Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Slippery Rock University

Criminal Justice, Master of Arts (MA)

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate professional proficiency in the academic study of crime, justice, and criminology.
    • Develop competence in the history, theory and practice of the administration of criminal justice and its established content areas of law enforcement, courts and corrections.
    • Demonstrate understanding and application of criminological theories of crime causation, offenders, victims, and typologies.
    • Explain and understand the basic principles of research and the use and interpretation of statistics as they apply to criminological theory, existing crime data, and Criminal Justice policy evaluations.
    • Community corrections specialization students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the history, philosophy, policy and practice of balanced and restorative justice, alternative sentencing, diversionary adjudication, human services and the principles of offender treatment in a community setting.
  • Achieve acceptable levels of critical thinking, synthesis and analysis of informational sources about the study of crime and justice.
    • Critically evaluate criminological literature and scholarship.
    • Apply critical analysis to current controversies and topics in criminal justice.
    • Synthesize disparate informational sources about criminal justice issues, policies or theories into synergistic and cogent understandings.
    • Recognize and understand the various perspectives of controversial issues in crime and justice.
  • Understand and explain the importance of the study of and application of ethics, morals and values in Criminal Justice.
    • Formulate applications of the general field of ethical study to specific, criminal justice-related topics.
    • Employ ethical reflection and judgment to quickly emerging situations commonly found in the practice of law enforcement, correctional and court workgroup duties.
    • Develop familiarity with professional codes of ethics employed in the field.
  • Learn and appreciate the role of human diversity in Criminal Justice.
    • Demonstrate how diversity in human experience and culture applies to the professional practice of criminal justice in law enforcement, court processes, and corrections.
    • Recognize the historical and contemporary roles of racial, ethnic, religious, gender/sex identity, LGBTQ+, and lifestyle intolerance in human violence and aggression.
    • Examine and increase awareness of diversity challenges such as racial profiling, violence against women, and hate crime legislation and enforcement.

Related Links

Criminal Justice, MA Program Page

Criminology and Criminal Justice Department Page

Criminal Justice Fact Sheet

Professional Licensure/Certification Page

Curriculum Guide

  • Overall/Major GPA: 3.00 or higher
Required Courses
CRIM 610Administration of Justice3
CRIM 615Advanced Criminological Theory3
CRIM 620Critical Issues in Corrections3
CRIM 625Contemporary Issues in Policing3
CRIM 630Statistical Methods in Criminal Justice3
CRIM 635Criminological Research3
CRIM 660Criminal Justice Ethics3
Subtotal21
Electives
Select one of the following:3
Forensic Behavior:Crime and the Individual
White Collar Crime
Community Corrections
Individual and Group Interventions
Victimology
Criminal Justice and the Multicultural Community
Transnational Crime & Justice
Crime & Media
Women & the Criminal Justice System
Subtotal3
Degree Options
Choose one of the following:6
Subtotal6
Total Hours30

General

Comprehensive Examination
Two Elective Courses (by advisement)6
Forensic Behavior:Crime and the Individual
White Collar Crime
Community Corrections
Individual and Group Interventions
Victimology
Criminal Justice and the Multicultural Community
Transnational Crime & Justice
Crime & Media
Women & the Criminal Justice System

Internship Option (Non-Thesis)

Comprehensive Examination
CRIM 750Internship in Criminology6

Thesis

CRIM 800Master's Thesis6

Important Curriculum Guide Notes

This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.

PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions

Major Code: 9808
Concentration Code: GENR
UCC 10.05.2021
Revised: 04.15.2022

Recommended Course Sequence

One-Year Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
CRIM 610 Administration of Justice 3
CRIM 625 Contemporary Issues in Policing 3
CRIM 615 Advanced Criminological Theory 3
CRIM 620 Critical Issues in Corrections 3
 Hours12
Spring
CRIM 630 Statistical Methods in Criminal Justice 3
CRIM 660 Criminal Justice Ethics 3
CRIM 635 Criminological Research 3
CRIM 605 White Collar Crime 3
 Hours12
Summer
Comprehensive Examination
CRIM 602 Forensic Behavior:Crime and the Individual 3
CRIM 628 Transnational Crime & Justice 3
 Hours6
 Total Hours**30

** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year.

Major Code: 9808
Revised Date: 04.21.2022

Two-Year Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
CRIM 610 Administration of Justice 3
CRIM 615 Advanced Criminological Theory 3
 Hours6
Spring
CRIM 625 Contemporary Issues in Policing 3
CRIM 620 Critical Issues in Corrections 3
 Hours6
Summer
CRIM 602 Forensic Behavior:Crime and the Individual 3
CRIM 630 Statistical Methods in Criminal Justice 3
 Hours6
Second Year
Fall
CRIM 635 Criminological Research 3
CRIM 628 Transnational Crime & Justice 3
 Hours6
Spring
Comprehensive Examination
CRIM 660 Criminal Justice Ethics 3
CRIM 605 White Collar Crime 3
 Hours6
 Total Hours**30

** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year.

Major Code: 9808
Revised Date: 04.21.22