A Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) degree can help pave the way for advancement
in professional opportunities in law enforcement, homeland security, courts, police
administration, correctional management, probation, parole, juvenile justice, drug
rehabilitation, and private security or investigations. Master’s candidates may choose
either the thesis option or a non-thesis option.
Thinking About Getting a Master's Degree?
If after taking the survey and exploring our website, you find that you have questions
about the M.C.J program, feel free to contact Dr. Carter Smith at carter.smith@mtsu.edu.
If you do not have above 3.0 GPA, but have criminal justice experience since college
that would mitigate your grades, please contact Dr. Smith at carter.smith@mtsu.edu to discuss your readiness for attaining an MCJ Degree.
Take the M.C.J. Readiness Survey
Alum works with faith communities to combat addiction
Monty Burks (M.C.J. 2011) directs Faith-Based Initiatives for the Tennessee Department
of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), working to expand addiction
recovery support services across the state. Burks has more than 15 years’ experience
in criminal justice, including working on the faculty of two higher education institutions;
as a process server; as one of Tennessee’s first project coordinators for Lifeline,
a state program to reduce the stigma associated with people who suffer from addiction;
and as a coordinator with Middle Tennessee Rural Reentry’s jail and prison program,
which has earned national recognition. An accomplished and nationally recognized public
speaker, Burks is pursuing a Doctorate of Theology. “MTSU was my college of choice
because of its rich and diverse culture,” he says. “My favorite instructors, Dr. Lance
Selva, Dr. William Shulman, and the late Dr. Dennis Powell have left a lasting imprint
on my career!”
Gross joins Korean Institute of Criminology
Sarah Gross signed her contract with the Korean Institute of Criminology (KIC) on
February 23rd. KIC is one of the seventeen United Nations Programme Network Institutes.
She will be working on government grant-sponsored research projects on human trafficking,
cybercrime, and other social issues. She will represent KIC at international criminal
justice and criminology institutes. She received the opportunity through Amercian
Society of Criminology conference through networking. She will be working overseas
in Seoul until she is admitted into a criminology Ph.D. program.
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Fostering Collaboration in a New Building | "Out of the Blue" July 2020
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MTSU | The University of Opportunities
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Criminal Justice & Psychology Degrees | "Why I Chose MTSU"
A Master of Criminal Justice degree allows graduates to pursue advanced opportunities
in law enforcement, courts, and corrections at the federal, state, or local level,
or with private security or businesses associated with the criminal justice system.
M.C.J. holders also may continue studies for careers in higher education or for law
degrees. Some occupations for MTSU graduates from this program:
- Attorney
- Chief of police
- Corporate security officer/director
- Court administrator
- Criminal justice professor
- Crisis counselor
- Emergency services director
- Family resource specialist
- Forensic scientist
- Investigator
- Juvenile court judge
- Police officer
- Pre-trial release/pre-trial diversion officer
- Probation officer/director
- Public information officer
- Regulatory board investigator
- Sheriff
- Social services district director
- Special agent
- State director of safety/homeland security
- State trooper
- U.S. deputy marshal
- Warden
Employers of MTSU alumni include
- Blue Ridge Center, Asheville, N.C.
- Cannon County
- City of Atlanta
- Cope, Hudson, Scarlett, Reed, McCreary
- Cumberland University
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Family Voices of Tennessee
- Fillauer & Wilson, P.C., Cleveland, Tenn.
- Forensic Medical
- Gallatin Police Department
- Hendersonville Police Department
- Humphreys County 911
- Keiser University
- La Vergne Police Department
- Litigation Paralegal
- Metro-Nashville Government
- Metro-Nashville Police Department
- Murfreesboro Police Department
- Oasis Center
- Regions Bank
- Rutherford County
- State of Tennessee
- State of West Virginia
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
- Tennessee Correction Academy
- Tennessee Department of Human Services
- Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security
- Tennessee Highway Patrol
- Tennessee Parole Board
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Probation Office (various locations)
- University of South Carolina
Click here for more helpful career links.
Graduate
Students may obtain a Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) at Middle Tennessee State
University. The program, with its first graduates in 1978, is a joint program between
MTSU and Tennessee State University that allows up to 18 hours of classes to transfer
to the home institution.
As of fall 2014, students apply and are admitted to one campus and will receive the
diploma from that home institution. Both MTSU and TSU offer the full core curriculum
for the M.C.J.
Admission Requirements
- an undergraduate degree in criminal justice or a minimum of 18 credits at the undergraduate
level in criminal justice (or approved equivalent).
- satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a score of 370 or
better on the Miller Analogies Test.
To be considered for Fall admission, an applicant's materials must be received by
June 15; for Spring admission, November 1; and for Summer admission, April 15.
Although students may transfer up to 18 hours in their program of study from the partner
institution, graduate students may not enroll in more than 12 total hours in any given
semester including if simultaneously enrolled at both TSU and MTSU. A student, on
rare occasions, may be given permission for an overload up to 15 hours.
The University also offers a graduate minor in Criminal Justice.
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS tab above.
Undergraduate
A student in the Criminal Justice Administration program may pursue a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, with concentrations available in either Law Enforcement, Emergency Management and
Homeland Security.
Minors in Criminal Justice Administration and Homeland Security are offered for non-CJA
majors.
Apply Now!
Criminal Justice Administration, M.C.J.
Carter Smith, Program Director
(615) 898-2261
Carter.Smith@mtsu.edu
The Department of Criminal Justice Administration offers a Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) degree. A minor in Criminal Justice Administration at the graduate level is also offered at MTSU.
