Graduate Programs

facultyMaster of Arts in Criminal Justice

Designed to develop and sharpen skills appropriate to beginning or continuing practitioners in the criminal justice system. Professionals in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, or the court system can utilize this degree to seek career advancement or personal enrichment. 

The Mission
The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice affirms the mission of the University. The mission of the graduate criminal justice program is:

  • To foster the development of professionals, scholars, and lifelong learners who can translate advanced study into effective problem solving skills;
  • To facilitate the development of critical thinkers who can use their personal, professional, spiritual, and academic experiences in the analysis of current issues;
  • To produce informed users of research capable of making significant contributions in their chosen fields; and
  • To support and encourage scholarship, intellectual inquiry, and professional responsibility that nurtures the growth and development of others

Goals
Three specific goals have been identified to guide program development and review:

  • Foster greater awareness and understanding of complex issues and problems within the field of criminal justice.
  • Advance students' problem-solving abilities by developing analytical and critical research skills.
  • Enhance students' practical capabilities by emphasizing a professional orientation to the criminal justice field.

Coursework Required
The program consists of ten courses for a total of thirty credits.

Core Requirements
CJMA 501 - The American Criminal Justice System: Theory & Practice
CJMA 502 - Criminological Theory
CJMA 503 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice
CJMA 504 - Data Collection and Analysis in Criminal Justice
CJMA 520 - Ethics in Criminal Justice

Elective Credits Required  (Choose four courses)
CJMA 510 - Juvenile Deliquency
CJMA 511 - Planning, Program Development and Evaluation in Criminal Justice
CJMA 515 - History of Crime and Crime Control
CJMA 521 - Terrorism and Counterterrorism
CJMA 522 - Juvenile Justice
CJMA 523 - Race and Crime
CJMA 525 - Correctional Management
CJMA 530 - Women, Law, and Social Control
CJMA 532 - Police Administration
CJMA 535 - Public Policy and Criminal Justice
CJMA 540 - Serial and Mass Murder
CJMA 545 - Crime, the Media, and Moral Panics

Capstone Course
CJMA 562 - Professional Seminar-Culminating Experience

Return to Graduate Admissions for more information on admission requirements

Director of the Graduate Program in Criminal Justice:
Dr. Leanne Owen
Email: lowen@holyfamily.edu
Phone: 267-341-4791