Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management degree is designed for individuals in mid to upper management positions in criminal justice agencies or those who have a reasonable expectation of being promoted to such a position. The degree program serves practitioners whose occupations or other commitments prevent them from returning to campus as full-time students. The program was developed to allow those with full-time employment the opportunity to earn a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management in two years. The degree is offered in two delivery formats: a weekend cohort program and an online program. For the weekend program, participants attend approximately five on-campus classes offered on Saturday and Sunday each spring and fall semester and during the combined summer sessions. A student in full-time attendance earns six credit hours in each of the fall and spring semesters and combined summer sessions, totaling 18 credit hours per year. Typically, the online format requires students to complete two consecutive 7.5 week courses each semester, resulting in 18 credit hours per year.
Please submit all documents to the University Office of Graduate Admissions. Admission considerations include the following:
- 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 3.0 for the final 30 baccalaureate credits. An acceptable GRE score may be substituted/required to demonstrate graduate study readiness if the GPA falls below the above standard.
- A completed form from the applicant indicating awareness of the time commitment involved over the two-year degree period, and an acknowledgement that their employer is informed and has agreed to enable the employee to keep his/her academic/weekend commitment (for the weekend programs only).
- A completed Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology Master's Degree Applicant Questionnaire/Form.
- Resume
- A personal essay regarding career background and goals.
- Evidence of current employment in a criminal justice related agency with a minimum of three years of experience or currently in a verifiable leadership role/position within a criminal justice agency and have no less than 2 years of CJ experience.
- 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 minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based) is required.
A review of each student’s application will be completed on a competitive basis.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management is a 36-hour degree program. No thesis is required, but the student must complete a capstone course (CRIJ 6388) with a grade of B or better to satisfy the University’s comprehensive examination requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management (Non-thesis) | ||
| Specified Courses | ||
| CRIJ 6333 | Seminar In Org & Administratn | 3 |
| CRIJ 6334 | Resrch Mthd & Quantve Analysis | 3 |
| CRIJ 6335 | Seminar In Leadership & Mgt | 3 |
| CRIJ 6363 | Leadrshp Psy In C J Management | 3 |
| CRIJ 6388 | Emergent Issues In CJ Leadrshp 1 | 3 |
| CRIJ 6392 | Program Evaluation In CJ | 3 |
| CRIJ 6396 | Legal Aspects Of CJ Management | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Critical Analys Of Justice Adm | ||
| Resource Development in the Organizational Context | ||
| Police In Society | ||
| Comm Theory & Admin Of Justice | ||
| Seminar In Crim & Corrections | ||
| The Ethics Of Criminal Justice | ||
| Special Topics-Criminal Justce | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Taken during the FINAL or graduating semester. A grade of B or better in CRIJ 6388 is required for graduation.
Note: Please refer to the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology webpage for additional information, including course sequencing and scheduling.
Recommended Course Sequence
Below is the recommended course sequence offered by semester. Courses will only be offered in the semester listed. Students are advised to follow the sequence and may have to wait until the semester a course if offered if they deviate from the schedule below.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| CRIJ 5330 | 3 | CRIJ 6334 | 3 | CRIJ 6332 | 3 |
| CRIJ 6333 | 3 | CRIJ 6363 | 3 | CRIJ 6365 | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| CRIJ 6335 | 3 | CRIJ 6387 | 3 | CRIJ 6394 (*Legacy of Leadership) | 3 |
| CRIJ 6396 | 3 | CRIJ 6392 | 3 | CRIJ 6388 | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Total Hours: 36 | |||||
*Special Topics may change as deemed necessary.
Departmental substitutions for electives may be allowed if approved by the Program Director.
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 Criminal Justice Leadership and Management is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Oral and written communication.
- Critical thinking.
- Self-awareness and understanding social dynamics.
- Problem-solving.
