Website: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/applied-studies/departments/criminal-justice-legal-studies/master-criminal-justice/index.html

Mission

The Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) degree meets the needs of criminal justice professionals and pre-professionals who desire to enhance their knowledge, skills, and talents in the field. The program dedicates itself to informing evidence-based best practices, advancing scholarship, and promoting responsible leadership through a variety of courses. The program provides students with the academic and administrative skills needed for designing policies, managing programs, directing scholarly research, and leading with integrity. MCJ Faculty foster an inclusive, collaborative community of students and faculty who share diverse practical experience and academic knowledge to advocate for justice and equality in local and global communities.

Nondiscrimination

It is the policy of Washburn University and the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department to assure equal educational and employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, marital or parental status, or sexual orientation.

Life Experience

Under no circumstances will academic credit be awarded for life experience.

Continuous Enrollment

Students pursuing a graduate degree who have completed all degree requirements, and have enrolled in but not completed a capstone, practicum, or thesis, will be required to maintain continuous enrollment at Washburn University until graduation (unless a leave has been approved). Continuous enrollment means that candidates must be enrolled in at least one credit hour of CJ 777 Continuous Enrollment each semester until the program is completed. Credit hours completed through the CJ 777 Continuous Enrollment will not count toward the credit hours required for graduation and will be recorded as a credit on the transcript. This requirement also applies to the summer term for students whose degrees are being awarded at the end of the summer term. Interruption of continuous registration due to a failure to follow this requirement will result in a need for readmission to the program.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the Master of Criminal Justice program, all students will complete the online student orientation program.

Likewise, all MCJ students are required to consult with the MCJ Program Director each semester to decide a course schedule for the coming semester. Students are expected to inform Washburn University and the MCJ program of any changes of their permanent and current addresses and contact information.

General Admission Requirements

• Applicants for admission must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better in the last two years (60 hours) of college course work from accredited institutions.
• Applicants who do not have a 3.0 GPA or better in the last two years (60 hours) of college coursework must submit evidence to the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department that they have achieved a cumulative score of 290 or better on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).
• Applicants who have not achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate program, and do not earn the above minimum test scores on the GRE, may be considered for conditional admission.
• Applicants must obtain the recommendation of the MCJ Program Director/Advisor and the Graduate Admissions and Retention Committee.

Application Procedures

1. Complete the University Graduate Admission online application. A link to the form can be found on the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department webpage.
2. The application process requires the submission of the academic transcripts, letters of reference, personal statement, and collection of the $40.00 application fee.
3. Applicants must submit a personal statement (2 page requirement) explaining:
   1. personal philosophy of the criminal justice system and
   2. reasons for entering the program.
4. Applicants must submit a completed Program of Courses form for the appropriate degree option indicating any transfer credit to be applied to the degree.

Non-Degree Students

Non-degree seeking students wishing to enroll in graduate criminal justice courses may do so with permission of the Department Chair.

Transfer Credits

Students admitted as “full-standing” status may transfer a maximum of 6 semester hours of relevant graduate course work from another university or another Washburn department. Students eligible for the dual degree program (see below) are allowed to transfer 12 hours of earned credit from the WU School of Law into the MCJ degree program. All transfer credit is considered on a case-by-case basis. The applicant must have received a grade of “B” or better in the course(s) being considered for transfer.

Programs

Course Offerings