Criminal Justice, M.S.

Master of Science Degree

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice requires a minimum of thirty-three (33) hours of criminal justice coursework, plus successful completion of a written comprehensive examination (with 18 hours at the 600 level or higher). The degree is designed to provide specialization in a designated emphasis area to meet professional needs. CJ 600 , CJ 620 , CJ 625 , CJ 630 , CJ 640 , CJ 650 , CJ 660  and CJ 670  are required. A 3.0 GPA is required to graduate.

Research and Scholarly Integrity Education

All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status, must complete CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their schools. All graduate students must complete the CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their schools the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The RSIE policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page –www.usm.edu/graduate-school. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.

Admission Requirements to the M.S. in Criminal Justice Degree Programs

1. Admission decisions are based on a balancing of a variety of factors. These include competitive official scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination’s General Test,  undergraduate grade point average (both overall and in criminal justice), and evidence of related field training and work experience. In addition, applicants are to submit for consideration three letters of recommendation from individuals (such as professors) who are able to assess the applicant’s academic potential for success in a graduate program.
2. Applicants granted regular admission who have an undergraduate major in criminal justice, including nondegree graduate students, must have achieved a grade point average of 3.0 overall and in their criminal justice courses.
3. Applicants may be granted conditional admission in cases where criteria other than grade point averages warrants. In these cases the school may, at its discretion, grant conditional admission to undergraduate criminal justice majors and nondegree graduate students in criminal justice with a GPA of less than 3.0 but more than 2.75 overall and in criminal justice courses and a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 hours.
4. Applicants who are not criminal justice undergraduate majors, who meet all other criteria, may be granted conditional admission if the school is satisfied that their overall grade point average and in their particular major indicates the potential for success in the program and who have at least a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 hours. Students should see the appropriate graduate advisor for requirements to achieve regular admission.
5. All prospective students with other than a criminal justice undergraduate major or strong professional training in criminal justice may be admitted conditionally until after completion of nine (9) hours of undergraduate criminal justice courses with a B or better in each course. These courses may be some combination of CJ 325, CJ 330, CJ 352 and either CJ 341 or CJ 360. All such supplemental undergraduate work must be completed in the semester designated by the graduate advisor.
6. Students from all underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Required courses are listed below. Duplicated work is not permitted. A student may not take for graduate credit a similar course for which the student earlier received undergraduate credit of B or better. Because more qualified applications are received than can be accepted, admission to the graduate programs is very selective.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the requirements specified in the front section of this Bulletin.

Graduate Minor in Criminal Justice

The graduate minor in criminal justice consists of at least nine (9) hours of graduate coursework for the master’s and twelve (12) hours for the doctorate, at least six (6) hours of which must be taken at The University of Southern Mississippi for either a master’s or doctorate minor in criminal justice. Approval of the minor and the courses is at the discretion of the major advisor.