Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
The M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program provides students with the theoretical groundwork, research and statistical skills needed to design and evaluate effective public safety policy and practice. The program prepares students for both practitioner and management careers in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, criminal justice management, parole and probation. In addition, students who wish to continue on to doctoral studies will find that the program’s thesis option prepares them well for such a path. For the convenience of the student, courses may be taken in any sequence, with the exception of the thesis, which is taken when a student has completed all required and elective coursework.
General Admission Requirements and Documents
The program welcomes applications from individuals who have strong academic records and interest in criminology and criminal justice. To be accepted, applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Completed application to the University
• $40 application fee
• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Official transcripts for all previous college work received directly from each institution
• Writing sample indicating evidence of ability to conduct scholarly research (thesis option applicants)
• Two professional reference forms from academic and professional sources
• Personal statement of educational and/or professional goals
• Personal résumé
Integrated B.S./M.S. Requirements and Documents
The integrated B.S./M.S. allows UT undergraduate criminology and criminal justice students to fulfill requirements of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Students admitted into the integrated program may begin two courses (limited to 4 credits in each semester) from the M.S. program in their last two semesters of undergraduate study. The two courses replace one elective from Category 2 and one elective from Category 3 in the undergraduate program. These courses are applied to coursework within the major in both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. No graduate-level course can be used to satisfy any undergraduate course that is required in the major. Qualified students enrolled in this option are considered undergraduates until the satisfactory completion of all B.S. requirements. Upon successfully meeting all B.S. requirements, the bachelor's degree is conferred and students are automatically classified as graduate students.
Interested students should apply during their junior year. A conditional acceptance into the program allows students to register for coursework in the M.S. program pending the meeting of all requirements at the start of their senior year. To be accepted, applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Completed Integrated M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice application
• Good standing in UT's criminology and criminal justice major
• Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0
• Minimum criminology and criminal justice major GPA of 3.25 out of a possible 4.0
• Junior/senior status with at least 24 earned credits in the criminology and criminal justice major
• Two professional reference forms from academic or professional sources
• Writing sample indicating evidence of ability to conduct scholarly research
• Personal statement of educational and/or professional goals
Degree Requirements: Thesis Option
M.S. Curriculum Core Courses
| CRM 601 | Proseminar in Criminal Justice Issues | 4 |
| CRM 603 | Criminological Theory | 4 |
| CRM 605 | Criminal Justice Policy and Program Evaluation | 4 |
| CRM 607 | Research Design and Methods | 4 |
| CRM 609 | Statistics for Criminal Justice Research | 4 |
| CRM 611 | Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice | 4 |
| CRM 650 | Thesis | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 |
Electives for the M.S. Program
| CRM 613 | Policing and Public Policy | 4 |
| CRM 615 | Corrections and Public Policy | 4 |
| CRM 617 | Justice, Law and Public Policy | 4 |
| CRM 619 | Victimology | 4 |
| CRM 621 | White Collar Crime | 4 |
| CRM 623 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Total Credit Hours: 36
Degree Requirements: Non-Thesis Option
M.S. Curriculum Core Courses
| CRM 601 | Proseminar in Criminal Justice Issues | 4 |
| CRM 603 | Criminological Theory | 4 |
| CRM 605 | Criminal Justice Policy and Program Evaluation | 4 |
| CRM 607 | Research Design and Methods | 4 |
| CRM 609 | Statistics for Criminal Justice Research | 4 |
| CRM 611 | Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Electives for the M.S. Program
| CRM 613 | Policing and Public Policy | 4 |
| CRM 615 | Corrections and Public Policy | 4 |
| CRM 617 | Justice, Law and Public Policy | 4 |
| CRM 619 | Victimology | 4 |
| CRM 621 | White Collar Crime | 4 |
| CRM 623 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 36