786 Death, Dying, & Grief: Professional Practice & Self-Awareness 3
ʰ5310
or ʰ5325
Issues in U.S. Public Administration
or Public Sector Budgeting
3
Credits9
Spring
CCJ Core 3
䴳5200
or SWRK5708
Research Methods
or Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
3
CCJ Elective 3
Credits9
Year Two
Fall
CCJ Core 3
SWRK5798 Introduction to Non-Profit Organization Management 3
ѳҰ6300 Management of Human Resources 3
Credits9
Spring
CCJ Elective 3
CCJ Core 3
Credits6
Total Credits33

Emergency Management Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CCJ Core 3
BSDP Elective 3
BSDP Elective 3
Credits9
Spring
CCJ Core 3
䴳5200
or SWRK5708
Research Methods
or Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
3
CCJ Elective 3
Credits9
Year Two
Fall
CCJ Core 3
BSDP Elective 3
CCJ Elective 3
Credits9
Spring
CCJ Core 3
BSDP Elective 3
Credits6
Total Credits33

Treatment and Rehabilitation Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CCJ Core 3
SWRK5736 Advanced Clinical Practice with Families and Groups 3
SWRK5742 Evidence Based Practices in Community Mental Health 3
Credits9
Spring
CCJ Elective 3
SWRK5744 Substance Use Disorder Interventions 3
䴳5200
or SWRK5708
Research Methods
or Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
3
Credits9
Year Two
Fall
CCJ Core 3
SWRK5772 Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Social Work Practice 3
CCJ Elective 3
Credits9
Spring
CCJ Core 3
CCJ Elective 3
Credits6
Total Credits33

CCJ Core Courses

Classes for theMAprogram are offered on a4-semestercycle which means students should register fǰCCJcore classes when they are offered. If students miss an offered class, it is likely it will not be available for another4semesters which will delay the degree completion date.

Electives and courses required for the concentrations are offered on a variable schedule.

In theFall of even numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

  • 䴳5000 Criminological Theory (3 cr)

In theFall of odd numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

  • 䴳5100 Ethics in the Administration of Justice (3 cr)
  • 䴳5300 Foundations of Criminal Justice (3 cr)

In theSpring of even numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

  • 䴳6100 Issues in Corrections (3 cr)
  • 䴳6400 Issues in Jurisprudence (3 cr)

In the Spring of odd numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

  • 䴳6000 Issues in Policing (3 cr)
  • 䴳5200 Research Methods (3 cr) OR SWRK5708 Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice (3 cr)
䴳5000Criminological Theory3
䴳5100Ethics in the Administration of Justice3
䴳5200Research Methods3
䴳5300Foundations of Criminal Justice3
䴳6000Issues in Policing3
䴳6100Issues in Corrections3
䴳6400Issues in Jurisprudence3
SWRK5708Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice3

CCJ Electives

Two classes (6 credits) of CCJ electiveswill be offered on a rotating basis across the 4-semester cycle with the exception of 䴳5910 Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship (3 cr)and 䴳5990 Thesis Research (0-6 cr)which can be taken during any semester. Students need to make arrangements in advance with the Director of the Internship Program, Kenya Brumfield-Young or their thesis advisor to take these classes. Students may also take electives in related fields, e.g., SWRK5771 Intimate Partner Violence (3 cr)or SWRK5744 Substance Use Disorder Interventions (3 cr), as electives. In addition, 1 (3-credit) class at the 4000 level may be taken, with the CCJ Director’s approval, and counted as a CCJ elective.

For admission questions contact:

Social Work School Graduate ֱοƵs Office
socialwork@slu.edu
314-977-2752