Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ)
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program offers working professionals the flexible option of a fully online degree. You will learn from respected and experienced faculty as you work toward beginning or advancing your career in criminal justice, corrections, or law enforcement. You will receive a quality educational experience based on critical thinking, analysis, and research.
This graduate-level criminal justice degree is a 30-semester-hour program designed to provide you with the professional skills and knowledge essential for success in advanced placement within security and emergency management and crime scene investigation roles. University of North Alabama master’s in criminal justice graduates will be well positioned for promotion to positions of greater responsibility within their organizations or new opportunities. This on-campus or online criminal justice degree will also prepare you for continuing advanced study at the doctoral level or as you pursue teaching opportunities.
Time to Complete
Variable, but as few as 2 years
Mode Offered
Online and On-Campus
Credentials
MSCJ
Master of Science in Criminal Justice Curriculum
| Required Component | ||
| Course Number: | Course Title: | Credit Hours: |
| CJ 618 | Crime in America | 3 |
| CJ 640 | Methods of Research in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 645 | Advanced Statistical Procedure | 3 |
| CJ 650 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CJ 695 | Thesis | 6 |
| Total Required Hours | 18 | |
| Elective Component | ||
| Select 12 credits total from the following: | 12 | |
| *Each course is 3 credit hours* | ||
| CJ 505 | Criminal Investigation | |
| CJ 506 | Forensic Investigation | |
| CJ 513 | Public Organization and Bureaucratic Theory | |
| CJ 515 | Ethics in Administrative Leadership | |
| CJ 522 | PJL in TV and Film | |
| CJ 530 | Criminal Evidence | |
| CJ 534 | Criminal Procedure | |
| CJ 550 | Criminal Justice Policy and Administration | |
| CJ 580 | Psychological Dimensions of Criminal Justice Practice | |
| CJ 591 | Special Topics (can repeat this course for credit if title and topics are different) | |
| CJ 606 | Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice | |
| CJ 610 | Nature and Function of the American Judicial System | |
| CJ 614 | Management and Policy in Criminal Justice Organizations | |
| CJ 622 | Contemporary Issues in Corrections | |
| CJ 630 | Victimology | |
| CJ 634 | Advanced Criminal Procedure | |
| CJ 660 | Comparative Criminal Justice | |
| CJ 690 | Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement | |
| CJ 691 | Special Topics (can repeat this course for credit if title and topics are different) | |
| CJ 699 | Independent Study/Research | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| A maximum of 15 hours can be taken at the 500 level. Students are not permitted to receive credit for a 500-level course if they received credit for the comparable senior-level undergraduate course. Up to six hours of electives without the CJ prefix may be taken with prior approval from the Department of Politics, Justice, Law, and Philosophy. | ||
| Required Component | ||
| Course Number: | Course Title: | Credit Hours: |
| CJ 618 | Crime in America | 3 |
| CJ 640 | Methods of Research in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ 650 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CJ 698 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total Required Hours | 9 | |
| Elective Component | ||
| Select 21 credits total from the following: | 21 | |
| *Each course is 3 credit hours* | ||
| CJ 505 | Criminal Investigation | |
| CJ 506 | Forensic Investigation | |
| CJ 513 | Public Organization and Bureaucratic Theory | |
| CJ 515 | Ethics in Administrative Leadership | |
| CJ 522 | PJL in TV and Film | |
| CJ 530 | Criminal Evidence | |
| CJ 534 | Criminal Procedure | |
| CJ 550 | Criminal Justice Policy and Administration | |
| CJ 580 | Psychological Dimensions of Criminal Justice Practice | |
| CJ 591 | Special Topics (can repeat this course for credit if title and topics are different) | |
| CJ 606 | Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice | |
| CJ 610 | Nature and Function of the American Judicial System | |
| CJ 614 | Management and Policy in Criminal Justice Organizations | |
| CJ 622 | Contemporary Issues in Corrections | |
| CJ 630 | Victimology | |
| CJ 634 | Advanced Criminal Procedure | |
| CJ 645 | Advanced Statistical Procedure | |
| CJ 660 | Comparative Criminal Justice | |
| CJ 690 | Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement | |
| CJ 691 | Special Topics (can repeat this course for credit if title and topics are different) | |
| CJ 699 | Independent Study/Research | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| A maximum of 15 hours can be taken at the 500 level. Students are not permitted to receive credit for a 500-level course if they received credit for the comparable senior-level undergraduate course. Up to six hours of electives without the CJ prefix may be taken with prior approval from the Department of Politics, Justice, Law, and Philosophy. | ||
| Students choosing the Non-Thesis Option must, in the last semester in which all other course requirements are expected to be completed, register for CJ 698 (Comprehensive Examination) in order to take a written comprehensive examination prior to graduation in order to complete the program. | ||
Faculty
Recognizing the interdisciplinary nature of criminal justice, our faculty members have a broad knowledge base and extensive experience in their fields, which include forensics, criminal justice, psychology and sociology, intelligence and security, political science, and emergency response and disaster management.
