Department of Criminal Justice

Graduate Admissions Standards

Admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is based on the applicants’ academic ability, interests in the criminal justice system , and the personal qualities necessary to successfully complete the program.  Further consideration is given to the applicant’s ability to positively contribute to the field of criminal justice upon completion of the program.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants to the program must meet the following minimal criteria:

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree in criminal justice or related field from an accredited university. Applicants without a bachelor's degree in criminal justice may be required to complete additional prepatory course work as a condition of admission to the program.
2. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate or graduate study.
3. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. The verbal and quantitative GRE subscores are examined separately and evaluated as it relates to the totality of the information contained in the applicants admission file.
   
   For more information about the Graduate Record Exam, please see the following site: WWW.GRE.ORG
   
   
4. Applicants whose baccalaureate degree was conferred by a university whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency with a minimum composite score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam as well as a minimal score of 50 on each of the subscales.
5. Three letters of recommendation from individuals acquainted with the applicant's potential for academic success.

1. An application for admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice.  This form is available in Adobe Acrobat format at the bottom of this page or may be obtained in person in the Department of Criminal Justice (S1001) or the Office of Admissions.    
2. Applicants must submit a personal statement outlining their interest in admission to the program. The personal statement is a very important introduction of the applicant to the graduate admissions committee who will be making the ultimate decision regarding admission.  The central purpose of the statement is to give the applicant an opportunity to demonstrate why they are a good candidate for admission to the program.  More specifically, the applicant should address such issues as: why they feel they would be successful in a course of study at the graduate level, what interests they have regarding areas of specialization and research, and how their attainment of a masters degree would benefit the criminal justice community.  The statement should NOT include a detailed summary of the applicant’s past work experience.     
3. Certified transcripts from all educational institutions that the applicant has attended regardless of the number of hours completed or attempted or the length of time since the course work was taken.  
4. The applicant must complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) prior to the admissions deadline.  Official scores for the GRE must be submitted prior to the admissions deadline for consideration for admission to the program.
5. If the applicant is required to provide a TOEFL score as outlined above, the official score must be submitted by the admissions deadline.     
6. Each applicant is required to submit three letters of recommendation prior to the admissions deadline.  Letters of recommendation must be from those individuals that have had personal and professional contact with the applicant.  Further, the writers for letters of recommendation should have had some authority over the applicant either currently or in the past.  Examples for these types of individuals would be:  college professors, supervisors, or community leaders.  In their letters, the writer should address the following:  how the writer is associated with the applicant and the length of time of the association, their opinion regarding the applicant’s potential for academic success including skills the applicant possesses that they feel demonstrates this potential, and how the applicant’s completion of a masters degree would benefit both the applicant and the criminal justice community.

In exceptional situations, applicants who do not meet the minimal GPA or GRE requirements may be admitted to the graduate program by a recommendation of the Graduate Admissions Committee (GAC). Upon conditional admission, the student will be advised as to the specific limitations of this status and the conditions necessary to remove the conditional admission classification.

For additional information contact
Phone: (713) 221-8194
Fax: (713) 226-5274
snellc@uhd.edu