Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology

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Program Link:
https://crmj.wsu.edu/graduate-studies/m-a-in-criminal-justice/
Program Handbook:
https://crmj.wsu.edu/graduate-studies/graduate-handbook-and-student-resources/
Student Learning Outcomes:
https://crmj.wsu.edu/m-a-student-learning-outcome-objectives/
Total Graduate Faculty in Program:
12
Total Core Graduate Faculty in Program:
12
Graduate Students in Program:
31
Students Receiving Assistantships:
25
Priority Deadlines:

  • Fall January 10th
  • Spring July 1st

Campus:

  • Pullman

International Student English Proficiency Exams

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

  • TOEFL Minimum 90 The Department may request an interview for applicants with lower scores
  • IELTS Minimum 7

Additional Degree Program Admission Requirements

  • GRE Optional

Degree Description:

The program is designed to develop and enhance the student’s knowledge of criminal Justice; expand and develop a student’s analytical and assessment skills; and further develop their facility with oral and written communication and with research.

The program is flexible and provides a superb basis for entry into graduate work at the doctoral level or applied work in criminal justice agencies. Approximately 70% of our M.A. graduates are employed in applied settings while the balance have pursued teaching and research careers.

Criminal Justice and Criminology, Thesis Track

  • In addition to completing coursework, students in the Thesis Track are required, under the guidance of a thesis committee, to complete a thesis presenting the results of a systematic research project on a topic related to criminal justice and criminology.

Criminal Justice and Criminology, Non-Thesis Track

  • For the Non-Thesis Track, in addition to the course requirements, M.A. students are required to complete a project consisting of a professional quality oral poster presentation on a criminal justice and criminology topic that they have previously written about in their coursework as a graduate student in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

 

Admission Requirements:

  • A baccalaureate degree from a college or university, accredited by a recognized association.
  • An undergraduate cumulative GPA minimum of 3.0,  grade point average of at least 3.0 from the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours), or a graduate GPA of at least 3.30 for 12 semester credit hours at an accredited graduate school. Note, the minimum GPA to be considered for admission is a 3.0, however a 3.5 or higher is preferred.
  • For students entering from a foreign university, evidence of English proficiency (i.e., Test of English as a Foreign Language) and financial resources.
  • Personal Statement
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation. At least one of the recommendations must be from a professor.
  • Transcripts (including all colleges or universities from which you have earned or expect to earn a degree, and all colleges or universities at which you have taken graduate level course work; transcripts for coursework taken at Washington State University are not required).
  • A writing sample is required. To do so, students must submit a substantial sole-authored written paper (of at least 5 pages for M.A. applicants and 10 pages for Ph.D. applicants). This writing sample will be evaluated using the GRE Analytical Writing measure (i.e., to assess applicants “ability to articulate and support complex ideas, construct and evaluate arguments, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion”) . You can send your writing sample to criminaljustice@wsu.edu and the Graduate Coordinator will add it to your application folder.
  • (Optional) Official GRE scores sent to the Graduate School at institution code 4705. Find test centers and dates. Scores must be less than five years old. The department has set a minimum score of 3.5 or higher for the analytical test to be considered for admission.
  • Official TOEFL score (for international applicants) — www.toefl.org — or other approved test to assess English proficiency. Minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 85. Minimum acceptable IELTS score is 7.

Student Opportunities:

Opportunities to assist with teaching and research, faculty collaboration.

Career Opportunities:

Federal law enforcement, secret service, IRS, researcher, Immigration and Customs, Homeland Security, corrections, police and corrections planning and analysis.

Career Placements:

IRS, ICE, Naval Criminal Investigations, criminal justice leadership, police chief, sheriff, lawyer, and research associate at WSIPP.

Contact Information: