Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice offers a multidisciplinary curriculum to give students a sophisticated working knowledge of the major systems within the field. Students at WCU in Philadelphia will take challenging and rigorous courses rooted in history, law, philosophy, psychology, research, sociology, management, and political science that involve critical analysis of complex issues.
The program is well-suited for current and future criminal justice professionals, as well as those who plan to pursue further graduate study. The program at West Chester University in Philadelphia is designed to meet the needs of students who are often working and caregiving while attending graduate school, as classes are offered in the evenings and on a part-time basis.
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Application Requirements
Students should submit the following materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
- Completed graduate application
- Goals statement
- Official academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended demonstrating a cumulative GPA of 3.00. Applicants with a GPA between 2.80 and 3.00 may be considered on a provisional basis.
- Two letters of recommendation
Required Courses
A total of 30 semester hours is required for the Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Students may choose a thesis or nonthesis option.
Required courses include the following:
- CRJ 505 Criminological Theory
- CRJ 507 Justice and Professional Ethics
- CRJ 508 Research Design and Analysis
- CRJ 509 Criminal Jurisprudence
- CRJ 600 Proseminar
Students who choose the thesis option must complete CRJ 610 (thesis) and an additional 12 semester hours of criminal justice elective courses. Those choosing the non-thesis option must select 15 semester hours of elective courses.