Master of Science Degree
Criminal Justice Advisement Tips
This information is provided to help you understand the advisement process at UTC. Final responsibility rests with the student to become familiar with degree requirements and university policies. Make sure that you consult the program coordinator: Dr. Vic Bumphus.
Frequently asked questions: (click on the question for the answer)
- Who should pursue a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice?
- What are the requirements to be admitted into the program?
- How do I get started?
- Can I start taking classes before my application file is completed?
- How long will it take to complete my master's degree in Criminal Justice?
- What is candidacy?
- How will I know which catalog I will be under?
- How many courses are in the program?
- Are there any other requirements?
- What are graduate assistantships?
- Who is eligible for graduate assistantships?
- Can I take courses in the evening?
Graduate Program
Who should pursue a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice?
The graduate program is designed for those students who have a serious interest in criminal justice. This program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in criminal justice and related social service agencies.
What are the requirements to be admitted into the program?
Applicants to the program must:
- hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale) on all undergraduate work taken prior to receiving the baccalaureate degree or 3.0 in the senior year. (Conditional admission may be possible.)
- have an official score from either the Miller Analogy Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) that is not over five years old
- submit a "Supplemental Admissions" form that is available from the Graduate Studies Office
- submit two letters of recommendation. These letters may come from faculty members in the applicant's undergraduate major or from the most recent work supervisor, if the applicant graduated from college four or more years ago.
- Submit the "Writing Proficiency Essay" form that is available from the Graduate Studies Office.
How do I get started?
Anyone holding the baccalaureate or higher degree who wishes to take courses must make formal application for admission through the Graduate Studies Office at 114 Race Hall.
Can I start taking classes before my application file is completed?
An applicant who meets the admission requirements but whose application file is incomplete may be admitted as a provisional graduate student. However, students holding any kind of provisional admission are not eligible for financial aid. This type of admission is valid for one semester and may not be renewed.
How long will it take to complete my master's degree in Criminal Justice?
The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice is a 36 hour program. Most students plan to complete their degrees within 2 years. Students are considered full-time if they enroll in nine or more semester hours for graduate credit and half-time if they enroll in six to eight semester hours for graduate credit. All credit applied toward a master's degree must be earned within a six year period beginning with the first course counted toward the degree.
What is candidacy?
Admission to a graduate degree program allows the student to demonstrate the ability to pursue graduate work but does not guarantee the right to continue toward a degree unless he or she is admitted to candidacy. Students may apply for admission to candidacy after completing 9 hours and must do so before they have completed more than 18 hours. The student must have a B average and have completed prerequisite course work. On the candidacy application, students must list completed courses and those courses which will be taken to fulfill the requirements for graduation.
How will I know which catalog I will be under?
The catalog in effect at the time of admission to candidacy is the controlling catalog.
How many courses are in the program?
The M.S. program consists of 36 semester hours: 12 semester hours of generic core and 24 elective hours.
Are there any other requirements?
Students are required to take a comprehensive essay examination covering core course materials when they have completed at least 24 and no more than 27 credit hours OR complete a thesis. If students complete a thesis, this counts for 6 hours of electives and reduces that requirement to 18 hours.
What are graduate assistantships?
Graduate Assistantships consist of a monetary stipend plus a tuition and fee waiver. Assistantships serve to facilitate graduate students in the prompt and successful completion of an advanced degree program and to provide work experience in a setting under the supervision of a faculty or administrative mentor. Duties may include such work as library research, preparation of reports, field studies, or gathering, organizing and analyzing information.
Who is eligible for graduate assistantships?
To be eligible, a student must be fully admitted to a graduate program and have academic good standing. To be awarded a full graduate assistantship, the student must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student taking at least nine semester hours of graduate course work applicable to the degree. Also a 3.25 cumulative grade point average on all graduate courses taken at UTC must be maintained. The student will be assigned to work 20 hours per week in the School of Social and Community Services. There are a limited number of full and part-time assistantships and they are given out on a competitive basis. Applications are available from the Graduate Studies Office.
Can I take courses in the evening?
Virtually all of our graduate courses are offered in the evening.
