Master of Science with a Major in Criminal Justice

30 hours

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 30 credit hour Master of Science with a major in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree 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 program facilitates an academic understanding of the intricate links between political and social systems and criminal behavior.

All MSCJ 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 their program within three semesters of acceptance to the program. All courses for the degree will be offered within a two-year cycle.

For additional program information, call the Coordinator of the Master of Science with a major in Criminal Justice at 706-864-1904, or contact the program by email at crju@ung.edu.

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or from the program website. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, notification will be sent to the applicant, and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. After review, notification will be sent by mail from Graduate Admissions to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within three semesters of acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. All documents and materials submitted become the property of the university and will not be returned.

MSCJ Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission.

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant’s course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average.
4. Three UNG recommendation forms.
5. 1-2 page, single-spaced letter of intent specifying the applicant’s interest in the program, applicant’s professional motivation to advance in the field of criminal justice, and the applicant’s academic background.
6. Current professional resume.
7. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
8. Field, military, POST, or outside certifications cannot be used to meet admission requirements or as course credit.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, an individual must:

1. Have a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Have completed with a grade of C or higher one undergraduate basic statistics course or one undergraduate research methodology course.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who do not have at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures may qualify for provisional admission. To qualify for provisional admission, an individual must:

1. Hold a Baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum 2.5 GPA AND a score not less than 143 verbal and 143 quantitative on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
2. Have completed with a grade of C or higher one undergraduate basic statistics course or one undergraduate research methodology course.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than nine semester hours of graduate credit while enrolled with this status. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of one semester. A student who earns a grade of B or higher in all classes completed during the provisional period will be given regular admission status in the MSCJ program. A provisionally admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower in any graduate-level criminal justice course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MSCJ program. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the MSCJ program coordinator and a new application for readmission.

Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

An individual who does not wish to pursue a degree, but who is eligible for graduate study, may take up to nine semester hours of 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. To qualify for non-degree admission, an individual must:

1. Baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Have completed with a grade of C or higher one undergraduate basic statistics course or one undergraduate research methodology course.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

A non-degree admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower in any graduate course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to further enroll in coursework in the MSCJ program. A student removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the MSCJ program coordinator and a new application for readmission.

A non-degree student who wishes to apply for degree-seeking admission to the MSCJ program must notify the MSCJ program coordinator, submit a new application to the program to Graduate Admissions, and meet all program admission requirements.  

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Transient Student Admission

MSCJ program does not permit transient student enrollment.

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 Admission Requirements and Procedures section of the Graduate Catalog.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

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. An appeal 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 semester hours with no grade of C or lower to be considered for regular admission.

Provisional students are not eligible for financial aid. Students may not appeal for regular admission.

MSCJ Transfer Residency Requirement

To be awarded a Master of Science with a major in Criminal Justice degree, students must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit applicable to the degree in residence. In addition, no more than 6 semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward meeting the MSCJ degree requirements. All course requirements, including transfer credit, must be completed within a six-year period. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned. To apply for transfer credit, a student must complete the transfer of graduate credit form (myUNG password required) and submit the form to the Graduate Coordinator for approval.

MSCJ Academic Policies

Incomplete Grades

The MSCJ program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog. No student carrying two incomplete grades may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the Graduate Coordinator. Incompletes must be finished by the beginning of the second semester after which the incomplete was awarded. There are three semesters within the academic year – fall, spring, and summer. Incompletes that are not finished by the beginning of the second semester following the assigned incomplete will automatically become an F grade. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved Incomplete grade.

Repeated Courses

No student enrolled in the MSCJ program nor a non-degree student taking MSCJ courses may repeat courses for credit in an attempt to improve a grade. 

Academic Standing Policy

MSCJ students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic performance by earning a B or better in each of their courses. Graduate MSCJ students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation - A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:

a. The student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.

b. The student earns one grade of C or U.

No student may be a candidate for the degree while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation for a single C grade lasts for a minimum of one semester and will be removed after one semester if the student’s cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or higher. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.

