Criminal Justice & Human Rights, M.A.
The online M.A. in Criminal Justice and Human Rights develops critical proficiencies and professional advancement for those working in or considering future careers in government agencies, law, social services, security, nonprofits, faith-based, and international organizations, and research. The curriculum emphasizes intelligence-led, evidence-based, problem-oriented criminal justice administration and policy, rights protection, leadership and ethical decision-making, and research skills. This is a 30-credit degree program composed of five required and five elective courses. Students have the option to complete an independent capstone project. For their elective courses, students may choose to specialize by selecting courses in one of two optional nine-credit tracks: Hate Studies, or Victim Services & Issues.
Upon successful completion of the program of study for Criminal Justice & Human Rights, the student will receive an M.A. in Criminal Justice & Human Rights and will have given evidence of the following outcomes and goals:
- Student will demonstrate specialized knowledge in these disciplines (history of the fields, policy and legal dimensions, social and political aspects, and relevant theoretical perspectives) through topical research papers in various courses.
- Student will demonstrate effective communication skills appropriate to an academic social science master’s program and competence in research methodology through the development of a research proposal.
- Student will demonstrate skills of critical and ethical analysis, leadership, and the ability to reflectively consider Mercy core values through a series of assignments.
Requirements for Admission
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- All majors considered
- Undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
- The completed application packet, including:
- Personal essay and current resume
- Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution that the applicant has attended
- A check or money order for $40 (nonrefundable) payable to Georgian Court University
- No interview is required; a pre-admission meeting recommended
Applicants are encouraged to contact the program director for clarification or additional information.
Students complete ten courses totaling 30 credits, five required, and five electives. Students may opt to complete CJ590 Capstone: Research Project as one of their electives. For their elective courses, students may specialize in one of two tracks: Hate Studies or Victim Services & Issues (see Tracks tab). Maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required to remain in the program. Students who earn two or more grades of a B- or below will be formally reviewed by program faculty and may be subject to academic probation or dismissal.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
CJ501 | Theory & Practice in Criminology | 3.0 |
CJ503 | Criminal Justice & Society | 3.0 |
CJ505 | Human Rights Law & Policy | 3.0 |
CJ510 | Problem-Solving Research Strategies | 3.0 |
CJ511 | Designing Research for Social Problems | 3.0 |
Electives (Any five) 1 | ||
Select either CJ590 and four of the following or select five of the following: 1 | 15.0 | |
Hidden Injuries, Control & Crime | ||
Public Health, Guns & Mass Murder | ||
Victimology | ||
Leadership & Policy Analysis | ||
Radicalization & Rabbit Holes | ||
Torture & State Violence | ||
Understanding Terrorism | ||
Terrorism in the Homeland | ||
Post-Conflict Justice | ||
Select Topic Crim. Justice Human Rights | ||
Capstone: Research Project | ||
Internship Criminal Justice Human Rights | ||
One course can be one of the following: | ||
Spirituality in Counseling | ||
Holistic Stress Management | ||
Integrative Counsel Coach Tech | ||
Total Credits | 30.0 |
- 1
Student may choose to select electives from the list below that comprise one of two optional nine-credit tracks. See separate tables for track options.
Tracks allow graduate students in the M.A. in Criminal Justice & Human Rights to focus three of their five elective courses in one of two specialty areas: Hate Studies or Victim Services & Issues. Graduate courses in related programs may be reviewed for inclusion in the track by request.
Hate Studies Track
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select three of the following: | ||
CJ554 | Radicalization & Rabbit Holes | 3.0 |
CJ555 | Torture & State Violence | 3.0 |
CJ556 | Understanding Terrorism | 3.0 |
CJ557 | Terrorism in the Homeland | 3.0 |
CJ560 | Post-Conflict Justice | 3.0 |
Victim Services & Issues Track
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select three of the following: | ||
CJ502 | Hidden Injuries, Control & Crime | 3.0 |
CJ504 | Public Health, Guns & Mass Murder | 3.0 |
CJ520 | Victimology | 3.0 |
CJ565 | Select Topic Crim. Justice Human Rights (Sex Crimes) | 3.0 |
One of the track courses can be one of the following: | 3.0 | |
Spirituality in Counseling | ||
Holistic Stress Management | ||
Integrative Counsel Coach Tech |