Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
Introduction | Admission requirements | Course of study | Contact information
Providing an academic foundation in Criminal Justice
The primary mission of the Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is to provide students with an academic foundation for managerial and other advanced professional roles in Criminal Justice. The program also prepares students for entrance to various doctoral programs as well as for entry-level positions in the academic community.
Employment opportunities exist for professionally prepared individuals in supervisory positions in criminal justice with city, county, state and federal government agencies. The program is also designed to prepare individuals to teach at the community college level and to prepare those interested in doctoral level studies. A limited number of graduate teaching assistantships are available for select students.
Graduate admissions requirements
Students applying to the online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program must satisfy the following:
Hold an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better, preferably with a concentration of study in the social or behavioral sciences. If the 3.0 GPA requirement is not met, candidate must provide evidence that he/she:
- Is currently a supervisor in a criminal justice agency, or
- Has successfully completed two years of full-time employment in a criminal justice agency and submit a letter of recommendation from his/her unit supervisor indicating that the candidate has the potential for advancement to a supervisory or administrative position.
- NOTE: A student admitted to the program under this waiver must obtain a 3.0 GPA at the conclusion of their first two classes to remain in the program.
- Candidates who do not hold an undergraduate degree in a related field may be expected to complete additional hours in addition to the 45 required hours.
Applicants for the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice must submit two sets of application materials, as outlined below.
- Applications are accepted year-round, and students can begin the program during any academic term.
WOU graduate admissions application
To be considered for WOU admission, students must submit an Application Packet containing the following items:
| Send your completed applications to the following locations |
| WOU graduate application |
Graduate Studies Coordinator |
| Criminal Justice Online Masters Program |
| Division of Extended Programs CJ Online Program 345 N Monmouth Ave; Monmouth, OR 97361 |
- Graduate Admissions Application Form
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended
- If applicant’s GPA for the last 90 quarter hours (60 semester hours) is less than 3.0, passing test scores from the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are required. Minimum required scores are: 395 for the MAT; average of 450 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections and 3.5 on the Analytical Writing section of the GRE.
Criminal Justice Graduate Program application
To be considered for admission to the Criminal Justice Online Masters Program, please complete and submit the following
- Criminal Justice Graduate Program Application
- A biographical letter explaining why you are seeking a graduate degree and how it meets your professional or academic goals
- Transcripts from all college/universities attended (unofficial are okay)
- Copy of current driver’s license or photo ID
- Continuation
in the program
Upon completion of no less than 12 quarter hours nor more than 27 quarter hours of coursework in the graduate degree program, graduate students must apply for admission to candidacy and meet with their graduate advisor to review the candidate's progress in terms of performance and possible revision of the program plan.
All students will complete four courses in the professional core (16 credits), select five elective courses from the list below (20 credits), and partipate in a thesis or professional project (9 credits). The total course of study requires a minimum of 45 graduate credits.
Professional core (24 total credits):
CJ 612 Research in Criminal Justice (4)
CJ 617 Criminal Justice Administration and Organizational Behavior (4)
CJ 619 Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice (4)
CJ 660 Theory and Research in Crime and Delinquency (4)
- Select three courses from the following:
- CJ 616 Community Based Organizations (4)
- CJ 618 Theory of Criminal Law (4)
- CJ 620 Offender Treatment (4)
- CJ 621 Human Resource Management in Criminal Justice (4)
- CJ 622 Strategic Planning in Criminal Justice (4)
- CJ 656 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (4)
- Or any 500 level course.
Note: No more that 50% of all coursework can come from from 500 level courses.
Thesis, Field Study, or Professional Project (9 total credits)
Offered each term:- Thesis, Field Study (1-9 units)
- CJ 606 Special Individual Study (1-15 units)
For additional information:
You may email - www.wou.edu/cjonline
or contact the following faculty firectly
Dr. Steve Gibbons, Coordinator
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program
Phone: 503-838-8317; E-mail: gibbons@wou.edu
Western Oregon University
HSS 222
Monmouth, Oregon 97361
Angela Hendrickson, Program Manager
Division of Extended Programs
Phone: 503-838-8042; E-mail: hendrica@wou.edu