Graduate Programs

Degree Programs

M.S. in Criminal Justice and Public Safety

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (MSCJPS) combines coursework in criminal justice, public safety and management to address increasing demand for advanced education in criminal justice and public safety.

Degree Requirements (36 credit hours)

The core requirements of the M.S.C.J.P.S. degree consist of 24 credit hours of work in eight courses. Each student must complete the requirements of at least one concentration.

The experiential requirement ensures that each graduate of the M.S.C.J.P.S. program has gained insight into the world of criminal justice or public safety by way of an experience outside the classroom. This experience may or may not involve the accumulation of credit hours toward the degree. The remaining credit hours necessary for graduation, if any, are general electives that can be used to add breadth to a student's program; to further explore a field of concentration; or to enhance skills in foreign languages, quantitative tools, or administrative techniques.

Core Requirements (24 credit hours)

Select one of the following courses:

  • FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRACK - SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy (3 cr.)
  • FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TRACK - SPEA-J 528 Risk Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)

Take the following courses:

  • SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 582 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 682 Planing and Management for Crimnal Justice and Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 581 Public Safety Law (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 586 Public Safety in the United States (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Elective Requirements (12 credit hours)

Students must complete 4 courses (12 credits) from one of the following groups:

Criminal Justice

  • SPEA-J 520 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 524 Crisis Management for Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 528 Risk Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 588 Law and Control in Society (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 539 Management Science (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resourece Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs (1-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 639 Manageing Government Operations (3 cr.)

Public Safety

  • SPEA-E 520 Environmental Toxicology (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-E 542 Hazardous Materials (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-E 560 Environmental Risk Analysis (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminilogical Thought and Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 520 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 524 Crisis Management for Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 539 Management Science (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resourece Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs (1-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 639 Manageing Government Operations (3 cr.)


Concentration requirements may be waived on the same basis as core requirements. Consult an advisor about course prerequisites.