Criminology and Criminal Justice, M.A.

Communities and organizations in the 21st century require professionals with interdisciplinary skills and preparation to handle many complex challenges. Saint Louis University’s Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree provides students with a core criminological knowledge foundation and the opportunity to gain additional skills.

Enhance your graduate education in criminology and criminal justice at SLU by selecting one of five diverse concentrations:

• Cybersecurity
• Emergency management
• Organizational leadership
• Strategic intelligence
• Treatment and rehabilitation

SLU's Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree prepares graduates to be advanced practitioners in various community and justice agency/organizational settings. Classes are offered in variable formats; some classes meet in person while others are online. Part-time and full-time degree options are available. 

Curriculum Overview

SLU's M.A. in criminology and criminal justice prepares students to take on leadership roles in various community settings. Students must select one of the following areas as the concentration of their graduate studies:

Cybersecurity

Learn to apply security principles to analyze, detect and mitigate vulnerabilities and intrusions into justice-serving organizations' cyber infrastructure. As computers play an increasingly vital role in the functioning of the criminal justice system, cybersecurity expertise will continue to be in high demand.

Emergency Management

Justice personnel are often among the first responders to a crisis. Students in our emergency management concentration learn critical thinking, leadership, and crisis management skills through seminars and challenging simulations that put their academic knowledge to the test. 

Organizational Leadership

Prepare for leadership roles in justice-serving organizations through coursework designed to increase your management skills and enable you to overcome the challenges of administration in a fast-paced and ever-evolving context. Become the kind of leader that facilitates a healthy and productive professional environment. Students integrate knowledge gained through rigorous coursework with community-based learning opportunities to create solutions to complex social and organizational challenges.

Strategic Intelligence

Law enforcement relies on intelligence to fight crime and apprehend perpetrators. Learn to manage various information sources, think strategically and analyze data to develop actionable plans for managing investigations.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Students in our treatment and rehabilitation concentration gain an in-depth understanding of human behavior, issues related to the treatment of high-risk populations, and evidence-based practices for improving the health of offenders and the communities in which they reside. A blend of in-class training and community-based practice experiences prepares students to become effective treatment agents.

Careers

No matter where you want to work in the system, from innovative rehabilitation programs to undercover work to terrorism interdiction to crisis management and everywhere in between, our graduates are prepared to take on the challenges of leading criminal justice organizations across the CJ system.

Recent graduates from SLU's M.A. in criminology and criminal justice program have accepted professional opportunities with the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, IRS and the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.

Admission Requirements

Successful applicants to SLU's Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. Conditional admission may be considered for students with cumulative GPAs below 3.00.

Application Requirements

• Application form 
• Transcript(s)
• Two letters of recommendation (one academic, one professional)
  • One academic letter of recommendation from a professor who has evaluated your academic performance in the classroom
  • One professional letter of recommendation from a supervisor who has evaluated your work in the field or related volunteer experience
  • If you have been out of school for five or more years, you may submit two professional letters
  • If you are entering the program directly from an undergraduate program, you may submit two academic letters
• Résumé
• A professional statement not to exceed three double-spaced pages with the following information:
  • What knowledge, values and skills do you have now that are critical to criminology and criminal justice?
  • Describe your strengths and areas of growth. 
  • What are your future aspirations in criminology and criminal justice?
  • Describe a social justice issue that is important to you and what you as a criminologist or criminal justice professional would do to make a difference. 
  • What are your experiences interacting with diverse populations? (Diverse populations include groups distinguished by age, race, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, and ethnicity.)

The professional statement informs the Admissions Committee of the applicant's background and professional goals and is an indicator of the applicant's writing ability. The content and the quality of the composition will be used to judge your preparedness for graduate school. Following a review of admissions materials, an on-site writing sample may be required.

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements: 

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency. SLU's M.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program requires a TOEFL of 92 or higher. 
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• Credential Evaluation Reports (such as the WES, ECE, Spantran, or Scholaro) are required. 

If admitted to the School of Social Work, the International Office will require additional documentation to issue an I-20. Questions about these requirements can be directed to internationalservices@slu.edu. 

Application Deadlines

All applicants who apply are reviewed for merit-based scholarships. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed for admission until August 1. 

Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The admissions committee considers several factors to determine a candidate's eligibility:

• Academic achievement
• Strength of the undergraduate program
• Application information
• Professional statement
• Work experience
• Any graduate degrees earned
• Motivation
• Leadership and service 

The undergraduate GPA is weighted with other criteria in the admissions process.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Financial Aid

We recognize that cost can be a concern when choosing to continue your education and have identified the following financial aid resources to assist you.

FAFSA and Other Resources

All incoming students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. A step-by-step guide to submitting your FAFSA is available online. Saint Louis University Student Financial Services provides a Graduate Financial Aid Handbook that outlines the process of financing your graduate education.

The following links to resources in Saint Louis University Student Financial Services may also be helpful:

• Graduate Loan Options
• Confirming Your Award
• Paying Your Bill and Payment Plans

Scholarships

All new incoming students will receive a partial scholarship upon admittance thanks to our generous alumni and benefactors. Students may also qualify for federal graduate student loans and apply for assistantship and fellowship opportunities.

Fellowships

The Doerr Fellowship for Equity and Inclusion is a full-tuition fellowship funded by the School of Social Work for new and continuing students. A separate application is required with a deadline of March 1. This fellowship requires that recipients serve as members of the School of Social Work's Equity and Inclusion Committee. Recipients will also be expected to actively participate in the diversity, equity and inclusion activities sponsored by the Doerr Center throughout the year.

