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Curriculum

Hyoungah Park, Director, Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

https://www.saintpeters.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-arts-criminal-justice/ 

The MACJ program emphasizes a balance between theoretical knowledge, practical application, and advanced research, equipping students with the skills required to lead and innovate in various criminal justice roles. With 36 credits, students will engage in rigorous coursework, hands-on experiences, and a capstone project or comprehensive exam, preparing them for real-world challenges and leadership positions within criminal justice agencies, government, nonprofit organizations, and private sectors. Students in the MACJ program take classes with their cohort, allowing them to develop relationships while learning and growing with their peers. The 36-credit program focuses on the skills and knowledge needed for professionals in Criminal Justice.

Program Availability

All courses are offered on a trimester schedule (11 weeks: Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer) at the Jersey City campus.  Courses are offered in flexible formats: lecture, hybrid and online.

Degree Requirements

The degree requires 36 semester-hour credits. There are two tracks:

• the thesis MACJ Program and 
• the Non-thesis MACJ program.

The thesis program requires 21 credits for core courses, 12 credits for elective concentration courses, and a thesis (3 credits).

The non-thesis MACJ program requires 21 credits for core courses, 15 credits for elective concentration courses, and a comprehensive examination.

In addition to Academic Policies outlined across all Graduate programs, all students must fulfill all matriculation requirements, course requirements and maintain a 3.0 cumulative average in the program.

Advisement

All candidates for a degree will be assigned an advisor upon entrance into the program. Appointments with an advisor are available the Jersey City campus and may be arranged at other locations. Students are permitted to register for up to 9 credits in a term. Credits above this amount require approval from the Program Director.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of six (6) graduate credits of equivalent course work may be transferred from other accredited universities. A minimum grade of 3.0 (B) is required in such courses. Transfer credit is granted by petition to and approval by the program director. It is the student's responsibility to initiate the petition and justify the acceptance of the courses with a minimum of an official transcript and course course description. The program director will determine whether the courses are equivalent. Transfer credit is by permission only and not an obligation of the University.

Time Limitation

​Students are expected to enroll continuously until their program is completed. Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined in the Graduate Programs Academic Policy. The latter includes maintaining a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and accumulating sufficient credits within the stipulated time frame of five years. By federal regulation, F-1 International students must enroll as full-time students, so their time to completion will be considerably shorter.

Core Curriculum (21 credits)

All students complete a core curriculum focusing on constitutional law, advanced criminological theories, policy analysis, ethical issues, and research methods. This solid foundation prepares graduates to critically assess and address complex challenges within the criminal justice system.

Specializations (12 credits for the Thesis MACJ Program, 15 credits for the non-thesis MACJ Program)
To provide targeted expertise, the program offers three unique specializations:

Criminal Justice Administration Specialization: This track focuses on leadership in law enforcement and criminal justice management. It includes courses on human resources, multicultural law enforcement, and community policing, culminating in practical experiences through an internship.

Global Criminal Justice Specialization: Ideal for those interested in the international dimensions of criminal justice, this specialization covers terrorism, transnational crimes, multicultural perspectives, and comparative criminal justice systems, offering students a global understanding of justice issues and solutions.

Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity Specialization: This track focuses on the advanced skills and knowledge needed to address the increasing complexity of cyber threats and digital crimes. As technology rapidly evolves, so do cybercriminals methods and sophistication. This specialization prepares graduates to investigate, prevent, and respond to cybercrimes while also understanding the broader cybersecurity landscape, making it ideal for those pursuing careers in law enforcement, corporate security, intelligence, or cybersecurity consulting.