Program of Study
Criminal Justice Program
MPA with Concentration in Criminal Justice
Admission
Students must be successfully admitted to both the MPA program and CRMJ concentration.
Program of Study
Students must complete the core and option-core elements of the MPA Degree Requirements,
but may apply CRMJ program coursework as MPA elective requirements, making the degree
an MPA with a criminal justice concentration. For additional information, visit the MPA program's website.
A. All students must take the following two courses:
Survey of Criminal Justice CRMJ 5000:
Provides an overview of criminal justice theory by providing critical evaluation and
discussion of research in the criminal justice field. It will emphasize seminal works
and review current research concerning the structure, function, operation, interaction
of the criminal justice system’s primary components, and future trends. Offered every
fall.
Public Policy and Crime CRMJ 5100:
An introduction to policy analysis and planning in the criminal justice system. Theoretical
perspectives and empirical research will be used to examine the ideologies, assumptions,
and performance of crime control policies. Offered every spring.
B. Students must also enroll in three (3) hours of Internship in Criminal Justice CRMJ 5500.*
Internship. 1-6 (Max. 6). Educationally-oriented assignments for work in selected criminal justice agencies, with tutorial types of supervision. Offered S/U only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Internship is completed in the second year of the program. Students do not need to complete POLS 5500 in addition to this requirement.
*Professionals with adequate supervisory experience can petition this requirement and take an additional elective course instead for a total of two elective courses. See internship requirement for more information.
C. Students will select one elective course. These courses are offered on a rotating basis and include the following options.
Crime Causation CRMJ 5151:
Examines the causal mechanisms that produce crime. Theoretical perspectives and empirical
research from various disciplines will be evaluated, with particular emphasis placed
on social factors that may cause crime. Policy implications of the different perspectives
will be discussed. Dual listed with CRMJ 4151.
Comparative Criminal Justice CRMJ 5280:
Compares the incidence, trends, control, treatment and prevention of crime across
nations using mainstream criminological theories. Examines criminal justice systems
from an international perspective and draws lessons for the American society. Explores
forms of international cooperation and difficulties in the control of transnational
crimes. Dual listed with CRMJ 4280.
Gender & Crime CRMJ 5540:
Addresses issues pertaining to gender and the criminal justice system to include women's
roles as offenders and victims and their unique experiences in the criminal justice
system. Feminist perspectives, LGBTQ+ and special populations are also explored. Dual
listed with CRMJ 4540.
Green Criminology CRMJ 5590:
This course involves the application of criminological and sociological theory to
the study of harms and crimes committed against the environment. Topics covered in
the course include environmental protection law and policy, corporate crimes against
the environment, human-driven environmental disasters, and other issues of environmental
justice. Dual listed with CRMJ 4590.
Social Inequality, Crime, Criminal Justice and the Law CRMJ 5860:
Provides an in-depth look at social inequality and its impact on crime, criminal justice,
and the law. Particular emphasis will be given to the individual and interactive effects
of race, class, and gender inequality. Critical theoretical perspectives that promote
social justice will be the primary analytical focus. Dual listed with CRMJ 4860.
Graduation
All Graduate Faculty Regulations will apply to all the courses in the MPA/CRMJ degree Program of Study and students will be required to finish the same graduation requirements as all other graduate students.
Degree Conferral
One degree will be posted and one diploma awarded.