The M.C.J. degree can be obtained entirely online, in class, or as a combination of the two.
Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree in criminal justice or to have completed a minimum of 18 credits at the undergraduate level in criminal justice or an approved equivalent and an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Applications for admission will be considered on a rolling basis.
Applicant must
- submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
- submit official transcripts of previous college work.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Criminal Justice degree requires completion of a minimum of 33-36 semester hours (thesis) or 36 hours (non-thesis) with no more than 30 percent of the total degree hours dually listed as undergraduate/graduate hours.
NOTE: Thesis-track students will be required to complete and successfully defend a research-based thesis. Non-thesis track students will be required to complete and successfully pass a written comprehensive exam in the same semester as the capstone is taken.
Curriculum: Criminal Justice
The following illustrates the minimum coursework requirements. In addition, a maximum of 6 hours of thesis research may be required to fulfill degree requirements.
Thesis Option (33-36 hours)
Core Courses (15 hours)
CJA 6000 - Criminal Justice Administration
3credit hours
Criminal justice, juvenile justice, correctional and mental health processes, and other issues including those arising out of other processes of social control and community-based treatment of offenders. Development of a critical analysis of current literature, compilation of a bibliography, and completion of an intensive research paper required.
CJA 6010 - Seminar in Law Enforcement
3credit hours
The function of police within the community and its relationship to the criminal justice system, the effects of police actions on the community and other segments of the system, social expectations and limitations, assessment and special problems. Analysis of relevant studies, formation of annotated bibliography, and organization of research into a formal composition.
CJA 6020 - Judicial Seminar
3credit hours
Examines the judicial system, including flow of the criminal case, personnel, court community relations, computers and the courts, and special problem areas. A research project consisting of a literature review, bibliography, and a thorough analysis required.
CJA 6030 - Contemporary Corrections
3credit hours
Corrections programs in contemporary custodial and juvenile institutions and community-based corrections programs; problems and prospects associated with them. Each student required to make class presentations on assigned topics, participate in class discussions and analysis of reports, develop a bibliography, and submit a research paper in a specific area of corrections.
CJA 6900 - Research in the Criminal Justice Process
3credit hours
Introduces research methods, including the experiment and experimental methods and models, survey research, participant observation, case studies, unobtrusive measures, the use of official and unofficial statistics, validity, reliability, and data analysis. Special emphasis on ethics in criminal justice research and on proposal writing and evaluation research.
CJA 6910 - Qualitative Research
3credit hours
Enhances abilities to understand, plan, conduct, evaluate, and disseminate findings of qualitative research related to social sciences, criminology, and criminal justice. Reading and writing intensive. Students will conduct original research.
Electives (15 hours)
- Selected in consultation with advisor 15 credit hours
Thesis (3-6 hours)
CJA 6640 - Thesis Research
1 to 6 credit hours
(3 credit hours required)(3 credit hours required)
dotslash:(3 credit hours required)
title:(3 credit hours required)
(3 credit hours required)
CJA 6640 - Thesis Research
1 to 6credit hours
Selection of a research problem, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of thesis. Once enrolled, student should register for at least one credit hour of master's research each semester until completion. S/U grading.
Non-thesis Option (36 hours)
Core Courses (15 hours)
CJA 6000 - Criminal Justice Administration
3credit hours
Criminal justice, juvenile justice, correctional and mental health processes, and other issues including those arising out of other processes of social control and community-based treatment of offenders. Development of a critical analysis of current literature, compilation of a bibliography, and completion of an intensive research paper required.
CJA 6010 - Seminar in Law Enforcement
3credit hours
The function of police within the community and its relationship to the criminal justice system, the effects of police actions on the community and other segments of the system, social expectations and limitations, assessment and special problems. Analysis of relevant studies, formation of annotated bibliography, and organization of research into a formal composition.
CJA 6020 - Judicial Seminar
3credit hours
Examines the judicial system, including flow of the criminal case, personnel, court community relations, computers and the courts, and special problem areas. A research project consisting of a literature review, bibliography, and a thorough analysis required.
CJA 6030 - Contemporary Corrections
3credit hours
Corrections programs in contemporary custodial and juvenile institutions and community-based corrections programs; problems and prospects associated with them. Each student required to make class presentations on assigned topics, participate in class discussions and analysis of reports, develop a bibliography, and submit a research paper in a specific area of corrections.
CJA 6900 - Research in the Criminal Justice Process
3credit hours
Introduces research methods, including the experiment and experimental methods and models, survey research, participant observation, case studies, unobtrusive measures, the use of official and unofficial statistics, validity, reliability, and data analysis. Special emphasis on ethics in criminal justice research and on proposal writing and evaluation research.
CJA 6910 - Qualitative Research
3credit hours
Enhances abilities to understand, plan, conduct, evaluate, and disseminate findings of qualitative research related to social sciences, criminology, and criminal justice. Reading and writing intensive. Students will conduct original research.
Electives (18 hours)
- Selected in consultation with advisor 18 credit hours
Capstone (3 hours)
CJA 6990 - Graduate Capstone Course
3credit hours
Student will conduct advanced research including a comprehensive review of applicable literature and completion of a final written work product. Open only to students who will take the Master's comprehensive examination.
Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.
Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance
This program is available fully online.
For More Information or Explore Your Options
Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program OR work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.
The Online Advantage
With over 25 years of experience in online teaching and learning, MTSU Online offers students access to innovative, high-quality programs. Designed with students in mind, our courses allow maximum flexibility for those unable to participate in person.
Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.
