Master of Science in Victim Services Management
The Master of Science in Victim Services Management is designed to prepare graduates to work in various areas of victim services1, including but not limited to, direct service provision, organizational management, and social policy development. This degree will benefit persons with or without previous employment experience. However, the ideal candidate will have had professional experience in the field of victim services. Courses are sequenced so that students can complete the degree in two years.
| 1 | Select courses meet National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) standards. |
Applications to the Master of Science in Victim Services Management Degree Program are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a Fall semester priority deadline of May 1. However, depending on space availability, applications may still be considered through July 1. The Spring semester priority deadline is November 1, although applications may continue to be reviewed until December 1. A review of each student’s application file will be completed with admission offered on a competitive basis. Please submit all documents to the University Office of Graduate Admissions. Admission considerations include:
- Graduate Application
- Application fee
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in an allied field.
- Official transcripts of all academic work previously undertaken.
- A cumulative undergraduate degree grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- Resume
- A personal essay regarding career background and goals.
- A minimum of two recommendation letters from academic sources or current supervisor of recent victim-related work (either paid or volunteer).
- International students ONLY: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based) is required.
A holistic review of each student's application file will be completed with admission offered on a competitive basis.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Victim Services Management | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| CRIJ 5330 | Critical Analys Of Justice Adm | 3 |
| CRIJ 6334 | Resrch Mthd & Quantve Analysis | 3 |
| CRIJ 6392 | Program Evaluation In CJ | 3 |
| VCST 5364 | Seminar in Victimology 1 | 3 |
| VCST 5365 | Seminar in Crime Victim Services and Management | 3 |
| VCST 5366 | Advocacy and Case Management 1 | 3 |
| VCST 5385 | Non-Profit Grant Writing | 3 |
| VCST 6338 | Coordinating Victim Services 2 | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Gender and Criminal Justice | ||
| Special Topics-Criminal Justce (Violence Against Women or Human Resources Mgt.) | ||
| Human Sex Trafficking | ||
| Elder Abuse and Victimization 1 | ||
| Interpersonal Violence | ||
| Family Violence 1 | ||
| Child Abuse and Neglect 1 | ||
| Neurobiology of Trauma | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
| 1 | National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP)-approved course. |
| 2 | A grade of B or better in VCST 6338 is required for graduation. |
Note: A one year accelerated Master of Science in Victim Services Management Program is available for students. In order to complete a one-year program, students would enroll in four courses per semester over three semesters (i.e Fall, Spring, Summer or Spring, Summer, Fall).
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The MS in Victim Services Management is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Grant writing.
- Interpersonal communication.
- Leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Problem solving.
- Program development and evaluation.
