Mar 28, 2024  
2012-13 Graduate Catalog 
    
2012-13 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Criminal Justice Administration, M.C.J.


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Deborah W. Newman, Program Director
(615) 898-2630
Deborah.Newman@mtsu.edu

The Department of Criminal Justice Administration  offers a Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) degree in cooperation with Tennessee State University. A minor in Criminal Justice Administration at the graduate level is also offered at MTSU.

Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements


Admission decisions are made by a joint admissions committee including representatives from Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University.

Normally, applicants for admission are expected to present satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a score of 370 or better on the Miller Analogies Test.

Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree in criminal justice, or have completed a minimum of 18 credits at the undergraduate level in criminal justice or an approved equivalent.

Application Procedures


All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

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.

Applicant must

  1. submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
  2. submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT); 
  3. submit official transcripts of previous college work.

Degree Requirements


The Master of Criminal Justice requires completion of a total of 36 hours (18 at MTSU and 18 hours at TSU).

Candidate must

  1. have maintained an average grade of 3.00 or above on all work attempted;
  2. complete CJA 6900  and CJA 6640  at the designated Home School;
  3. complete and successfully defend a research-based thesis;
  4. successfully complete an oral comprehensive examination in conjunction with the thesis defense.

Curriculum: Criminal Justice


 Candidate must complete 36 hours in the following course of study:

Core Courses (18 hours)


Electives (18 Hours)


  • 12 hours at the non-thesis/research institution
  • 6 hours at the thesis/research institution

NOTE: No more than 30 percent of the total degree hours can be dually listed as undergraduate/graduate hours.

Program Notes


A graduate student may not enroll in more than 12 total hours in any given semester. This limitation applies to Criminal Justice graduate students who may be simultaneously enrolled at both TSU and MTSU. Any student exceeding the hours-per-semester limit will be dropped from a course or courses to the twelve-hour level. A student may, on rare occasions, be given permission for an overload, but the proper overload form must be executed before courses begin and under no circumstances will the overload exceed three hours or a total of 15 hours.

Candidate must

  1. file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies after having completed 10 semester hours credit and before having completed 16 semester hours credit;
  2. file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which candidate intends to graduate.

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