Criminal Justice Administration, M.C.J.

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.shtml);
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:

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.

No fewer than 10 and no more than 16 semester hours may be counted toward the degree before the individual is advanced to candidacy. Indicate research/thesis institution at this time.

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.