Faculty
Quinn Gordon, Ph.D., specializes in policing, with key research interests in violent behavior, suicide, and mental health. He has published in the Journal of Criminal Justice, Crime and Public Policy, and Police Practice and Research.
Chris Purser, Ph.D., teaches research methods and Crime in America; his research interests include correlates of mass school shootings, religiosity and crime, and correctional programming.
Suzanna K. Taylor, Ph.D., specializes in crime scene investigation, crime scene reconstruction photography, bloodstain pattern identification, and criminal investigation policy and techniques. Her research focuses on identifying and reducing crime scene contamination, streamlining evidence management policies and procedures, and addressing search-and-seizure pitfalls. Dr. Taylor is the graduate director for the MSCJ.
Affiliate Faculty
N. Alex Aguado, Ph.D., teaches public administration, policy, and American politics. He has published in the Journal of Public Affairs Education, Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, and Never Gonna Change? An Examination of the 1901 Alabama Constitution.
Wayne Bergeron, D.Sc., is a retired U.S. Army Lt. Col and retired UNA full professor. He is the founder of the Security and Emergency Management curriculum at UNA and the founder and retired director of the North Alabama Public Service Training Center.
Tim Collins, Ph.D., teaches constitutional law, constitutional history, political theory, and judicial politics.
Leah Graham, Ph.D., teaches foreign policy and comparative government.
Angela Hamilton, J.D., teaches criminal law and criminal instigation. She is the interim District Attorney for the 11th Judicial Circuit, Lauderdale County, Alabama. She is a founding member of One Place of the Shoals - Lauderdale County's family justice center.
Judge Will Powell, J.D., teaches criminal procedure and the American judicial system. He is the presiding circuit judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama, serving Lauderdale County.
Yaschica Williams-Jackson, Ph.D., teaches criminology, theories of human behavior, gender-based violence, restorative justice, and program evaluation. Her research has been published in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Contemporary Justice Review, and the Journal of Black Studies.
What can I do with a graduate-level criminal justice degree?
By earning your master’s in criminal justice, you gain the professional skills and knowledge essential for success in advanced placement within security and emergency management and crime scene investigation roles. These careers could include, but are not limited to:
| Potential Career | Median Annual Salary |
| FBI Agent | $80,000 |
| Secret Service Agent | $80,000 |
| Criminal Investigator | $81,000 |
| Special Agent (Dependent on Agency) | $113,067 |
| Deputy U.S. Marshal | $98,000 |
| Local Emergency Management | $89,000 |
| Treasury Agent | $104,331 |
| Criminal Justice Researcher | $113,102 |
| Crime Scene Investigator | $65,000 |
| Risk Management Consultant | $92,132 |
Testimonial
“Having completed an accredited graduate degree has provided many advancement opportunities and will surely be an asset throughout my career. The faculty and staff are top-notch, eager to assist students in attaining their educational goals and highly accessible. I would certainly recommend UNA for working professionals and distance education students who seek a quality graduate program.”
-Willard C. Harrison IV
Admissions Requirements
Unconditional Admission:
- Master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution. Official transcript must reflect that degree was awarded. No test scores are required.
OR
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution.
- GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Conditional Admission:
Any applicant failing to meet the requirements for unconditional admission to the master’s in criminal justice program may be conditionally admitted with recommendations of the graduate faculty in the department and approval of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Applicants granted conditional admittance must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the first nine hours (three courses) of completed graduate coursework. Failure to make this GPA requirement will result in the student being eliminated from the program.
Tuition and Aid
Non-resident: $990 per credit hour + fees. UNA in-state MSCJ tuition includes counties in Mississippi and Tennessee that are within 50 miles of campus. Students can also take advantage of trainings at the North Alabama Public Service Training Center, subject to space and availability.
2023-2024 Tuition Cost
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
On Campus and Online: $495 per credit hour plus fees.