The program is designed for criminal justice and social service professionals who wish to continue their education.
The Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice is designed to provide post-baccalaureate education to criminal justice professionals and traditional students who have not yet begun a career in criminal justice. The primary goal of the program is to develop in graduates the ability to analyze, comprehend, and explore the complex problems confronting the criminal justice system. The program emphasizes theory, research and administration in the criminal justice system. Students will be able to conceptualize the problems of crime and justice from social, cultural, economic, and political perspectives. In addition, the successful graduate will understand research methods and design as well as statistical strategies used to analyze social science research. Course work will also provide a foundation for those students desiring to pursue doctoral studies.
The graduate faculty brings diverse backgrounds both in terms of education and professional experience. Faculty graduate degrees include Public Administration, Sociology, Education, Criminal Justice, Political Science, and the Law. Past professional experiences among the faculty include law enforcement administration, prosecuting attorney, criminal defense attorney, probation officer, and parole board members. Faculty research interests cross the full spectrum of the justice system and include issues related to the police, courts, criminal procedures, adult and youth corrections.
Classes will be held in the late afternoon and evening to allow for attendance by the non-traditional student who may have a full time work obligation. Initially, all classes will be held on the Weber State University campus in Ogden, Utah. Depending on the time and commitment, students will be able to complete all of the course work in two years.
Admission to the master's program will be competitive and entrance restricted to a limited number of well qualified applicants. Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice or a related social or behavioral science area.
Each candidate will be evaluated on (1) past academic performance, (2) score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and (3) overall experience and progression in the criminal justice field or other areas of experience. Specific admissions criteria include:
Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis, and those whose undergraduate work does not reflect a basic foundation in criminal justice study, or who do not meet the specific admission requirements, may be admitted on a provisional basis. Students applying without undergraduate competency in Criminal Justice will be required to take basic undergraduate criminal justice classes before being admitted to full candidacy.
The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice requires the completion of 36 semester hours. Four core courses totaling 12 semester hours are required. These courses are:
The remaining hours will be chosen from elective courses of interest to the student. More than one "C" grade will not count toward completion of the degree. Students must choose between completing a Master's Project, or taking additional course work in lieu of the project. The requirements for each option are identified below. Regardless of the option chosen, the student must complete all degree requirements within four years of entry into the program.
1. Complete 12 core credit hours.Project Option
Non-Project Option
1. Complete 12 core credit hours.
2. Complete 24 elective credit hours.
Weber State University 2008-2009 Catalog