The master of science degree with a major in criminal justice at the University of North Texas provides students with a graduate-level understanding of the nature and scope of the problems posed by crime, and of the operation and administration of the criminal justice system. It improves the ability of its graduates to take informed and thoughtful action as administrators, researchers, police officers, probation officers or caseworkers in the criminal justice system. The program prepares students for entry-level positions and job advancement in the justice system. The program also prepares students who are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree. The master’s program includes many electives, permitting students to tailor their degrees to their professional and personal goals.
The faculty members in the Department of Criminal Justice come from 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 also are taught at the UNT Dallas Campus.
Students must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and the Department of Criminal Justice’s specific set of requirements. Once admitted to the graduate school, the criminal justice department will review students’ applications.
For the department’s admission requirements, call the graduate adviser at (940) 565-4954.
UNT offers financial aid to help students pay for their education, including loans, internships or co-ops, and part-time employment.
Students may call the financial aid adviser at the UNT Dallas Campus at (972) 780-3600 or the financial aid office on the Denton campus at (940) 565-2302 or (800) 655-3537.
Taking courses at the UNT Dallas Campus permits students to work part or full time while pursuing their degrees.
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.
The degree requires each student to select either the thesis or non-thesis option.
Students selecting the thesis option must complete the core curriculum of 12 hours, 18 hours of electives and 6 hours of thesis work. They also must pass an oral examination in conjunction with a master’s thesis defense.
Students selecting the non-thesis option are 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.
Students may take a limited number of electives in another discipline.
Lorenzo Boyd, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Northeastern. Policing; race; criminological theory; criminal justice systems.
Eric J. Fritsch, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Sam Houston State. Juvenile justice and delinquency; gangs; criminological theory; law enforcement; criminal procedure; research methods; organizational assessment.
John E. Holman, Professor; Ph.D., Denver. Juvenile delinquency; theoretical criminology; corrections.
John Liederbach, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Cincinnati. Law enforcement, white-collar and organized crime; criminological theory.
D. Kall Loper, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Michigan State. Computer crime; digital forensics and investigations; information systems; quantitative and qualitative research methods; corrections administration.
James F. Quinn, Professor; Ph.D., Louisiana State. Correctional policy and practice; offender behavior and criminological theory; substance abuse and crime; violence and gangs.
Robert W. Taylor, Professor and Chair; Ph.D., Portland State. Administration and management; community policing; consensual crime; computer fraud; international and domestic terrorism.
Peggy M. Tobolowsky, Professor; J.D., George Washington. Criminal law and procedure; criminal justice policy; crime victim issues; capital punishment; pretrial release.
Chad R. Trulson, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Sam Houston State. Juvenile delinquency and justice; corrections; race and prison violence; research methods; evaluation research.
Edward E. Hueske, M.A., Sam Houston State. Forensic chemistry; crime scene reconstruction; police-involved shooting incidents; crime laboratory management; criminal investigation.
The virtual library at the UNT Dallas Campus provides electronic access to several thousand periodicals, more than 400 electronic databases and a collection of thousands of books in digital format that will continue to grow. A core print collection of frequently used reference books is available on site.
An on-site staff of two professional librarians and several student assistants provides reference service. Additional reference service is available from librarians on the Denton campus. An online virtual reference desk chat room is available to students needing information from the Denton campus library system. The reference desk chat room allows users to interact directly with librarians in real time. Students may also work with Denton campus librarians via e-mail and telephone. Document delivery services from the UNT library system in Denton are provided for non-electronic resources.
The UNT Dallas Campus offers junior-, senior- and graduate-level courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The Dallas Campus also offers programs leading to certifications and endorsements, and courses for career advancement. Courses and programs offered are of the same high quality as those offered at UNT in Denton and are taught by faculty from both the Dallas and Denton campuses. Dallas Campus students earn their degree from the University of North Texas.
The UNT Dallas Campus features the region's first virtual library, state-of-the-art classrooms, computer labs with Internet access and other services to help students achieve success.
The Dallas Campus is conveniently located at 7300 Houston School Road, three blocks north of Interstate 20, and is accessible by public transportation.
Since its opening in January 2000, enrollment at the UNT Dallas Campus has increased every semester. When enrollment equals 1,000 full-time equivalent students, UNT can begin the process to open UNT at Dallas - the first public university within the Dallas city limits.
The University of North Texas is a student-centered public research university and the flagship of the UNT System. One of Texas' largest universities, UNT offers 96 bachelor's, 111 master's and 50 doctoral degree programs, many nationally and internationally recognized. UNT's 33,500 students Discover the Power of Ideas.
UNT offers private-school quality at an affordable cost. More transfer students enroll at UNT than at any other college or university in Texas.
UNT is repeatedly listed as one of America's top 100 colleges for Hispanic students. UNT has been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys® for 12 consecutive years.
With 5.8 million in cataloged holdings, UNT's library system has been designated a major research library by the U.S. Department of Education.
Toll free: (888) UNT-GRAD
Phone: (940) 565-2636
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Dallas Graduate Services
E-mail: DallasGraduateServices@unt.edu
Phone: (972) 780-3621
Fax: (972) 780-3636
University of North Texas
Department of Criminal Justice
Chilton Hall, Room 265
P.O. Box 305130
Denton, Texas 76203-5130
7300 Houston School Rd.
Dallas, Texas 75241
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(972) 780-3600
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