Students are provided with a comprehensive understanding of crime and the justice system, administration, and public policy. The curriculum also provides the background and educational experience necessary for those who may wish to later pursue doctoral work in criminal justice or related fields.

The MA in Criminal Justice capstone seminar option includes a thesis, or a major research project or paper. This option is desirable for those students who wish to focus on specific subject matter of an interdisciplinary nature or who would like to continue their education at a higher level.

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning outcome objectives, the Master of Criminal Justice also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. Graduates in this degree program will be able to do the following:

• Distinguish between the major systems of Criminal Justice and how the functions of police, prosecution, courts, and corrections interface.
• Analyze the various biological and psychological theories and philosophies of criminal behavior as they influence modern developments in punishment, sentencing, and corrections.
• Evaluate the various definitions, objectives, and issues of new or emergent criminal threats, such as terrorism, and how they compare and contrast with traditional criminal behavior theories.
• Assess the rule of law and changes to it as it pertains to direct and indirect influence and impact on social reactions to crime, corrections, and victims of crime.
• Critically examine landmark criminal justice cases, from the Supreme Court down to local levels, and determine their cultural, social, and economic impact.
• Apply the concepts of professional and ethical behavior within the criminal justice system.