The department strongly recommends that application materials be submitted at least five months before the anticipated date of initial enrollment to ensure all materials will be on hand in time for review.

Decisions regarding admission to the graduate program are made by the graduate faculty of the program. Materials are reviewed with attention to past academic performance and substantive areas of study that would prepare students for CJC graduate study.

1. Completed an undergraduate degree, from an accredited university or college, with coursework in the socio-behavioral sciences sufficient to prepare for graduate-level study in the criminal justice and criminology field.
2. Achieved a minimum of 2.75 GPA in all undergraduate work, with a 3.0 GPA for courses within the socio-behavioral sciences area.
3. Completed undergraduate courses in statistics, research methods, and theories of crime.

Students who do not meet admission requirements, but who otherwise show promise for graduate work, may be admitted provisionally to the program. Provisional admission means deficiencies must be corrected before a student is fully admitted as a degree-seeking student in the M.S.-CJC program. Typical deficiencies include a need to take undergraduate coursework to prepare for graduate study in this program, or to demonstrate scholastic ability in graduate-level courses.

• Have knowledge as to the character and recent trends in crime in the United States.
• Understand the major elements that shape and impact the development of justice system policies in response to crime.
• Have knowledge with respect to various models for defining the scope and operation of the criminal justice system.
• Have specific knowledge regarding recent developments in criminological theories that attempt to explain delinquent and criminal behavior.
• Be able to employ elements of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods to design scientific-based projects to examine issues related to criminal justice or criminal behavior.
• Have knowledge and understanding of statistical methods, processes, and tests to understand and interpret scientific research findings from the criminal justice and criminology literature.
• Have specific knowledge and understanding of current literature, research, and issues in a cognitive area related to criminal justice chosen by the student.

A core of six courses is required of all students. The required courses include:

Required Courses:Hours
 CJC 5501      Proseminar to the Criminal
                 Justice System                    3
 CJC 5580      Policy and Decision Making
                 in Criminal Justice               3
 CJC 5516  Intermediate Quantitative Methods
                 (Statistics)                      3 
 CJC 5518      Advanced Theoretical Criminology    3
 CJC 5510  Sociological Research Methods I     3
  -or-
 CJC 5511  Sociological Research Methods II    3

In addition, one of the following coursesis required:
 CJC 5551      Seminar in Policing                 3
 CJC 5570      Contemporary Corrections and
                 Correctional Policy               3
 CJC 5575      Correctional Rehabilitation
                 and Treatment                     3 

Those electing to write a thesis as part of their graduate work can receive up to 6 hours credit (CJC 5599) for preparation of the thesis. In addition to writing the thesis students must successfully complete an oral defense of that thesis before their supervisory committee. The research topic of the thesis will address some issue of specific interest to the student. Through courses, literature review, and analyses conducted in developing the thesis, students are expected to become proficient in their specific thesis topic area.

Those electing the non-thesis option will take coursework and directed studies related to a cognate area. Their 12 hours of study beyond the required courses will address the area of specialization, or cognate area, selected by the student. There are five possible cognate areas from which to choose:

1. Policing.
2. Legal aspects of the criminal justice process.
3. Corrections.
4. Women and crime.
5. Juvenile justice, delinquency and gangs.

Students must complete at least 3 hours of graduate work each semester (fall and spring) in order to maintain their standing in the program. At minimum, a 3.0 GPA must be attained in all work offered for graduate credit. Students should consult the General Graduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the UMKC catalog for regulations that apply to all graduate students.