Criminal Justice
School/College: Helen Bader School of Social Welfare
Degrees Conferred:
- MS in Criminal Justice
Contents
Overview
The School of Social Welfare offers a master's program of study in criminal justice. The program is designed to educate students for leadership positions in the field of criminal justice. The program also provides a strong foundation for students anticipating advanced study at the doctoral level. The curriculum is designed to give criminal justice professionals a broad foundation for understanding criminal justice policy. Legal, organizational, political and behavioral frameworks are used to analyze the operation of the criminal justice system. Students are introduced to advanced knowledge on the nature and causes of crime, the justification and means of social control, the administration of the justice system, and the evaluation of criminal justice programs.
In addition to the general master's program in criminal justice, concentrations in corrections, law enforcement, and administration are also available. The corrections concentration is designed to prepare individuals to assume administrative/management positions in correctional settings. The law enforcement concentration is designed to prepare individuals to assume administrative/management positions in law enforcement settings.The administration concentration combines coursework in public administration and criminal justice to prepare students for administrative positions within the criminal justice system, focusing on management careers in police, courts, and corrections.
Graduate Faculty
- Professor
- Pope, Carl E., Ph.D., State University of New York-Albany
- Stojkovic, Stan, Ph.D., Michigan State University
- Associate Professors
- Brandl, Steven G., Ph.D., Michigan State University, Chair
- Lovell, Rick D., Ph.D., Michigan State University
- Assistant Professors
- Freiburger, Tina L., Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Hassell, Kimberly D., Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Omaha
- LeBel, Thomas P., Ph.D. University at Albany, State University of New York
- Pelfrey, William V., Ph.D., Temple University
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Admission
An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these program requirements to be considered for admission:
- Undergraduate background in criminal justice, a related social science or other relevant educational experience.
- Submission of scores from the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons who are familiar with the applicant's academic and/or employment record.
- Satisfactory completion of an introductory criminal justice course, a research methods course, and a statistics course.
Applicants may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses.
The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. The deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and the individual graduate program unit. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree.
Application
Application must be made to the Graduate School. Applicants are admitted to the program at the beginning of the fall, spring and summer sessions. For further information regarding the application process, please contact the Project Assistant of the Criminal Justice Programs at (414) 229-2392.
Major Professor as Advisor
The student must have a faculty advisor to advise and supervise the student's studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. At the time of admission, the Director of the Criminal Justice Programs will assign each student to a faculty advisor. Students who begin to work closely with a particular faculty member with expertise in their area of interest may request that this faculty member serve as their advisor. Students who pursue the Essay Option must choose a faculty member to serve as their major professor.
Credits and Courses
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice consists of a minimum of 33 graduate credits; 21 credit hours must be taken within the criminal justice program and the other 12 credit hours may be taken elsewhere in the School of Social Welfare or in other departments in the University with the consent of the student's advisor. Each student is required to take the Proseminar in each of three core areas (total of 9 credit hours) and pursue either Option A: Essay Option, or Option B: Non-Essay Option described below. The three core areas are:
- The Social Context of Crime and the Criminal Justice System
- Program Administration in Criminal Justice
- Programmatic Research in Criminal Justice
Option A: Essay Option
Students must complete the required proseminars and, as part of the 33 graduate credits required, must complete 3 credits of research and a graduate-level statistics course approved by the student's faculty advisor. Students planning to go into doctoral programs are strongly encouraged to pursue the essay option.
Essay
An acceptable essay must be written on the student's area of concentration.
Comprehensive Examination
The student must pass a final oral examination in defense of the essay.
Option B: Non-Essay Option
Students must complete the 33 graduate credits required, including the three proseminars. Essay not required.
Time Limit
The student must complete all degree requirements within seven years of initial enrollment.
Concentrations
The following concentrations are offered: law enforcement, corrections, and administration. Students also may create their own concentration by choosing electives in an area of interest in consultation with their faculty advisor, or they may choose not to select a concentration.
No Concentration or Self-Created Concentration
A minimum of 33 credits including:
- 9 credits of required criminal justice proseminars (743, 756, 773)
- 12 credits of credits justice electives
- 12 credits of criminal justice or other social science electives.
Law Enforcement Concentration in Criminal Justice
All of the requirements noted above with regard to admission, application, major professor as advisor, essay/non-essay options, comprehensive examination and time limit apply to the law enforcement concentration. In addition, the following credits and courses must be completed.
A minimum of 33 credits including:
- 9 credits of required criminal justice proseminars (743, 756, 773).
- 9 credits of law enforcement sequence in criminal justice (795, 810, 820).
- 15 credits of criminal justice or social science elective courses (may include 990, Thesis or Research Project).
Corrections Concentration in Criminal Justice
All of the requirements noted above with regard to admission, application, major professor as advisor, essay/non-essay options, comprehensive examination and time limit apply to the corrections concentration. In addition, the following credits and courses must be completed.
A minimum of 33 credits including:
- 9 credits of required criminal justice proseminars (743, 756, 773).
- 9 credits of corrections sequence in Criminal Justice (800, 805, 830)
- 15 credits of criminal justice or social science elective courses (may include 990, Thesis or Research Project).
