Graduate Bulletin

Criminal Justice, M.A.

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: January 15

Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should come from college/university faculty members familiar with the demands of a graduate program.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

TBA

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

Yes. Sociology, political science, geography, counseling, social work, economics and history

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words and should include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. The average scores for accepted MA students are in the 60-70% range on the verbal and quantitative sections.

Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted: 575 on the paper-based test or 230 on the computer-based test. Applicants who score below 600 on the paper-based test or 250 on the computer-based test will be required to take and pass a remedial English course during their first semester at Temple University.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Writing Sample:

The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to research and write a scholarly paper. The paper should not be overly lengthy (up to 10 pages is preferable) and should be fully referenced according to a professional, scholarly style manual. Though it need not be related directly to criminal justice it should reflect your ability to present a social science paper.

Transfer Credit:

Students with graduate course credits from other accredited institutions should petition the Graduate Chair to determine how many credits will be accepted and transferred. Grades must be of "B" quality or better. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m.

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 36

Required Courses:

CJ 401, 402, 404, 405, 406 Under the non-thesis option students must earn credits in the following areas: 9 to 15 credits in criminal justice electives and 6 to 15 credits in electives outside the department. Under the thesis option (itself worth 6 credits) students must earn credits in the following areas: 6 to 9 credits in criminal justice electives and 6 to 9 credits in electives outside the department.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

This program has no culminating events.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/cjus/

Department Information:

Dept. of Criminal Justice

Gladfelter Hall, 5th Floor
1115 W. Berks Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

grengert@temple.edu
215-204-7918

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

George F. Rengert
grengert@temple.edu
215-204-7994

Program Coordinator:

Stephanie Hardy
shardy01@temple.edu
215-204-7919

Graduate Chairperson:

George F. Rengert
grengert@temple.edu
215-204-7994

Chairperson:

Ralph B. Taylor
ralph.taylor@temple.edu
215-204-7169

About the Program

The Master of Arts degree program in Criminal Justice is designed to serve as a first stage of training for students wishing to eventually pursue more advanced graduate work, as well as preparation for students who will terminate their studies at the master's level. For the latter group, including many in part-time attendance, the M.A. program is designed to serve students who, upon graduation, will begin or rejoin professional careers in management, administration, or specialist positions in governmental and private criminal and juvenile justice and related agencies. The Master of Arts degree requires the completion of 30 hours of coursework and a thesis, or completion of 36 hours of coursework. The curriculum is structured around a set of core requirements that provide substantive grounding in decision making and operational aspects of the criminal justice system, and a theoretical, legal, policy, and methodological foundation for understanding crime and society.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m. Students are able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Criminal Justice

Gladfelter Hall, 5th Floor
1115 W. Berks Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

grengert@temple.edu
215-204-7918

Ranking:

There is no formal ranking of criminal justice programs, though the Journal of Criminal Justice Education has produced occasional articles on program productivity. Temple University's Criminal Justice Program is classed among a number of schools which are acknowledged to have extremely strong faculty, but have not yet produced a large number of doctoral degrees.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

Faculty members specialize and offer substantial coursework in a wide array of areas. Some of the broader topics covered are: criminological theory, corrections and community corrections, issues in policing, court processes, white collar crime, organized crime, crime and the physical/social environment, juvenile justice, criminal law, criminal justice policy-making and strategic management, discretion in criminal justice, restorative justice, socialization and deviant behavior, research methods (qualitative/quantitative) and statistical analysis. More specific details of faculty research and publications can be found at the department's graduate program website.

Job Placement:

The Master's program is primarily dedicated to producing well-trained criminologists, researchers and criminal justice practitioners. The job market for an individual with a Master's Degree in the field is extremely good. Some of our graduate students advance their career while completing the coursework while others are hired at the completion of their degree. Graduates of the MA program have obtained positions in the criminal justice system, including state and federal police agencies, criminal or juvenile courts, and corrections (insitutional and community-based agencies). Careers are also possible in government, planning, public administration, research, teaching, or community activism.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Interdisciplinary Study:

The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework, research, and interactions among faculty and students with interests in a wide range of fields. Many of the students entering the Criminal Justice Masters program have backgrounds in subjects such as history, political science, psychology, social work, counseling, sociology, geography, urban studies, and economics.

Study Abroad:

Not applicable.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students are eligible to take some of the graduate Criminal Justice courses offerred. If accepted to the program, those courses may be applied toward the degree program.

Financing Opportunities

Teaching Assistant (TA): The principal duties of a Teaching Assistant include assisting faculty members in classroom (field, observatory) instruction, conducting tutorials and discussion sections, and grading quizzes. Research Assistant (RA): Research Assistants are expected to devote 20 hours per week on average to research obligations. RA's are assigned to a faculty member or principal investigator who is investigating a specific research project. The appropriate subjects are determined by consultation between the student and the student's research and academic advisors. Both Teaching and Research Assistantships carry a stipend and full-tuition remission (up to 9 credits). Applications should include: (a) a statement of previous teaching and/or research experience, areas of interest and future goals; (b) unofficial transcripts; and (c) a curriculum vitae. The department makes offers of assistantships in late Spring of each year. Applications should be directed to the Department address noted above.

Other Financial Opportunities