Overview
The Department of Sociology & Criminology offers a Master’s of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. The program provides training in fundamentals of the criminal justice system and criminological theory, as well as foundational training in research methods and statistics. Students may tailor their programs to best fit their goals through their selected electives, curricula tracks, and choice of one of three completion options. At present, curricula tracks (comprised of six credit hours) include such areas as leadership and management, criminal law, research methods and statistics, and geographic information systems (GIS). Students have the program completion options of preparing for and taking a comprehensive examination, completing an internship and accompanying paper, or completing a Master’s thesis.
For more information, please see our website: https://crim.as.miami.edu/.
Academic Standing
Graduate students are expected to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 overall GPA in all coursework. Should the average fall below that minimum in a semester, the student will be notified and will work with his/her advisor to rectify the performance issues. If the student has a second consecutive semester with an average overall GPA below 3.0, he/she will be placed on academic probation. Three semesters of below average performance may result in suspension from the program in accordance with guidelines for the University’s Graduate School.
Admission Requirements
Students are evaluated for admission based on a holistic assessment of the following requirements. Students must submit :
- A statement of purpose.
- In this personal statement applicants detail their reasons for pursuing the degree, both in general and in our program specifically. The statement will help evaluate applicants’ writing abilities as well as fit with our program.
- Transcripts from all academic institutions attended.
- Official transcripts from all academic institutions attended must be submitted. Transcripts should show that students attained a minimum of 3.0 in the last 60 credits of upper division undergraduate coursework and/or 3.0 in graduate coursework. Applicants with lower averages may be admitted to the Certificate program.
- Letters of recommendation.
- At least three letters of recommendation must be submitted. These should be positive and strongly indicate that the applicant has the aptitude and stamina necessary to successfully complete a graduate degree.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 15 | |
| Social Statistics | ||
| Advanced Research Methods | ||
| Theories in Criminology and Criminal Justice | ||
| The Criminal Justice System | ||
| Criminology and Public Policy | ||
| Electives | ||
| One course from within Sociology | 3 | |
| Specialization Track | 6 | |
| Choose 6 credits from one of the following specialization tracks: | ||
| Research Methods and Statistics | ||
| Program Evaluation | ||
| Lifestyle and Career Counseling | ||
| Structural Equation Modeling | ||
| Advanced Sociological Statistical Analysis I | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Geographic Information Systems I | ||
| Geographic Information Systems II | ||
| Legal Issues in Criminal Justice | ||
| Substantive Criminal Law | ||
| Criminal Procedure Adjuducation | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Introduction to Graduate Public Administration | ||
| Public Policy Process and Implementation | ||
| Human Resource Management in Public Service | ||
| Managing Through People | ||
| Completion Track | 6 | |
| Choose one of the following tracks: | ||
| Directed Studies (Comprehensive Exam) | ||
| Graduate Internship and Paper | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| SOC 673 | The Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| SOC 609 | Social Statistics | 3 |
| SOC 674 | Seminar on Policing | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOC 677 | Criminology and Public Policy | 3 |
| SOC 670 | Theories in Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| SOC 610 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| SOC 791 | Graduate Internship and Paper | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Specialization Track Elective | 3 | |
| Specialization Track Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Mission
The Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice program aims to address issues related to crime and its control in the United States. For those working in or seeking to work in criminal-justice related positions, higher levels of education are increasingly required for employment and/or advancement in many professions and jobs. The program is designed to provide students with a foundation in criminal justice and criminological theory, research methods and statistics, and substantive areas.
Goals
The program objectives of the proposed new Master’s program in Criminology and Criminal Justice are to:
- Provide a terminal Master’s degree for those currently or intending to work in research or applied settings in criminal justice agencies or community college teaching. It also provides an opportunity for interested students to explore potential further education in a doctoral program.
- Provide interdisciplinary training in criminology and criminal justice, enabling a strong and integrated knowledge of research and practice. This will enable greater understanding of both the etiology and prevention of crime as well as to better inform criminal justice policy.
- Provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of criminal behavior, its control, and of the criminal justice system.
- Provide the research and conceptual skills required to conduct advanced analyses and assessments of the criminal justice system.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge of classic and contemporary criminological theory.
- Graduates will have a thorough knowledge of the discipline and the theoretical foundations of the literature and be able to synthesize and apply them in well-written form.
- Graduates will have a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of research in the social sciences and be able to synthesize and apply them in written form.