Administration Concentration in Criminal Justice
This concentration combines criminal justice approaches with those of public administration in studying criminal justice organizations. It is designed to meet the needs of students who intend to enter administrative and management positions within the criminal justice system.
All of the requirements noted above with regard to admission, application, major professor as advisor, essay/non-essay options, comprehensive examination and time limit apply to the administration concentration. In addition, the following credits and courses must be completed.
Minimum degree requirement is 33 graduate credits distributed as follows:
- 9 credits of required criminal justice proseminars (743, 756, 773)
- 12 credit of administration concentration (Pol Sci 452, 763, 789 and 958)
- 12 credits of criminal justice electives (may include 990, Thesis or Research Project).
Courses
Courses numbered 300-699 are Undergradute/Graduate. Courses numbered 700 and above are Graduate only.
- 497 Study Abroad: (Subtitled). 1-6 cr. U/G.
- Variable content (subtitle is area of concentration). Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work. Retakeable with change in topic to max of 9 cr. Prereq: jr st; acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.
- 668 Conceptual Foundations of Law, Order, and Justice. 3 cr. U/G.
- Analysis of major concepts of law, order, and justice from ancient to modern times to help determine rationales for existence of a criminal justice system. Prereq: jr st or cons instr; Crm Jst 110(P).
- 671 Juvenile Justice. 3 cr. U/G.
- Structure of juvenile justice system -- police, courts, and corrections; analysis of structure of subsystems of the juvenile justice process; introduction to literature and research. Prereq: jr st or cons instr; Crm Jst 110(P).
- 674 History of Criminal Justice. 3 cr. U/G.
- Historical study of societal response to crime/disorder. Critical review of historical research on police, courts, prisons, criminal law, juvenile justice, and social disorder. Prereq: jr st, Crm Jst 110(P).
- 680 Jails. 3 cr. U/G.
- The primary purpose is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of the jail in contemporary society. Prereq: jr st; Crm Jst 110 (P) & 150(P).
- 740 Criminal Justice Policy. 3 cr. G.
- A study of the process by which policy decisions are selected and developed in political environments for implementation in the criminal justice system. Prereq: grad st.
- 743 Proseminar: Administration of Criminal Justice Systems. 3 cr. G.
- An examination of criminal justice organizations from a public administration focus, integrating organizational theory and political theory for the analysis of criminal justice administration. Prereq: grad st.
- 756 Proseminar: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research. 3 cr. G.
- A study of the application of social science research methods to criminal justice issues. Prereq: grad st.
- 773 Perspectives on Crime and the Criminal Justice System. 2-3 cr. G.
- An in-depth analysis of the etiology of criminal behavior; processes of becoming a criminal; patterns of criminal behavior; and policy and individual consequences of decriminalization. Not open to students who have cr in Soc Wrk 773, which is identical to Crm Jst 773. Prereq: grad st.
- 775 Race, Crime and Criminal Justice. 3 cr. G.
- A study of crime and criminal justice issues as they impact major racial groups such as Blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics Prereq: grad st.
- 793 Issues in Correctional Practice and Policy. 3 cr. G.
- An examination of the operational, legal, and philosophical issues concerning sentencing, institutional corrections, probation and parole, and newer forms of community corrections. Prereq: grad st.
- 795 Issues in Law Enforcement Practice and Policy. 3 cr. G.
- An examination of police practice in a democratic society from an operational, legal, and sociological perspective Prereq: grad st.
- 800 Issues in the Application of Correctional Philosophy. 3 cr. G.
- An examination of historical and contemporary philosphy, issues and applications of criminal justice and social work professions in correctional treatment and practice Prereq: grad st.
- 805 Correctional Administration and Programming. 3 cr. G.
- An examination of administrative and programmatic issues facing adult corrections, including institutional corrections, probation, parole, and community - based corrections Prereq: grad st.
- 810 Police Administration. 3 cr. G.
- An application of management principles to the police organization. Prereq: grad st.
- 820 Police and the Multicultural Community. 3 cr. G.
- A study of the critical issues facing police officers and administrators in relation to policing a diverse society, with particular emphasis on training leadership, minorities and women police officers, and police - community relations. Prereq: grad st.
- 830 Intervention Strategies for Correctional Clients. 3 cr. G.
- A review and analysis of intervention approaches and programs used with correctional clients, both juvenile and adult, with emphasis on diversion, prevention, and rehabilitation strategies. Prereq: grad st.
- 840 Philosophical Foundations of Policing. 3 cr. G.
- An in-depth analysis of the social theory of policing. The most significant theoretical and empirical works on policing are examined. Prereq: grad st
- 970 Readings in Criminal Justice Research: (Subtitled). 3 cr. G.
- Variable content research oriented course involving systematic analysis and investigation of criminal justice topics. May be retaken to max of 9 cr. Prereq: grad st; cons instr.
- 990 Thesis or Research Project. 1-3 cr. G.
- - May be repeated once for cr. Prereq: grad st; writ cons instr & coord grad prog.
- 999 Independent Reading in Criminal Justice. 1-3 cr. G.
- Work suited to individual graduate students arranged. Prereq: grad st;cons instr & coord Grad Prog.