Newly accepted master's or doctoral students and students in the first year of a program are eligible to apply for a University-wide diversity, dissertation or presidential fellowship. Find more details on application components here.

Graduate Assistantships and Internships

By filling out a graduate assistantship/internships application, you will automatically be considered for a graduate assistantship or a graduate internship with the School of Social Work. Assistantships are appointed for one year. Students must reapply to be considered for a second year, and recipients are not guaranteed to receive subsequent/continuing internships.

Graduate assistantships are University-funded assistantships awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters (a duration of nine months, 20 hours per week), working with designated faculty. Benefits include 12 months of health care coverage, a stipend and 18 credit hours of tuition remission. 

Depending on faculty needs, the graduate assistant works with one or two faculty members. Time is divided between both faculty mentors if the student is assigned to two. Students who receive a fully-funded University-funded assistantship in one year may not receive it in subsequent years. However, they remain eligible for graduate internship while pursuing a graduate degree in the School of Social Work.

Graduate internships are funded and awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters (a duration of nine months, 8 to 16 hours per week), working with assigned faculty. Graduate interns may be assigned to assist with administrative work, research or faculty teaching. Depending on the hours assigned, tuition benefits will differ; health insurance and stipends are not awarded for graduate internships.

Other Funding for Current Students

1. Graduates will be able to assess relevant criminology and criminal justice literature/scholarly contributions.
2. Graduates will be able to apply criminology and criminal justice theories, design and implement policies, and competently employ research methodologies.
3. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge from criminology and criminal justice to address problems in broader contexts.
4. Graduates will be able to articulate criminology and criminal justice explanations/arguments to a disciplinary/professional audience in both written and oral formats.
5. Graduates will be able to evidence scholarly/professional integrity (ethics) in criminology and criminal justice.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

¹

CCJ Core classes can be taken in any sequence and are offered on a rotating basis given a student's starting semester (Fall or Spring).  They are rotated on a four-semester basis.

*

CCJ 5910 Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship (3 cr) and CCJ 5990 Thesis Research (0-6 cr) can be taken during any semester. Students need to make arrangements in advance with the Director of the Internship Program, Kenya Brumfield-Young or their thesis advisor to take these classes.

**

Students may take electives in a related field, e.g., SWRK 5771 Intimate Partner Violence (3 cr) or SWRK 5744 Substance Use Disorder Interventions (3 cr). In addition, 1 (3-credit) class at the 4000 level may be taken, with the CCJ Director’s approval, and counted as a CCJ elective.

‡

Students in an approved dual degree program, such as the M.S.W. and CCJ M.A. dual degree, will select 12 credits of electives instead of choosing a concentration. Those 12 credits of electives will be fulfilled with M.S.W. coursework. 

Cybersecurity

*

Select courses from the Cybersecurity concentration may meet the requirements of the Cybersecurity Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered in the School for Professional Studies. 

Emergency Management

*

Select courses from the Emergency Management concentration may meet the requirements of the Emergency Management Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered in the School for Professional Studies.

Organizational Leadership

*

Select courses from the Organizational Leadership concentration may meet the requirements of the Organizational Leadership Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered by the School for Professional Studies.

Strategic Intelligence

*

Select courses from the Strategic Intelligence concentration may meet the requirements of the Strategic Intelligence Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered in the School for Professional Studies. 

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Classes for the M.A. in CCJ are offered on a four-semester rotating cycle. The order of courses depends upon your starting semester. This roadmap is for illustrative purposes only and assumes an odd-year fall start date. Treatment and rehabilitation concentration students will take SWRK 5762 Diagnosis & Assessment in Clinical Practice (3 cr) in place of CCJ 6000 Issues in Policing (3 cr) or CCJ 6100 Issues in Corrections (3 cr).

CCJ Core Courses

Classes for the MA program are offered on a four-semester cycle which means students should register for CCJ core classes when they are offered. If students miss an offered class, it likely will not be available for another four semesters, which will delay the degree-completion date. 

Electives and courses required for the concentrations are offered on a variable schedule.

•  CCJ 5200 Research Methods (3 cr) or SWRK 5708 Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice (3 cr) are usually offered every fall. 

In the fall of even-numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

• CCJ 5000 Criminological Theory (3 cr)

​In the fall of odd-numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

• CCJ 5100 Ethics in the Administration of Justice (3 cr) 
• ​CCJ 5300 Proseminar in Criminal Justice (3 cr) 

In the Spring of even numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

• CCJ 6100 Issues in Corrections (3 cr)
• CCJ 6400 Issues in Jurisprudence (3 cr)

In the Spring of odd numbered years, the following CCJ classes are usually offered:

• CCJ 6000 Issues in Policing (3 cr)

CCJ Electives

*

CCJ 5910 Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship (3 cr) and CCJ 5990 Thesis Research (0-6 cr) can be taken during any semester. Students need to make arrangements in advance with the Director of the Internship Program, Kenya Brumfield-Young or their thesis advisor to take these classes.

**

Students may take electives in a related field, e.g., SWRK 5771 Intimate Partner Violence (3 cr) or SWRK 5744 Substance Use Disorder Interventions (3 cr). In addition, 1 (3-credit) class at the 4000 level may be taken, with the CCJ Director’s approval, and counted as a CCJ elective.

Apply for Admission

For admission questions contact:

Social Work School Graduate Admissions Office
socialwork@slu.edu
314-977-2752

For program questions contact:

Dyan McGuire, Ph.D., J.D.
Criminology and Criminal Justice Program director
Accelerated program director
Associate professor of criminology and criminal justice
dyan.mcguire@slu.edu
314-977-2191