Admission Procedures Admission Requirements Appeal of Graduate Admission

Transfer Residency Requirement Academic Policies Degree Requirements

The Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program at the University of North Georgia (UNG) is designed for practitioners already in the field or in military service and others that are seeking to improve their credentials and knowledge base for professional advancement. The focus of the program is on international crime and justice. Additionally, the program facilitates an academic understanding of the intricate links between political and social systems and criminal behavior.

The MSCJ is a 36-semester-hour graduate program. All program instruction is delivered online. Students may apply for admission and begin studies in the program during fall, spring or summer semesters, as long as the student begins graduate studies within one year of acceptance to the program.

For additional program information, call the Master of Science with a Major Criminal Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, 706-864-1904, or write to the Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, 343 Hansford Hall, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001.

Graduate Studies’ Admission Procedures

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Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Studies, 706-864-1543, or from the UNG website at www.ung.edu/graduate/. Applicants must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Studies, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. After review, notification by mail will be sent from the MSCJ program to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within one year of acceptance must reapply through Graduate Studies. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three terms must also reapply. All documents and materials submitted become the property of the university and will not be returned. These materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and three years for completed and accepted, but not enrolled, files.

MSCJ Admission Requirements

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The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institution of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course by course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a cumulative calculated grade point average.
4. Three UNG recommendation forms.
5. A 1-2 page single spaced letter of intent specifying the applicant’s interest in the program, professional motivation to advance in the field of criminal justice, and the applicant’s academic background.
6. Current professional resume.
7. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

Note: Field, military, POST or outside certifications cannot be used to meet admission requirements or as course credit.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, applicants must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Studies’ admission procedures OR hold a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution and have a minimum Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) score of 800 (verbal and quantitative combined) if the GRE was taken prior to August 1, 2011 or a score of 143 on the verbal test and 143 on the quantitative test if the GRE was taken on or after August 1, 2011.
2. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate basic statistics course and one course in research methodology.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

To qualify for provisional admission, individuals must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Studies admission procedures OR hold a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution and have a minimum GRE score of 700 (verbal and quantitative combined) if the GRE was taken prior to August 1, 2011 or a score of 143 on the verbal test and 143 on the quantitative test if the GRE was taken after on or after August 1, 2011.
2. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate basic statistics course and one course in research methodology.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.
4. Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a cumulative total of nine hours of graduate credit while enrolled with this status. Once nine credit hours are completed with the student’s status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate criminal justice course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MSCJ program. Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may apply for readmission by submitting a new application and a letter to the MSCJ program coordinator after a period of one calendar year from the date the student was removed.

Non-Degree Admission

Students who do not wish to pursue a degree but who are eligible for graduate study may take up to nine hours of course work for graduate credit as a non-degree graduate student. All course work must result in a grade of B or higher. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MSCJ program coordinator before enrolling in courses.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a cumulative calculated grade point average.
4. Three UNG recommendation forms.
5. A 1-2 page single-spaced letter of intent specifying the applicant’s interest in the program, professional motivation to advance in the field of criminal justice, and the applicant’s academic background.
6. Current professional resume.
7. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

To qualify for non-degree admission, applicants must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Studies admission procedures OR hold a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution and have a minimum GRE score of 800 (verbal and quantitative combined) if the GRE was taken prior to August 1, 2011 or a score of 143 on the verbal test and 143 on the quantitative test if the GRE was taken on or after August 1, 2011.
2. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate basic statistics course and one course in research methodology.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.
   
   If a non-degree student wishes to apply for degree-seeking admission to the MSCJ program, the student must notify the MSCJ program coordinator, submit a new application to Graduate Studies, and meet all program admission requirements.  

International Applicants

Because of Homeland Security guidelines, an F1 visa cannot be issued for online programs. Individuals living and working in the United States whose visa status permits graduate enrollment, may be considered for admission. Refer to the admission requirements in the front section of the Graduate Catalog.
 

Appeal of Graduate Admission

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A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in written form to the Master in Science with a Major in Criminal Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, 82 College Circle, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for the appeal. Students whose appeals are accepted will be admitted with provisional status and must complete nine hours with a grade no less than B to be considered for regular admission. Provisional students are not eligible for financial aid. Applicants may not appeal for regular admission.

MSCJ Transfer Residency Requirement

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To be awarded a Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice, students must earn a minimum of 30 hours of credit applicable to the degree in residence. In addition, no more than six hours of transfer credit may be applied toward meeting UNG’s Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice degree requirements. All course requirements, including transfer credits, must be completed within a six-year period. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of less than a B was earned. To apply for transfer credit a student must complete the Transfer of Graduate Credit Form on the Graduate Studies website and submit it to the MSCJ program coordinator for review and approval.

MSCJ Academic Policies

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Incomplete Grades

No student carrying two incomplete grades may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the MSCJ program coordinator. Incompletes must be finished by the beginning of the second term after which the incomplete was awarded. There are three terms within the academic year – fall, spring and summer. Incompletes which are not finished by the beginning of the second term will automatically become an F grade. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved incomplete.

Repeated Courses

Students can only repeat one class one time during enrollment in the program in order to improve a grade.

Academic Standing Policy

Graduate MSCJ students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

Suspension — Students will be suspended for any of the following reasons:

1. Student’s grade point average falls below a 3.0 or
2. Student earns a grade of C or below in any class.
   
   No student may be a candidate for the degree if he/she has a grade point average below a 3.0. No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. If suspended, a student must wait one academic year – fall, spring, and summer in any order - before applying to Graduate Studies for readmission. Students seeking reinstatement in the MSCJ program must petition the MSCJ program coordinator in writing presenting a rationale for their reinstatement. They will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and the MSCJ program coordinator. 

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At the end of each term, the program faculty or MSCJ program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question, for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan will be signed by the student and the MSCJ program coordinator with copies forwarded to the Department Chair of Criminal Justice and the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters.  

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academics section of the Graduate Catalog.

MSCJ Degree Requirements

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The Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice at UNG is an online program. All courses necessary for the degree will be offered online. All courses for the degree will be offered within a two-year cycle.

Graduation requirements for the Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice include:

1. Completion of 36 credit hours (15 hours of core courses, 18 hours of electives, and three hours of a capstone course).
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
3. Completion of at least 30 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence, with no more than six semester hours of transfer credit.
4. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including transfer credit, within a six-year period.
5. Good standing in the Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice program.