菲尔莱狄金森大学

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice is designed to skillfully integrate theory and practice into a holistic, engaging, and challenging course of study that provides students with advanced knowledge and understanding of the United States Criminal Justice System. Designed to position graduates for success, the program focuses on developing appreciable knowledge and understanding of crime and the criminal justice system, as well as developing discernable skill sets and competencies necessary for pursuing and/or advancing one's professional career, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communications, social research, and professional development.

The 36-credit program can be completed in less than 18 months for full-time students, and 18 to 24 months for part-time students. The program is available through traditional campus based courses offered in late afternoon and evening hours during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Many courses are also available online.

Degree Requirements

The program requires a total of 36 credits, equaling a total of 12 courses (3 credits each). The core curriculum, which consists of 18 credits, is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system, including methods of conducting academic research and statistics and data analysis. The remaining 18 credits afford students the opportunity to select courses that meet their areas of interest and specialization.

Required Courses

The program's core curriculum provides a foundation in the concepts of social order and control, the legal and philosophical principles of the U.S. Constitution, the legislation of criminal laws, the theoretical causality of criminal behavior, crime prevention, the treatment and remediation of criminality, the analysis of society's changing response to crime, the development and influence of public policy on the administration of justice, and the scientific methods for conducting social research and statistical analysis.

Elective Courses

Recognizing student's needs and interests for professional development and acquiring specialized knowledge and understanding, the curriculum provides students the option to select from a wide array of courses in fulfilling 18 of the 36 credit program. Such courses examine the role and influence of politics within the criminal justice system, ethics, public policy, policy analysis, social justice and victimization, risk reduction, comparative criminal justice systems, transnational crime, leadership, and emerging issues in crime and justice. Students can also select courses that focus on a host of specializations that include leadership, social service advocacy, learning theory and practice, college instruction, and professional development. The final course in the curriculum, which entails a Master's Research Project, affords students the opportunity to conduct independent research in areas of particular interest and application.