51ÁÔÆæ

Multi-ethnic students working together on a class project.

The joint master’s in criminal justice and criminology and social welfare PhD program prepares students to make significant contributions to both education and research in the social sciences.

Program Type

Master’s, Doctoral

Program Format

On Campus

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The goals and objectives of both the criminal justice MS and social welfare PhD programs reflect the department’s concerns with urban social problems, social and economic equity and well-being, cultural diversity, and the empowerment of individuals, families, organizations and communities to effect change.

Relevant application materials for the criminal justice master’s degree and social welfare PhD program must be submitted to both the 51ÁÔÆæ Graduate School and the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare. Applications will be accepted for admission in the Fall semester only. All applications must be completed and submitted on or before January 2. Applications received after January 2 will be considered only if space is available after other applications are reviewed.

Students who apply and are accepted to the joint MS/PhD program will be able to earn both degrees in the course of their studies and will not be required to apply to the PhD program after earning the criminal justice and criminology master’s degree, assuming their progress is consistent with department, school, and Graduate School standards. Applicants who are not offered admission to the joint program will still be considered for admission into the criminal justice MS-only program.

All applicants must meet Graduate School requirements plus the following Helen Bader School of Social Welfare requirements:

  1. Have an undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or better.
  2. Have completed at least 21 semester credits in the social and behavioral sciences (i.e., psychology, sociology, political science, economics, anthropology, and/or their equivalents).

Personal Statement

In the personal statement section of the Graduate School form, applicants must indicate:

  1. That, of the PhD program’s four areas of specialization (Applied Gerontology, Child and Family Welfare, Criminal Justice & Criminology, or Health, Behavioral Health and Mental Health) they wish to pursue the Criminal Justice & Criminology option.
  2. Their reasons for seeking a doctoral degree.
  3. Their goals as future scholars.
  4. A topic or issue in the field that they consider to be particularly challenging and worthy of study.

Materials for 51ÁÔÆæ Graduate School

In other materials submitted to the Graduate School, applicants must:

1. Provide a current copy of a professional resume or curriculum vitae. This should contain information on:

  • All post-secondary education, including institutions, degrees and dates of completed programs of study, plus institutions, dates, and types of study that did not lead to a degree.
  • All employment by the applicant in criminal justice, social work, and related areas, including dates and employing organizations.
  • Employment unrelated to criminal justice or social work within the past five years.
  • Any past or current professional licenses held.

2. Submit three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s achievements and academic potential, including at least one current or former academic instructor.

3. Submit a sample of written work that demonstrates: the applicant’s knowledge of social welfare theory, practice, and research; ability to think analytically; and writing skills. The sample should be at least 1,000 words in length and represent work for which the applicant was the sole author, or, if jointly authored, should indicate which sections were primarily done by the applicant.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice & Criminology (MSCJC) portion of the joint curriculum requires a minimum of 21 graduate credits. Another 9 master’s-level credits will be replaced by the same number of PhD-level credits.

Courses at the master’s level

CodeTitleCredits
Proseminar: Administration of Criminal Justice Systems3
Proseminar: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research3
Criminological Perspectives3
Criminal Justice Master’s Capstone Seminar3
or Thesis or Research Project
Issues in Law Enforcement Practice and Policy3
Police Administration3
Issues in Correctional Practice and Policy3
Total21

MSCJC courses to be replaced by PhD-level courses

CodeTitleCredits
Measuring Crime & Analyzing Crime Data (replaced by )3
Independent Reading in Criminal Justice (replaced by or )1-3
ElectiveReplaced by doctoral elective3
Total9

PhD-level Coursework

A minimum of 40 credits of PhD-level course work is required. At least 31 of these must be earned in residence at 51ÁÔÆæ. Required courses include:

Foundation

CodeTitleCredits
Philosophy of Science3
Total3

Specialization Seminars

9 credits required, 3 from student’s area of specialization

CodeTitleCredits
Theories of Poverty and Social Welfare Policy3
Theories and Research on Behavior Change3
Family and Long-Term Care Across the Life Course3
Current Topics in Social Work: (Multigenerational Policies and Services)3
Current Topics in Social Work: (Child and Family Wellbeing)3
Current Topics in Social Work: (Criminal Justice Practice and Policy)3
Total
9

Research Methods

CodeTitleCredits
Quantitative Research Methods3
Qualitative Research Methods in Social Work3
Total6

Statistics

CodeTitleCredits
Applied Multiple Regression Analysis3
Total3

Research Methods or Statistics Electives

CodeTitleCredits
Measurement Methods and Related Multivariate Statistics3
Advanced Statistical Methods3
Total6

Proseminars

CodeTitleCredits
Doctoral Proseminar: (Proseminar in Research Ethics)1
Doctoral Proseminar: (Proseminar in Grantwriting)1
Teaching & Learning in College: Reflections on Theory and Practice1
Total3

Practicum

Accompanies first teaching and research assistantships

CodeTitleCredits
or
Independent Reading in Social Work (Teaching) or
Independent Reading in Criminal Justice
1-3
or
Independent Reading in Social Work (Research) or
Independent Reading in Criminal Justice
1-3
Total2-6

Electives

Two approved external doctoral-level courses in area of specialization (2-3 credits each)