TRACK DESCRIPTION
The Research track of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed for students who plan careers as criminal justice research analysts or who plan to enroll in a PhD program when they complete the master’s program.
The Research track of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed for students who plan careers as criminal justice research analysts or who plan to enroll in a PhD program when they complete the master’s program. The 30 credit hour program of study emphasizes research activity while simultaneously providing essential grounding in criminal justice theory and training in social science research methods. Students completing this program of study will be prepared to produce criminal justice research that contributes improved understanding of crime and justice issues facing communities.
The benefits of an advanced graduate degree in criminal justice are self evident and are being increasingly recognized by employers in central Florida and throughout the United States. Federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies benefit from an informed and innovative workforce that is aware of the complex issues and problems faced by the system regardless of geographic locale. Furthermore, graduates of the program are grounded in the latest theories and learn how these theories affect each individual or organization within the system.
CURRICULUM
| Total Credit Hours Required: |
| 30
Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree |
The Criminal Justice MS program in Research requires a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of 18 credit hours of core courses, 3 credit hours from restricted electives and 9 credit hours of advanced curriculum that is selected in consultation with the graduate adviser.
Required Courses—18 Credit Hours
- CCJ 5015 The Nature of Crime (3 credit hours)
- CCJ 5456 The Administration of Justice (3 credit hours)
- CCJ 6704 Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3 credit hours)
- CCJ 6702 Advanced Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3 credit hours)
- CCJ 6706 Quantitative Methods and Computer Utilization in Criminal Justice (3 credit hours)
- CCJ 6714 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice (3 credit hours)
Students must achieve a grade of "B" (3.0) or higher in every required course listed above.
Elective Courses—12 Credit Hours
The combined total of restricted and unrestricted 5000 level electives may not exceed 9 credit hours.
Restricted—3 Credit Hours
Select one from the following.
- CJC 5020 Foundations of Corrections (3 credit hours)
- CJE 5021 Foundations of Law Enforcement (3 credit hours)
- CJJ 6020 Juvenile Justice (3 credit hours)
- CJL 6568 Law and Social Control (3 credit hours)
- CJL 6520 American Criminal Courts (3 credit hours)
Unrestricted—9 Credit Hours
Students should consult with the Criminal Justice advisor for approval of general electives outside of the Criminal Justice program prior to enrolling. Criminal Justice courses at the 5000 or 6000 level, not used towards core or restricted electives, are preapproved general electives.
Comprehensive Examination
A final exit examination and survey are required of all students completing the Criminal Justice Master’s program. These requirements will be completed online in students’ last semester.
INDEPENDENT LEARNING
Independent learning is demonstrated throughout the curriculum through the process of inquiry and dialogue. Tangible projects such as research projects, scholarly papers, internships, practicum, and presentations at professional conferences also contribute to the self development of our students.
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- Official, competitive GRE scores taken within the last five years in the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections.
- Statement of career goals, one or two pages indicating how the Criminal Justice MS degree will enhance the applicant's career goals,expectations of the graduate program, and research interests.
- Résumé (no longer than two pages).
- Two letters of recommendation. Letters should be from professors or professional references who can attest to the applicant’s ability to succeed in graduate coursework and his or her work ethic.
Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Applicants not meeting the minimum standards may be considered as candidates for limited and competitive "provisional" admissions. However, only students with complete applications (final transcript, GRE, resume, letter of recommendation and goal statement) will be reviewed under this special admission category.
Students should be aware that admission to any graduate program is granted on a competitive basis. There may be cases where students meeting minimum requirements are denied admission based on such factors as program capacity or academic discretion.
Due to restrictive state regulations, UCF is not permitted to provide online courses or instruction to students in the following states. If you reside in one of these states, you may not be permitted to enroll in or be admitted to a UCF online program. Please contact your state's higher education regulation authorities for more details.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
Application Deadlines
| Research |
Fall Priority
|
Fall
|
Spring
|
Summer
|
|---|
|
Domestic Applicants
| Jan 15 | Jul 15 | Dec 1 | Apr 15 |
|---|
|
International Applicants
| Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Nov 1 |
|---|
|
International Transfer Applicants
| Jan 15 | Mar 1 | Sep 1 | Dec 15 |
|---|
FINANCIALS
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see
Funding for Graduate School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The
Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see Fellowships, which includes descriptions of UCF fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.