The MSCJ program requires students to take 36 total hours to complete the program. Below is a complete list of courses offered in the program. Not all courses are offered every semester. For a list of required courses please follow this link: Required Courses for MSCJ

     5101 Graduate Assistant Supervision. (1-0) Prepares graduate student teaching and
instructional assistants to perform effectively in diverse instructional settings and in their assigned
instructional support roles. The course provides for regular and planned opportunities for continuing
evaluation of instructional and assistive responsibilities. This course does not earn graduate degree
credit. Repeatable with different emphasis. Graded on a credit (CR), no-credit (F) basis.
     5300 Foundation Studies in Criminal Justice. (3-0) This course is designed for students
who do not have a sufficient background in the foundations of criminal justice studies. Coursework will
vary depending on the student’s prior academic history. This course does not earn graduate degree
credit. Repeatable with different emphasis.
     5310 Administration of Justice. (3-0) Introduction to the study of crime; explanations of
criminal behavior; typologies of criminal behavior; the criminal justice system; and social reaction to
crime and the criminal justice system.
     5311 Administrative Law in Criminal Justice. (3-0) Legal principles and doctrines
applicable to state and federal criminal justice agencies delegated quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial
authority by legislatures are studied and evaluated in this course.
     5315 Advanced Research Methods in Criminal Justice. (3-0) The study of scientific
research methods as used in the criminal justice system to include a review and critique of research on
crime causation, law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
     5320 History and Philosophy of Justice. (3-0) An exploration of historical approaches to
social control of nonconforming behavior. The principal contributions of architects and theorists of
systems of social justice are examined with emphasis on major Western European schools of thought.
Special emphasis given to the development of the scientific method and its role in the contemporary
system of justice.
     5321 Current Legal Issues in Criminal Justice. (3-0) Case law and legislation, both state
and federal, which have contemporary impact on practices and policies of criminal justice agencies will
be examined in this course. Topics may vary to include such matters as civil rights liability, substance
abuse and the law, juvenile crime, organized crime, tactics of enforcement, unionization, and other legal
issues.
     5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice. (3-0) The study of basic and advanced descriptive and
inferential statistics, with an emphasis on applications in the criminal justice system will be taught.
Focus will be given to various multivariate statistical procedures.
     5330 Management Principles in Criminal Justice. (3-0) The study of behavior in complex
bureaucratic or administrative organizations with an emphasis on organizational behavior, group
processes, and the managerial function. Concepts and practices of managing criminal justice agencies
within the United States will be stressed.
     5335 Advanced Crime Theory. (3-0) This course will develop and apply analytical skills
surrounding a wide range of theoretical concepts, assumptions, propositions, and variables aimed at
explaining crime-related outcomes. In the process, students will learn how social scientists empirically
(i.e., quantitatively and qualitatively) access theory and how theory influences public policy.
     5340 Personnel Practices in Criminal Justice. (3-0) The study of personnel decisionmaking
within the criminal justice agency. Topics emphasized will include recruitment and selection,
promotion, training, performance evaluation, and human resource allocation.
     5350 Current Issues in Criminal Justice. (3-0) An in-depth presentation and discussion of
vital contemporary issues in criminal justice, including research, process, procedure, and substance.
General issues addressed remain constant and specific emphasis will vary depending on changes in
contemporary issues.
     5360 Independent Studies in Criminal Justice. (3-0) Student will work directly with a
faculty member and develop in-depth knowledge in a specific topic area of Criminal Justice. Repeatable
for credit.
     5370 Professional Paper. (3-0) Students in the non-thesis option will complete their
professional paper while enrolled in this course.
     5380 Special Topics. (3-0) This course is one of several rotating graduate “topic” courses.
Repeatable for credit.
     5380A Ethics and the Criminal Justice System. (3-0) This special topics course will
explore ethical issues that are faced by criminal justice professionals, basic ethical systems, and
applications to dilemmas of criminal justice professionals.
     5380B Police in Society. (3-0) This special topics course will explore issues of modern
policing, including current issues such as community policing and problem-solving policing.
     5380C Drugs in Society. (3-0) This special topics course will explore issues related to the
“War on Drugs.” Topics covered include theories of addiction, legal and philosophical issues of
government response to drug use, and treatment strategies.
     5380D Special Operation Units. (3-0) A course designed to acquaint students with the basic
principles of Special Operation Units within law enforcement, including the necessity for such units, the
changing nature of communities and policing in America, the principles of crisis management, the
development of SOUs, selection/training/operationalizing of personnel and other issues.
     5380F Police Problem-Solving Practicum. (3-0) This course applies contemporary police
problem-solving tools and techniques (including SARA, COMPSTAT, crime mapping, intelligence led
policing and computer enhanced problem solving) to real world problems with practicum problems
derived from situations commonly facing police practitioners such as common law enforcement
“problems” such as noise abatement, property offenses and traffic violations.
     5380G Investigations. (3-0) This special topics course will explore issues related to
investigations. Topics covered include the history and state of investigations, investigative theory,
interviewing, interrogation, polygraph, geographic profiling, serial crimes, and investigative failures.
     5380H Police Problem Solving Methodologies. (3-0) This course addresses police problem
solving methodologies. The course covers the history, state, and theory of police problem solving.
Emphasis is placed on using problem solving methodologies to address real issues facing the
community.
     5380I Race, Class, and Crime. (3-0) This course addresses issues related to racial/ethnic
minorities, socioeconomic status, crime trends, perceptions of crime and criminal behaviors. The
social/historical constructions of race and class are covered as well as their intersectionality within the
criminal justice system. Topics include racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in offending,
victimization, law enforcement and sentencing.
     5380J Sex Offender and the Criminal Justice System. (3-0) This course explores sex
offenders and the criminal justice system and the issues faced by criminal justice professionals. Recent
trends in assessment tools, treatment approaches, and legal responses to sex offenders are emphasized.
     5399A Thesis. (3-0) This course represents a student’s initial thesis enrollment. Credit is not
awarded until student has completed the thesis in Criminal Justice 5399B. Graded on a credit (CR),
progress (PR), no credit (F) basis.
     5399B Thesis. (3-0) This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollment. The
student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding. Graded on a credit
(CR), progress (PR), no credit (F) basis.