Criminal Justice

Tampa, FL

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Degree Overview

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Vida Simonaitis receiving her diploma at the South University Criminal Justice graduation 2022 — Vida Simonaitis at the Criminal Justice Graduation 2022

The South University Tampa Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program is designed for individuals employed in the criminal justice system, as well as those in other careers, both public and private, who wish to acquire further education in criminal justice. Prerequisites are limited so that qualified students with bachelor’s degrees in related fields such as criminology, psychology, business or public administration, anthropology, political science, sociology or related social sciences may enroll along with students who have undergraduate degrees in criminal justice. The program is primarily designed to foster a learning community of criminal justice professionals who will use their knowledge within law enforcement, correctional, political, and legal arenas.

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Admission Requirements

Admissions criteria for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Program

Graduate Admissions - Masters level

Prospective students are required to submit the following:

Completion of application for admission
Official transcripts for bachelor or graduate degree within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance). (All credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service). Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

Note: See program notes and specific requirements below for each graduate - masters level degree program

Specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Completion of application for admission.
A 2.0 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.

Foundational Undergraduate Courses for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Completion of an undergraduate statistics course (with a grade of C or better) is required for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice. If the student does not have the course as part of their undergraduate degree, the course needs to be completed in the first two quarters of the program. Foundation undergraduate course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation, nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR). MSCJ students enrolled in foundation undergraduate course must successfully complete the course within their first three attempts or the student will be academically dismissed from the University.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.

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Course Requirements

Master of Science in Criminal Justice: 48 credits

Foundation: 28 Credits

MCJ5001 Foundations in Criminal Justice 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ5003 Ethics and Moral Behavior in the Criminal Justice System 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ5100 Advanced Research Methods and Analysis I 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6001 Criminal Justice Administration 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6003 Criminological Theory 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6004 Criminal Justice Planning & Innovation 4.0 Credit Hours

MC J6405 Organizational Leadership 4.0 Credit Hours

Program Elective (choose four): 16 Credits

MCJ6002 Juvenile Justice Administration 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6401 Critical/Controversial Issues: Law Enforcement 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6404 Political Terrorism 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6410 Legal Issues in Criminal Justice Administration 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6505 Management of Critical Incidents 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6601 Resource and Agency Coordination 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6620 Special Topics in Homeland Security 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6701 Theory and Practice of Community Corrections and Re-entry Programs 4.0 Credit Hours

MCJ6705 Theory and Practice of Institutional Corrections 4.0 Credit Hours

Note(s):

The student will choose four courses (16 credits) from the remaining graduate level criminal justice curriculum listed below or from other graduate offerings with the guidance and approval of the Program Director in Criminal Justice or appropriate Program Chair and with the advice of the related Program Director if courses from other programs are desired. The student should plan to take at least 50% of this part of the degree program in criminal justice courses. Students may construct an area of emphasis with the guidance of the Program Director or Chair or pursue a more general set of elective course courses. Students may emphasize a traditional area of the field such as Corrections or Homeland Security, but elective choices may also reflect the particular professional goals and aspirations of the student. Thus, courses in areas such as Public Administration, Business, or Clinical Mental Health Counseling may be included as desired and approved and if the student completes the required prerequisites for such courses. Please note that Financial Aid may not cover prerequisite courses. Please see the Coursework Taken Outside a Student's Degree Program Policy found in the Academic Affairs section of this catalog.

Capstone: 4 Credits

MCJ6985 Applied Professional Project 4.0 Credit Hours

Note(s):

Acceptance into a South University Criminal Justice program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain employment in law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, or related fields. The student should contact the national, state, or local agency/institution in which the perspective student intends to gain employment for specific requirements and the application process.

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Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

Students will apply criminal justice theories to a variety of real-life problems within complex organizations.
Students will evaluate the effectiveness of organizational policy in professional practice.
Students will develop strategies for improving systemic communication within and between criminal justice agencies.
Students will integrate research methodology central to the field of criminal justice.

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Career Outlook

These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:

Corrections Manager
Intelligence Analyst
Crime Reduction Manager
Law Enforcement Administrative Manager
Investigators
Law Enforcement (*Additional training is required)

_{*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.}

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Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.

*Clinical, practicum, and externship requirements exist in certain programs and require field experiences. Learning formats may not be flexible.

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Success STories

Outstanding Education for Remarkable Careers

We're committed to helping our graduates make an impact in their professional and personal lives. We applaud our alumni and the difference they make. Check out what some of our Criminal Justice & Legal Studies graduates have to say.

Vicki Tucci

Class of '96

Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies-South University, West Palm Beach

“Ultimately, I would like to use my experience and law degree to become a judge. As a young, single mom still fleshing out a career, I felt so clueless about many things. It was that hunger for knowledge that led me to South University’s program in paralegal studies. I got so much more than a classroom education. I found friends, professional contacts, and a world of inspiration from being around people who wanted to see me at my best.”

Steve Knafelc

Class of '13

Master of Science in Criminal Justice-South University, Columbia

“All of my classes were conducted online, and with my work schedule at the sheriff's office this was the best move for me to make.”

Crystal G Peebles

Class of '13

Bachelor Science in Legal Studies-South University, Online Programs

“South University changed and shaped my life in many ways. I am more mature, responsible and independent than I was before attending college. The classes allowed me to build knowledge, skills and discover new passions in the legal field. My degree has helped me obtain three promotions at Richardson Plowden & Robinson, P.A. With my work experience, degree and newly found confidence to reach for the stars, there are no limitations for me.”

Tami Stuart

Class of '11

Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies-South University, Montgomery

“I knew I would need to pursue a career I could be passionate about, and something I would be happy doing for a long time. My father was an attorney and he taught me respect for the justice system. I remembered spending many happy hours in his office, when he would point to his statue of Lady Justice and explain the importance of justice being blind and the scales being fair. The fact that the Paralegal Studies program at South University is approved by the American Bar Association was a big part of my decision.”

Fritzlade Narcisse

Class of '11

Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies-South University, West Palm Beach

“I always wanted to help people, and I always loved the law and immigration matters. When I took that immigration law class, I fell in love; I was hooked.”