The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice is a professional degree which prepares graduates for leadership in management positions in criminal justice and social service agencies, or entry into doctoral study. Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, the program places emphasis on development of skills in critical thinking, communication, and applied research. Selecting from a variety of specialty courses, students devise an area of specialization based upon a career interest. Students from any undergraduate major are welcome to apply.
Many opportunities are available for involvement in community service projects, research, tours, and involvement in professional conferences. A Graduate Student group and a chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national honor society, are available for students.
Program Requirements
A core program consisting of four courses is required of all graduate students. With advisement, students select two or three elective courses in a specialty area of interest.To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 36 credit hours, receive candidacy status, and successfully complete a comprehensive examination (or successfully defend a thesis project).
Students may complete the program in three or four semesters, attending full time, or six semesters (two years) attending on a part time basis, taking two courses each semester. Courses are offered in the summer.
Criminal Justice Courses
Core:
- 500 Research Methodology I
- 502 Research Methodology II
- 503 Criminal Justice Proseminar
- 516 Theoretical Perspectives of Crime
Electives:
- 501 Social Control / Prevention
- 505 Social Administration Within the Criminal Justice System
- 506 Police and Society
- 510 Special Topics in Criminal Justice
- 512 Juvenile Delinquency and the Justice System
- 513 Cross Cultural Diversity and Crime
- 520 Crime Analysis
- 522 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
- 525 The American Justice System
- 526 Ethics and Crime
- 527 Organizational Crime
- 532 Victimology
- 534 Crime and Popular Culture
- 537 Drugs and Crime
- 540 Crime & Public Policy
- 542 Terrorism and the Criminal Justice System
- 543 Correctional Theory and Intervention
- 550 Crime Prevention
- 596 Thesis Seminar
- 597r Individual Studies
Thesis/Electives:
- 599r Thesis or approved electives
*Internship:
560 Internship in Criminal Justice
* Students who have limited experience in the criminal justice may opt for an internship (not required). See the graduate program coordinator.
Program Faculty
- Vic Bumphus, Ph.D. Michigan State University
- Melchor De Guzman, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati
- Helen Eigenberg, Ph.D. Sam Houston State University
- Tammy Garland, Ph. D. Sam Houston State University
- Chris Hensley, Ph.D. Mississippi State University
- Gale Iles, Ph.D. University of Nebraska
- Karen McGuffee, J.D. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Roger D. Thompson, Ed.D. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Research Facilities
A computer lab is available in the UC Center. Assistance is provided for graduate work with computer labs, and there are extensive computerized data base facilities in Lupton Library on campus and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library.
Admission Procedures
- 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.)
- Submit an official score (not over five years old) for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
- Submit a "Supplemental Admissions" form available from the Graduate Studies Office.
- Submit two letters of recommendation 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 available from the Graduate Studies Office or if you have completed the GRE with the writing assesment portion you are not required to do the Writing Proficiency Essay.
For more information:
Dr. Gale Iles , Graduate Coordinator
Department of Criminal Justice
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The College of Arts and Sciences
Dept. 3203
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403-2598
Phone: (423) 425-2241
Last update: 4/17/06
Comments to: The Graduate School
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