Criminal Justice

Opportunities for graduate studies

The master of science degree in criminal justice at the University of North Texas provides you with an understanding of the nature and scope of the problems posed by crime as well as an understanding of the operation and administration of the criminal justice system. It improves your ability to take informed and thoughtful action as administrators, researchers, police officers, probation officers or caseworkers in the criminal justice system.

The program prepares you for entry-level positions and job advancement in the justice system. It can also prepare you to pursue a doctoral degree. The master's program includes several electives, permitting you to tailor your degree to your professional and personal goals.

The faculty members in the Department of Criminal Justice have a diverse range of educational and professional backgrounds, including criminal justice, law, sociology and urban studies.

The curriculum for this program is primarily taught at UNT's Denton campus. Some courses are taught at the UNT Dallas Campus.

Admission requirements

You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and the Department of Criminal Justice. Once you are admitted to the graduate school, the criminal justice department will review your application. You must also meet the department's additional admission requirements:

• 3.0 grade point average on the last 60 hours of course work for the bachelor's degree or a 2.8 GPA on all undergraduate work
• official GRE scores on file with the graduate school
• completed application
• transcripts from all previous colleges or universities attended
• personal statement sent to the department graduate advisor that explains your career goals, why you are pursuing a master's degree, prior experience in the criminal justice field, prior research experience in criminal justice, and anything in your personal background relevant to the admission decision

• Personal statements are sent to:
• Eric J. Fritsch, Ph.D.
• Graduate Advisor
• University of North Texas
• Department of Criminal Justice
• P.O. Box 305130
• Denton, TX 76203-5130

These items must be submitted to the department by Aug. 1 for fall admission or Dec. 1 for spring admission.

Degree requirements

The program requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 36 hours beyond the bachelor's degree. The degree includes a core curriculum of 12 hours that must be completed by all students.

Core curriculum — Part 1 (9 hours)

• CJUS 5000 Criminal Justice Policy
• CJUS 5600 Advanced Criminological Theory
• CJUS 5700 Evaluation and Research Methodologies

Core curriculum — Part 2 (3 hours)

• CJUS 5200 Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System or CJUS 5500 Seminar in Criminal Justice Administration

Electives

• CJUS 5050 Criminals and Substance Abuse
• CJUS 5100 Information Warfare, Security and Risk Analysis
• CJUS 5120 Cybercrime and Digital Forensics
• CJUS 5130 Information Policy, Law and Justice
• CJUS 5250 Administrative Law and Justice
• CJUS 5270 Criminal Evidence
• CJUS 5350 Seminar in Contemporary Policing
• CJUS 5450 Punishment, Discipline and Social Policy
• CJUS 5460 Correctional Programs
• CJUS 5470 Seminar on Juvenile Delinquency
• CJUS 5620 Seminar on Victimology
• CJUS 5750 Criminal Justice Statistics
• CJUS 5800 Topics in Criminal Justice
• CJUS 5850 Directed Studies

The degree requires you to select the thesis or non-thesis option. In selecting the thesis option, you will be required to complete the 12-hour core curriculum, 18 hours of electives and 6 hours of thesis work. You also must pass an oral examination in conjunction with a master's thesis defense.

If you select the non-thesis option, you will be required to complete the core curriculum of 12 hours and 24 hours of electives and to pass a written comprehensive exam covering the core curriculum.

You may take a limited number of electives in another discipline.