What is the GRE and how do I register for it?
You
can get information about the GRE as well as registration information by
visiting www.gre.org.
You can also register by phone at 1-800-GRE-CALL.
You can take the GRE on UNT’s Denton campus (Testing Services, Gateway
Center, Room 140). You can call
940-565-2735 for additional information.
What GRE test do I need to take?
You
need to take the General Test. We
use the Verbal and Analytical Writing scores in evaluating your application.
How long will it take to have the admission application processed?
The
answer to this depends on how quickly your application packet is completed.
The department cannot process your application until your
application packet is complete.
Once we have received your completed application packet, it takes
approximately one month to process your application.
A completed application packet must include the following:
1)
Application
2)
Transcripts
3) Official GRE scores on file with the Graduate School
4) Personal Statement
How will I be notified about the admission decision?
You
will be notified about the admission decision through the mail.
A letter will be sent to you from the graduate school once an admission
decision has been made.
Who do I contact to find out if my application has been approved?
You
can contact the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies admissions office at (940)
565-2636 to check on the status of your application. You can also contact the
graduate
advisor in the Department
of Criminal Justice.
Courses
How many credit hours in
each course?
Each
course is 3 credit hours. Therefore,
in order to complete the 36 hours required for the MSCJ degree, you need to
satisfactorily complete 12 classes.
How many classes will be offered a semester?
The
number of classes offered each semester will vary. Generally, 4-5 classes will be offered during the Fall and
Spring semesters and 1-2 classes during the Summer semester.
How many classes should I take a semester?
Nine
hours in a semester is considered full-time at the graduate level.
Therefore, you should not take more than 3 classes.
However, if you work full-time, it is recommended that you take 1-2
classes a semester (3-6 hours).
What classes should I take in a given semester?
What
classes you take in a given semester is up to you. If you are going to take one class in a semester, it is
recommended that you take a required course if one is being offered that you have
not yet taken. If you are going to
take two classes in a semester, you can take either two required courses or one
required course and an elective. If
you are going to take three classes in a semester, you can take a combination of
required courses and electives.
Two
required courses (CJUS 5000 and CJUS 5700) are offered each Fall semester.
The other two required courses (CJUS 5600 and either CJUS 5200 or 5500)
are offered each Spring semester.
If
you have a question about what to take in a given semester please contact the
graduate
advisor.
If you want to
find out about the content of a particular course, contact the instructor.
How will I know what courses are being offered in a particular semester?
You
can find out what courses are being offered in a particular semester by
accessing the
Schedule of Classes.
When can I register for classes?
There
are several different periods (e.g., early registration period, regular
registration period, etc.) during which you can register for classes.
The
periods and dates, and times for registration are specified in the
Schedule of
Classes.
Degree Requirements
What are the degree requirements for the MSCJ program?
The
MSCJ program requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 36 hours beyond
the bachelor’s degree. The degree
includes a core curriculum of 12 hours, which must be completed by all students.
Students are required to complete the core curriculum of 12 hours and 24
hours of electives. The degree
requires each student to select a thesis or non-thesis option.
What are comprehensive exams?
Comprehensive
exams are a written essay test that is given to each student near the completion
of the student’s degree. The
exams cover the courses in the core curriculum. Each student must take and pass comprehensive exams if they
have chosen the non-thesis option. The
exams are offered three times a year.
What time limitations are placed on completing the MSCJ degree?
All
requirements for the MSCJ degree must be completed within 6 years.
As individual courses exceed these time limits, they lose all value for
degree purposes. Students anticipating they will exceed the time limit should
apply to the graduate school for an extension before the normal time period to
complete the degree expires. Holding
a full-time job is not considered in and of itself sufficient grounds for
granting an extension.
Can graduate courses from another University be transferred into the MSCJ
program?
A
maximum of 9 hours of transfer work from another University may be applied to
the MSCJ degree. All transfer work
must be criminal justice related and must be completed within 6 years prior to
graduating from the MSCJ program. The acceptance of transfer work is at the
discretion of the graduate advisor.
If
you would like to transfer hours from another University into the MSCJ program,
please contact the graduate advisor as other restrictions beyond those stated
may apply.
How many hours of coursework can I take outside of Criminal Justice and apply
to my degree plan?
You
can take up to 9 hours of coursework outside of Criminal Justice and apply it to
your degree plan. These courses
must be approved by the graduate advisor in the Department of Criminal Justice.
If you plan on taking coursework outside of Criminal Justice, contact the
graduate advisor for approval prior to enrolling in the course.
Program
Completion
On average, how long does it take to complete the MSCJ program?
On
average, students complete the MSCJ program in about 3 years.
The degree can be completed in about 2 years and can take as long as 6
years.
How and when should I get a degree plan filed?
You
should get a degree plan filed during your first or second semester of
enrollment. In order to file a
degree plan, you need to contact the graduate advisor in the Department of
Criminal Justice.
Can I take senior level undergraduate courses and apply them to my graduate
degree?
You
cannot take senior level undergraduate courses and apply them to your graduate
degree. All courses applied to your
degree must be at the graduate level.
What grade point average (GPA) do I have to maintain?
To
avoid being placed on probation, you must maintain a grade point average of 3.0
on your graduate level coursework.
What happens if I make a C, D, or F in a class?
A grade of C can
count towards your degree but a grade of D or F cannot.
Therefore, if you receive a grade of D or F in a course, that course will
not be counted towards your degree.
If you receive two grades of C or below during the completion of the MSCJ
program, the graduate committee in the Department of Criminal Justice will
recommend your dismissal from the program.
How do I
apply for graduation and when do I complete this?
You will need to
obtain a graduation packet from the
Toulouse School of Graduate
Studies.
You can obtain this packet by calling (940) 565-2383.
You will need to complete the graduation packet and mail it back to the
graduate school.
You
need to apply for graduation early in the semester of your planned graduation.
A deadline is set each semester for when graduation applications must be
submitted to the graduate school.
It is typically within the first month of the semester.
The deadline can be found in the
Schedule of
Classes.
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