Department Criminal Justice Chair: Dr. L. Kay Gillespie Location: Social Science Building, Room 218 Telephone Contact: Faye Medd 801-626-6146 Professors: Frank Budd, L. Kay Gillespie; Associate Professors: Michelle E. Heward, Paul H. Johnson, David R. Lynch, Scott Senjo, Robert D. Wadman; Assistant Professor: David Murphy; Instructors: James Gaskill, Robert Heffernan I he Criminal Justice program provides students with a liberal education, while offering academic preparation through an expanded emphasis on criminal justice education. The program also offers a basis for graduate study and seeks to contribute significantly to the improvement of the quality of justice administration. Criminal justice agencies in the recent past have established advanced academic standards. Education is becoming a more meaningful factor in selection of law enforcement, corrections, and security personnel for initial employment, promotion, and administrative roles. Master of Criminal Justice %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% M.S.C.J. ^k%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%\ Program Director. Dr. L. Kay Gillespie Telephone Contact: Alisa Kimball 801-626-6369 Who Should Apply The program is designed for criminal justice and social service professionals who wish to continue their education, and who plan to use the degree to bring about positive change in the justice system. Program Description The Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice is designed to provide post-baccalaureate education to criminal justice professionals and traditional students who have not yet begun a career in criminal justice. The primary goal of the program is to develop in graduates the ability to analyze, comprehend, and resolve the complex problems confronting the criminal justice system. The program emphasizes theory and research, administration, and the problems involved in effecting change in the criminal justice system. Students will be able to conceptualize the problems of crime and justice from social, cultural, economic, and political perspectives. In addition, the successful graduate will understand research methods and design as well as statistical strategies used to analyze social science research. Course work will also provide a foundation for those students desiring to pursue doctoral studies. About the Faculty The graduate faculty brings diverse backgrounds both in terms of education and professional experience. Faculty graduate degrees include Public Administration, Sociology, Education, Criminal Justice, Political Science, and the Law. The past professional experiences among the faculty have included law enforcement administration, prosecuting attorney, criminal defense attorney, probation officer, and parole board members. Faculty research interests cross the full spectrum of the justice system and include issues related to the police, courts, criminal procedures, adult and youth corrections. About the Program Classes will be held in the late afternoon and evening to allow for attendance by the non-traditional student who may have a full time work obligation. Initially, all classes will be held on the Weber State University campus in Ogden, Utah. Usually, two classes will be offered each semester including summer. Students will be able to complete all of the course work in two years. Admission Requirements Admission to the master's program will be competitive and entrance restricted to a limited number of well qualified applicants. Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice or a related social or behavioral science area. Each candidate will be evaluated on (1) past academic performance, (2) score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and (3) overall experience and progression in the criminal justice field. Specific admissions criteria include: ♦ Completion of the WSU admissions application form ♦ Completion of the Department Master's Degree application form ♦ Submission official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended ♦ Submission of a current resume ♦ Submission of a written personal statement explaining interest in the program Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis, and those whose undergraduate work does not reflect a basic foundation in criminal justice study, or who do not meet the specific admission requirements, may be admitted on a provisional basis. Students applying without undergraduate competency in Criminal Justice may be required to take basic undergraduate criminal justice classes before being admitted to full candidacy. Graduation Requirements Changes are pending. Please refer to the online catalog at weber.edu/catalog and/or call 801-626-6369. The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice requires the completion of 36 semester hours. Four core courses totaling 12 semester hours are required. These courses include: MCJ 6100 Contemporary Criminal Justice MCJ 6110 Research Methods in Criminal Justice I MCJ 6112 Research Methods in Criminal Justice II MCJ 6120 Theories of Crime and Delinquency The remaining hours will be chosen from elective courses of interest to the student. More than one "C" grade will not count toward completion of the degree. Students must choose between completing a Master's Project, or taking additional course work in lieu of the project. The requirements for each option are identified below. Regardless of the option chosen, the student must complete all degree requirements within four years of entry into the program. Project Option (36 credit hours) 1. Complete 12 core credit hours. 2. Complete 21 elective credit hours. 3. Complete three project credit hours. Non Project Option (36 credit hours) 1. Complete 12 core credit hours. 2. Complete 24 elective credit hours. WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY 2 0 04-2005 CATALOG