Criminal Justice, MS

Program Coordinator: Michele Stacey (245 Rivers Building; 252-328-5559; mscj@ecu.edu)

The master’s program in criminal justice prepares students to become highly skilled and competent professionals who are equipped to seek advancements in the criminal justice profession, teach on the community college level, or pursue a terminal degree in criminal justice or a closely related field. Students must complete 19 s.h. of core courses, 18 s.h. of electives, and can choose to obtain certification in security studies, public management and leadership, criminology, or criminal justice education. To obtain certification in criminal justice education students must complete 19 s.h. of required core and elective courses. To obtain certification in criminology students must complete 15 s.h. of required core and elective courses. A professional paper is required for completion of the master’s degree in criminal justice.

A minimum of 37 s.h. of credit is required as follows:

1. Core - 19 s.h.

2. Electives - 18 s.h.

Select 18 s.h. of Criminal Justice and Criminology (CRIM) courses.

Admission Requirements

Each applicant is reviewed individually by the admissions committee. One criterion does not determine acceptance or rejection. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale is required. Transfer credit must be established at the time of admittance.

Applicants must submit 1.) official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work since graduating high school, 2.) three current letters of reference from professional or academic sources , and 3.) a statement of purpose that describes the applicant’s relevant work experience, short- and long-term goals, and specific interests in the master’s in criminal justice degree program (500-750 word, single spaced, typewritten).

A student may elect to attend the program on a part-time basis. In order to qualify for part-time status for financial aid purposes a student must take a minimum of two courses per semester. It is recommended that at least one core course be taken each of the semesters that the student is enrolled in the program.

Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

All graduate programs at ECU require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The Criminal Justice, MS requires a professional paper in lieu of a thesis or examination.

Discipline Related Certificate Programs

1. Criminal Justice Education Certificate

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Criminal Justice Education Certificate . Contact the program coordinator for more information.

2. Criminology Certificate

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Criminology Certificate . Contact the program coordinator for more information.

3. Higher and Adult Education in Criminal Justice Certificate

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Higher and Adult Education in Criminal Justice Certificate . Contact the program coordinator for more information.

4. Public Management and Leadership Certificate

Up to 15 s.h. of courses required for the graduate Public Management and Leadership Certificate can be transferred as electives for the master of science in criminal justice. Contact the program coordinator in the Department of Political Science for more information.

5. Security Studies Certificate

Up to 15 s.h. of courses required for the graduate Security Studies Certificate can be transferred as electives for the master of science in criminal justice. Contact the program coordinator in the Department of Political Science for more information.