Master of Art in Criminal Justice Administration

The Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration supports the need for an understanding of the administration and management of criminal justice agencies and organizations. A degree in criminal justice administration trains students to be leaders and administrators in the field of criminal justice. This degree will prepare students for leadership and administrative roles in many areas of criminal justice including the following: city police departments, sheriff's offices, state departments of correction, federal law enforcement agencies, and private sector agencies. Specifically, this degree will prepare students for roles as police chiefs, assistant or deputy chiefs, sheriffs, undersheriffs, wardens, deputy wardens, and chief agents of law enforcement entities.

This program is offered completely online!

Program Objectives:

1. Use a multidisciplinary approach to increase students' understanding of leadership in criminal justice agencies and organizations.
2. Produce ethical criminal justice leaders who are responsible and informed decision makers.
3. Cultivate critical thinking skills that are applicable in criminal justice agencies and organizations.
4. Teach students to utilize evidence based practices in criminal justice, leadership, and administration.

    MACJA Proposed Rotation (pdf)
 

    2020-2021    2021-2022    2022-2023    2023-2024

Degree checksheets are in PDF format and will open in a new browser window. Select the appropriate checksheet beginning the year of continuous enrollment.

Admission to the Master of Art in Criminal Justice Degree

The MACJA Program seeks mature, emotionally stable individuals with a strong sense of personal responsibility and integrity. With this in mind, applicants are assessed by the program’s Graduate Admission Committee through an evaluation and weighing of all admission materials (e.g., admissions statement, interview, work experiences, recommendation forms, test scores). In addition to academic performance, measured primarily by the Grade Point Average, the Admissions Committee considers other factors that contribute to the development of a professional. Formal work experience in the human services, particularly in settings that serve public social services clients, is important. Other factors considered include: volunteer experience in the human services; life experiences and opportunities for personal growth, leadership, communication and interpersonal relationship skills; problem solving ability; the ability to work with and respect persons from diverse backgrounds; health and stamina; and motivation for graduate work and a career in administration or counseling.

Unconditional Admission
Unconditional admission may be granted to applicants who meet the following criteria:

1. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
    
2. Meet one of the following conditions:
    
   • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on all undergraduate coursework to date; or
   • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in the last sixty (60) hours of coursework;
      
3. Have acceptable program application documents (references, resume, essay questions, etc.).

Conditional Admission
Conditional admission may be granted to an applicant who has met the GPA requirement for unconditional admission but has not submitted all other required documentation. The documentation must be completed and processed before the student may enroll in the second semester.

Provisional Admission
Applicants not meeting the GPA for unconditional admission may be considered for provisional admission by the program. Students must submit all program documents before admission to the university. No more than nine (9) hours of graduate credit earned while on provisional admission status will count toward a degree. To gain unconditional status, the student must complete a minimum of nine (9) hours approved graduate work with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all courses taken, meet all other admission criteria, and meet all provisions set by the program.

Concurrent Admission
A senior student who lacks less than a full normal study load and who has completed a minimum of one hundred (100) credit hours, and meets the GPA requirements, may be permitted to enroll in graduate courses, subject to the study load provisions and semester hour provisions of the School of Graduate Studies.

Admission Procedure 
Criminal Justice Administration Degree Process:

1. Be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
    
2. Submit the Department of Professional Programs in Criminal Justice Administration Admission forms through MyECU:
    
   • Provide transcripts of all work completed (baccalaureate and graduate).
   • Submit a resume to include all educational and work history. Degree options may have additional requirements.
   • Provide name and address of three (3) professional/work related references.
   • Complete the three (3) essay questions. 

Denial of Admission

1. A denied applicant, who wishes to appeal the denial, must first request a second review by the Department of Professional Programs in Human Services Graduate Admission Committee (GAC). Requests for review, including any additional materials the applicant desires to submit, must be received in writing within thirty (30) days of the applicant receiving notice of denial. The GAC will complete a comprehensive review of the student’s credentials, specifically any additional material the applicant submits and will render a decision in writing to the applicant within ten (10) business days following the review meeting of the GAC.
    
2. If an applicant is denied admission by the GAC, the applicant may appeal the GAC’s decision to the Chair of the Department of Professional Programs in Human Services. The applicant’s appeal must be in writing, must set forth with specificity the grounds for the appeal, and must be directed and delivered to the Chair of the Department of Professional Programs in Human Services. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Department Chair will review the applicant’s file an appeal letter. The Department Chair will communicate his or her decision to the applicant-appellant, in writing, within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the appeal.

Credit Requirements
The Master of Art in Criminal Justice Administration requires completion of thirty (30) hours of applicable work above the bachelors degree. Courses which may apply on the master's degree program are 5000 level courses.

Planning the Program
The student’s study program leading to the master’s degree is developed in consultation with his or her faculty advisor and is carefully related to the student’s individual needs. Needs are identified through consideration of undergraduate preparation and immediate and prospective career goals.

Thesis
No thesis is required in the Master of Art in Criminal Justice Administration degree program.

Transfer Work
A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit transferred from other accredited colleges or universities may apply, if appropriate, to the program. Only grades of “B” or above may be considered for transfer. The student who plans to transfer credit is responsible for assembling sufficient supporting material to allow the department chair and graduate dean to make an adequate evaluation of the transfer credit request.

Grade Regulations
The grades of A, B, C, D, P, F, N, W, AW, WF, and I may be assigned to graduate students. The grade mark “P” indicates pass without an exact grade; the grade mark “W” indicates withdrawn; the grade mark “AW” indicates administrative withdrawal; the temporary grade mark “N” indicates the semester grade was not submitted by the instructor by the appropriate deadline. Grade marks have grade point values per semester hour as follows: A - 4, B - 3, C - 2, D - 1, F - 0, and WF - 0. Grade marks of “P” and “W” are disregarded with respect to grade points and hours attempted in computing grade average.

An incomplete grade (“I”) may be used at the instructor's discretion to indicate that additional work is necessary to complete a course. It is not a substitute for an “F, and no student may be failing a course at the time an “I” grade is awarded. To receive an “I” grade, the student should have satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of the required coursework for the semester. “I” grades must be changed by the instructor within one (1) year from the end of the semester in which the “I” was assigned or they will remain as a permanent “I” and not contribute to the student’s GPA.

No more than six (6) semester hours of “C” grade may be counted in the plan of study for the master's degree in Human Resources, and the grade point average for all graduate courses taken on the degree program must be 3.00 or above. Departmental courses in which a passing grade is made may not be repeated. Courses in which a lower grade is made may be repeated only with an advisor and/or departmental approval. The last grade is counted with reference to graduation requirements. No additional credit is allowed for a repeated course. Students accumulating more than six (6) semester hours of “C” or lower in courses will have their admission to the program reviewed. Credit with grades of “D” will not satisfy specific degree requirements. After appropriate review and discussion with the student, the Department may recommend to the Graduate Dean the termination of student’s admission to the degree program, place the student on departmental probation with stated criteria for reinstatement, and/or recommend remedial action which the student must complete in order to return to good standing. The student will be notified in writing by the Graduate Dean of the above actions.

Financial Aid Regulations for Graduate Students

Students, please be advised that the courses you choose to enroll in MUST be a required course or an elective course in your degree program. Financial Aid regulations dictate that any graduate student who is seeking financial aid must be enrolled in AT LEAST five (5) credit hours during the fall, spring, or summer semester and the courses MUST be in the degree program.

*Certificate Programs do not qualify for financial aid.