Criminal Justice Graduate Certificate

The School of Criminal Justice offers a graduate certificate geared toward working professionals who want to further their careers and develop a better understanding of both enduring and contemporary issues in the American justice system. It is intended to expand existing knowledge about the criminal justice system into a more comprehensive practical and theoretical framework that will aid students in both their academic and professional endeavors. The certificate is available to students who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Criminology or a closely-related discipline.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must possess an earned baccalaureate degree in criminal justice, criminology or closely related discipline emphasizing a well-rounded understanding of the American criminal justice system.
2. Applicants must submit their application for admission to the graduate certificate program and a transcript to the Graduate School. Additionally, students not seeking a degree must complete and submit an “Approval for Non-Degree Enrollment in a Graduate Course” form to the Dean of the Graduate School. The School of Criminal Justice Graduate Admissions Committee makes an admission decision based upon evidence of  1) holding, at a minimum, a baccalaureate degree in criminal justice, criminology or closely related discipline from an institution approved by a recognized accrediting agency, 2) a GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or at least five years of professional experience in a criminal justice agency.

Program Requirements

• The student shall complete 15 hours with a grade of B or better in each course from the specified course list below.
• The student may repeat a class only one time if he/she earned less than a grade of “B”.
• The student shall complete certificate requirements within five years from the semester of first enrollment.
• The student may transfer in up to three (3) hours of graduate credit in criminal justice from another accredited institution with prior approval from the Graduate Admissions Committee.