Ranked highly among best Criminal Justice M.S. programs in the country, our program provides students with advanced theoretical, legal, and methodological training for research, teaching, and management careers in criminal justice. The program serves to educate criminal justice professionals and prepare students for further advanced graduate work, legal studies, and scholarship.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program is always offered entirely online with a minimum of four synchronous sessions a semester. Unlike other online programs, where students have no direct interaction with faculty and peers, here students have the opportunity to interact in a virtual setting in each course, but maintain the flexibility of never having to come to campus.
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Recent rankings placed the Master of Science in Criminal Justice in the top programs in the United States.
Applicants may qualify for a waiver of the GRE requirement if the student possesses an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher as evidenced by his/her official, final degree transcript from the applicant’s baccalaureate degree-awarding institution, or by completion of a master’s degree in a related field.
Advanced Instruction provides students like you the instruction required to take your employment to the next level in the field of Criminal Justice.
Undergraduates, who are currently enrolled at Marshall University, may be accepted to the Accelerated Graduate Degree in Criminal Justice. This can reduce the number of hours required to complete their Bachelor’s degree by the number of graduate hours they complete (up to a maximum of 12 hours). Applicants must meet all other degree requirements for their Bachelor’s degree while they work on their Master’s degree. This program option works best for students who have mostly free electives remaining to complete their degree. None of the other credit hours used for the Bachelor’s degree can be counted toward the Master’s degree. Graduate coursework/credit will appear only on the graduate transcript, and graduate course grades will be calculated at the graduate level. For a description of the graduate program curriculum, please visit Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice.
Advantages of an Accelerated Degree
- complete the Bachelor’s degree with up to 12 fewer credit hours, (must meet all other degree requirements for the Bachelor’s degree);
- begin work on the master’s degree during the senior year;
- complete up to 12 graduate credits at undergraduate tuition rates;
- earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in less time.
Eligibility Requirements for the Accelerated Graduate Degree Program in Criminal Justice
- must have completed at least 90 hours toward the Bachelor’s degree;
- must have at least a 3.30 overall undergraduate GPA;
- must have at least a 3.50 GPA in the major;
- must submit two reference letters, a personal statement, a graduate application and fee but are exempt from submitting GRE scores and a final transcript.
How to Apply
- During the junior or senior year, eligible students should meet with their Undergraduate Advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies of their chosen graduate degree program to submit the Accelerated Graduate Degree (AGD) Application AND to develop an AGD Plan of Study.
- The student’s acceptance into the AGD program is subject to the approval of the Plan of Study by the Dean of the Graduate College.
- After being accepted into the AGD program, students must apply for official admission to the chosen graduate degree program for the first semester after the Bachelor’s degree is awarded. Applications should be submitted during the last semester of the senior year.
Requirements for Continuation in the AGD Degree Program
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all graduate credit toward their graduate degree program.
Withdrawal from the AGD
A student may withdraw at any time from an approved AGD program by informing the Undergraduate Advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of the Graduate College in writing. A student’s status will then revert to the standard undergraduate degree program. Any graduate hours earned must be approved for use in fulfillment of bachelor’s degree requirements by the student’s Undergraduate Dean.
From Undergraduate to Graduate Student
Beginning with the semester after the student has earned the Bachelor’s degree and has been accepted into a graduate degree program, the student is enrolled in the Graduate College and is assessed tuition and fees at the graduate rate. All rules regarding graduate education will apply to the student once admitted into the graduate degree program.
For more information about the AGD in Criminal Justice, contact Dr. Kim DeTardo-Bora at detardobora@marshall.edu.
- Corrections Supervisor
- Court Administration Manager
- Government Liaison
- Law Enforcement Supervisor
- Intelligence Analysis Manager
- Online or Cybersecurity Manger
Admission Requirements
Deadlines: Applications to the program are due by July 1 for the fall semester and by November 1 for the spring semester. However, students are strongly encouraged to apply early. Applications submitted after the due dates will be considered, but no later than three weeks from the start of classes for the fall semester and four weeks for the spring semester. Application for admission does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Applicants should follow the admissions process described in the Graduate Catalog, or at the Graduate Admissions website at www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission. (Submit all materials to the Graduate Admissions Office.)
Applicants must also have:
- a baccalaureate degree from an accepted, accredited college or university (preference will be given to applicants with undergraduate majors in criminal justice or closely related social science discipline);
- an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale as documented on an official, final degree transcript from the applicant’s baccalaureate degree-awarding institution;
- GRE scores (will be evaluated in combination with the undergraduate GPA);
- for international students, a score on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) of 80;
- a C or better in an undergraduate research methods course or equivalent (documentation of course content may be required);
- two letters of recommendation (college instructors strongly preferred); and
- a personal statement (1-2 page essay regarding the student’s interest in criminal justice and how the M.S. in Criminal Justice degree will benefit him or her).
Waivers: Applicants may qualify for a waiver of the GRE requirement if the student
- possesses an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher as evidenced by his/her official, final degree transcript from the applicant’s baccalaureate degree-awarding institution, or
- by completion of a master’s degree in a related field.
Applicants who have completed a previous master’s degree must submit an official, final transcript from the applicant’s master’s degree-awarding institution as evidence of qualifying for the waiver.
Students may be considered for provisional admission or conditional enrollment. All prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the Criminal Justice Graduate Director before applying to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program to discuss the application process and requirements.
Assistantships and Financial Support
The Criminal Justice and Criminology department has funds available in the form of assistantships to provide financial support for graduate students. For complete information on graduate assistantships, please see www.marshall.edu/graduate/graduate-assistantships-2/graduate-assistantship-overview. For complete information on other financial support opportunities, please see www.marshall.edu/graduate and click on "Prospective Students" and then “Costs and Aid.”