Criminal Justice

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Program Mission/Vision

The Master of Science in Justice Administration (MJA) program is designed to serve recent baccalaureate graduates and in-service professionals who wish to secure further training in and credentials for effective service and leadership in justice administration. The program’s features and course rotation described below enable a candidate to complete the MJA degree easily within 12-24 months.

The Criminal Justice Specialization of the Ph.D. in Leadership degree is designed to serve master’s graduates who wish to secure further education for purposes of attempting to secure positions or promotions in the area of criminal justice and/or higher education, as a result of completing a Specialty area reflective of effective learning and leadership in advanced criminal justice study.

The Master of Science in Justice Administration program provides pre-professionals a strong foundation in the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking attributes required in the various careers served by this discipline. It also prepares in-service professionals for leadership, management, and administration positions in their sub-field of choice. For all of its candidates, the program nurtures essential professional attributes, providing a broad knowledge base of the criminal justice system while also fostering the professional dispositions and ethics required for successful leadership in justice administration.

Program Goals

The program seeks to:

1. Prepare students for professional careers and advancement within the criminal justice system.
2. Provide students with a comprehension of the theoretical and philosophical principles of the courts, law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, and other essential disciplines connected to the criminal justice system in the 21st century.
3. Enhance critical thinking and communication skills through the application of statistics and social science research methods.
4. Prepare students for leadership positions within criminal justice agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as in the private sector.

Admission to the Criminal Justice Department

Admission to the Master of Science in Justice Administration program will be based on evidence that the applicant has demonstrated academic proficiency and the capability for success at the graduate level.

Full Admission

Upon Admission to the Master’s in Justice Administration program, new students must participate in and complete an Advising Meeting with the program Director prior to completing the enrollment process.

Advanced Standing

Students seeking the MJA degree may begin the MJA program with ‘Advanced Standing’ if, upon enrollment, they have completed educational courses or earned educational certifications through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC) or any other appropriately credentialed professional agency outside of Kentucky.

Students admitted with Advanced Standing will receive up to twelve (12) hours of transfer credit in either CROL 661  or CROL 662 , CROL 663 , CROL 664 , CROL 665 , or CROL 667  (see course descriptions) depending upon the advanced education they have completed through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC) or through another appropriately credentialed professional agency or organization (including out-of-state agencies/organizations).

Formal documentation of these educational hours must be filed with the Director of Graduate Studies and are subject to submission and review by the Registrar before credit is awarded for CROL 661 , CROL 662 , CROL 663 , CROL 664 , CROL 665 , or CROL 667 . These KLEC education programs, or their equivalent, cannot be combined with nor substituted by any other KLEC course(s) for MJA credit. Candidates who have already been fully admitted to the program and wish for KLEC or an outside agency education credits to fulfill their degree requirements must apply to the Director of the program for purposes of having their prior course work evaluated by the Director and MJA graduate faculty.

Note: Any written communication between a Justice Administration faculty or staff member, the UC Registrar, or an employee of the UC Registrar’s office and a currently enrolled or formerly enrolled University of the Cumberlands criminal justice student regarding acceptance or approval of courses included in a transfer credit/credit by evaluation application does not constitute an official transcript.

Assessment

In an effort to ensure the MJA Policy and Procedure regarding transfer of credit and credit by evaluation is working effectively the Director of Graduate Studies and the University Registrar meet at least once annually for the specific purpose of reviewing awards of credit and to collaboratively determine if adjustments to the MJA Policy and Procedure are warranted.

Transfer and Course Credit Procedures

Upon Admission into the MJA Program a student will notify the Director of Graduate Studies in writing of a willingness to have prior credit posted to his or her MJA degree plan.

The Director of Graduate Studies will respond to the student in writing indicating specific documents the student must arrange to have delivered to the Director for the evaluation process to commence.

Upon receipt of all applicable documents pertaining to the student’s request, the Director of Graduate Studies and a minimum of one (1) graduate faculty member will review the documentation presented and reach a collaborative decision as to the award or non-award of academic credit that may be utilized for MJA degree credit (in instances other than when precedent or Articulation Agreements/MOUs serve as the frame of reference).

The Director will then forward the recommendation for award of credit to the University Registrar for review and, upon final approval, posting of the recommended credit to the student’s degree plan and official transcript.

Programs

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree is designed to accommodate both preprofessional students who wish to further their education and those already working in professional careers who aim to advance within their respective organization or agency. The M.S. develops individuals to be leaders in their fields of study.

• Justice Administration, M.S.

• Criminal Justice Management- Graduate Certificate

Return to: Graduate Degrees