2. Suspension - A student will be suspended for any of the following reasons:

a. The student earns any second grade of C or U.

b. The student does not achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 after two consecutive semesters on probation.

3. Dismissal - A student will be dismissed from the program for any of the following reasons:  

a. The student earns any grade below C.

b. The student earns any third grade of C or U.

c. The student does not achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 after two consecutive semesters of probation upon return from a suspension.

No student may be a candidate for the degree with a grade point average below 3.0, or any grade below a C. 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.  

Academic Suspension Appeal 

A student may appeal to be reinstated to regular status in the program after a suspension period of one semester (fall, spring, or summer) from the date the student was suspended by submitting an appeal letter explaining the rationale for reinstatement  to the Graduate Coordinator or Department Head.

The appeal letter must include the following:

• A discussion of the issues leading to the suspension, including grades earned in the program.
• An overview of what the student will do upon reinstatement to correct the issues that led to suspension. 

Upon receipt of the appeal letter, the Graduate Coordinator and Department Head will review the letter and forward a recommendation for or against reinstatement to the MSCJ faculty.   The faculty will review the letter and the recommendations from the Graduate Coordinator and Department Head, and then vote for or against reinstatement.  Students may appeal a decision against reinstatement to the Dean of Arts and Letters.  The Dean’s decision should be considered final. 

Any student reinstated in the MSCJ program after suspension will return on probation and must earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or higher within 2 consecutive semesters of reinstatement, or risk dismissal from the program.  Students who are on probation may not register until advised. 

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

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

At the end of each semester, 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 Graduate Coordinator with copies forwarded to the Department Chair of Criminal Justice and the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters.

Academic Dishonesty

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 regarding academic dishonesty addressed in the Student Code of Conduct.

Students in the Master of Science with a major in Criminal Justice program are subject to the following minimum recommended sanctions for incidents of plagiarism:

• First offense - Students in the MSCJ program who are found responsible for academic dishonesty will receive a zero grade for the assignment on a first offense, and will be placed on a corrective action plan as described in the Academic and Professional Integrity Policy.  If a zero grade on the assignment results in a final grade of C or lower, the student may be subject to further academic sanctions as stated in the MSCJ Academic Standing Policy. Students may also be subject to additional conduct related sanctions applied by the Student Conduct Administrator or the Student Conduct Hearing Panel. 
• Second offense - Students in the MSCJ program who are found responsible for a second offense of academic dishonesty will be subject to dismissal from the program. 

Comprehensive Seminar and Thesis Option

Near the end of their coursework, MSCJ students are required to enroll in CRJU 7500.  This course is a Comprehensive Seminar and is designed to strengthen the analysis and comparison of various theories and methodological models as they pertain to criminal justice issues in a global society.  Students will be required to complete a research proposal in the Comprehensive Seminar.

Students who wish to pursue further graduate work in criminal justice are encouraged to complete the thesis research course (CRJU 7501) as one of their electives.  In order to pursue thesis research, the student must notify the Graduate Coordinator before they register for CRJU 7002 – Research Methodology.  During Research Methodology, students electing to pursue a thesis will select three (3) criminal justice faculty members to serve as their thesis committee.   Students must also submit an application to the Institutional Review Board and receive approval prior to conducting any research involving human subjects.

The thesis topic will be selected in consultation with the student’s thesis committee and must be successfully defended as their project proposal in the Comprehensive Seminar (CJRU 7500) before approval to enroll in CRJU 7501 will be granted.  The project will be completed in CRJU 7501 and presented to the student’s thesis committee for final approval.  Style and format will be in conformity with the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) and all university standards listed in the graduate catalog regarding submission to the library for digital archiving.

MSCJ Degree Requirements

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

1. Completion of 30 semester hours (15 semester hours of core courses, 12 semester hours of electives, and three (3) semester hours of a capstone course).
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
3. No grade below a C.
4. Completion of at least 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence, with no more than six semester hours of transfer credit. Work offered for transfer credit already applied toward another degree cannot be accepted.
5. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including transfer credit, within a six-year period.