Dual BA/MS Degree
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Students will be able to communicate professionally and effectively orally and in writing for the identified audience.
- Students will identify the diverse skills needed to succeed in this field and utilize these skills to address real-world problems.
- Students will evaluate different careers paths resulting from their CJC undergraduate degree.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to link theory, research, and policy.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to engage with and address existing social problems.
- Student will be able to analyze research on criminal justice topics.
- Student will be able to communicate professionally and effectively orally and in writing for the identified audience.
- Students will be able to design and execute research on a criminal justice topic.
- Students will apply a broad and deep knowledge of the prevailing explanations for criminal behavior to understand criminal justice problems.
- Students will be able to identify and evaluate the most appropriate policy or program to address criminal justice issues.
Student Learning Outcomes BA CJC
-
Students will be able to communicate professionally and effectively orally and in writing for the identified audience.
-
Students will identify the diverse skills needed to succeed in this field and utilize these skills to address real-world problems.
-
Students will evaluate different careers paths resulting from their CJC undergraduate degree.
-
Students will demonstrate the ability to link theory, research, and policy.
-
Students will demonstrate the ability to engage with and address existing social problems.
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology is to offer students the opportunity to learn how to analyze and interpret the systems of social control that are applied through the criminal justice system and throughout society, as well as how to explain the causes and consequences of these social structures. This major focuses on crime, criminals, and professionals who handle these concerns through arrest, court processing and punishments. As such, the major emphasizes community engagement and service so to prepare students for the jobs and leadership opportunities that will be necessary for their role as future change agents. The major offers skills in critical thinking and in conducting and evaluating research which promote evidence-based decision-making and effective communication. Always striving for best practices, this major is especially relevant to the urban engagement mission of the university, and its domain is always situated within inclusive learning environments which demand students become culturally competent individuals in order to understand and thrive in society.
Student Learning Outcomes MS CJC
- Student will be able to analyze research on criminal justice topics.
- Student will be able to communicate professionally and effectively orally and in writing for the identified audience.
- Students will apply a broad and deep knowledge of the prevailing explanations for criminal behavior to understand criminal justice problems.
- Students will be able to identify and evaluate the most appropriate policy or program to address criminal justice issues.
- Students will be able to design and execute research on a criminal justice topic.
The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology's mission is to lead in graduate education within the area of Criminal Justice and Criminology; to deepen and expand scientific understanding of America's justice systems; to develop a graduate-educated workforce and collaborate in urban issues and education; to create a vibrant learning and campus life experience for our master's students.
The M.S. in CJC degree requires successful completion of 30 credit hours of graduate work. Within these 30 hours, students may elect to complete a thesis or pursue the Demonstration Project.
Proposed Curriculum Requirements
Dual BA/MS Program
Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
BA Requirements
The undergraduate major in criminal justice and criminology (CJC) requires 36 credit hours. Students must achieve a grade of no lower than a C‐ in the core requirement courses and achieve an overall GPA of 2.0 in the major. Students with more than one academic major may apply only 9 credit hours from another degree program toward the CJC major. Students must complete 21 hours at UMKC. It is suggested that students broaden their program of study by selecting related offerings in English (especially those courses that stress writing skills), philosophy, history, geography, political science, psychology, sociology public administration, urban planning, and Black, Latinx and Latin American, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| CJC 101 | Introduction To Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJC 301 | Theoretical Criminology | 3 |
| CJC 302 | Methods of Criminological Research | 3 |
| CJC 303 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Systems Courses | ||
| Select one course from two different systems: | 6 | |
| Policing: | ||
| Policing In The Community | ||
| Policing in America | ||
| Courts: | ||
| Principles & Practices of Criminal Courts | ||
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| Corrections: | ||
| Principles Of Corrections | ||
| Community Corrections | ||
| Capstone Course | ||
| CJC 495WI | Capstone: Criminal Justice And Criminology | 3 |
| Major Electives (see restrictions below) | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Remaining Coursework: CJC Electives (15 hours)
In selecting courses to fulfill the 15 credit hours of CJC electives, CJC majors and minors should be aware of the following restrictions.
- No more than 3 credit hours of CJC 490 may be used to fulfill CJC elective requirements.
- No more than 3 credit hours of CJC 491 may be used to fulfill CJC elective requirements.
- No more than 3 credit hours of CJC 492 may be used to fulfill CJC elective requirements.
Students who are pursuing the CJC major or minor are strongly encouraged to meet with a CJC advisor each semester to review their progress toward degree completion, as well as to determine the appropriateness of coursework selected.
MS Requirements
The M.S. in CJC degree requires successful completion of 30 credit hours of graduate work. Within these 30 hours, students may elect to complete a thesis or pursue the Demonstration Project.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CJC 5511 | Sociological Methods II | 3 |
| CJC 5515 | Qualitative Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJC 5516 | Intermediate Statistics | 3 |
| CJC 5518 | Advanced Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CJC 5580 | Seminar: Policy And Decision Making In Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Thesis or Demonstration Project Option (see below) | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option | ||
| CJC Electives | 9 | |
| CJC 5599 | Research And Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstration Project Option | ||
| CJC Electives | 12 | |
| CJC 5590 | Directed Studies In Criminal Justice And Criminology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
The required graduate courses in statistics, research methods and theory demand completion of prerequisite courses in these areas from the student's undergraduate work. Those who have not had such courses may be required to take the prerequisite course(s) prior to enrolling in the graduate course. Beyond the required courses, students must complete an additional 15 hours of academic work. This work should include CJC graduate electives, other graduate-level courses from other departments that have been approved by the student’s Advisor prior to enrollment, and other coursework from the CJC curriculum that has been approved by the Graduate Committee prior to enrollment. These hours may also include Thesis hours, or Directed Study hours per the Demonstration Project depending on the desires of the student. The content of the 15 hours of study will reflect the student’s choices after consultation with their Advisor, as well as the student’s decision regarding the Thesis or the Demonstration Project option.
In sum, the following generally reflects the two options - Thesis Option and Demonstration Project Option:
· Thesis Option: 15 credit hours of required courses + 9 hours of M.S. CJC graduate elective coursework + 6 hours of Thesis = 30.0 credit hours.
· Demonstration Project Option: 15 credit hours of required courses + 12 hours of M.S. CJC graduate elective coursework + 3 hours of Directed Studies = 30.0 credit hours.
Thesis Option
Those electing to write a thesis as part of their graduate work can receive up to 6 hours credit (CJC 5599) for preparation of the thesis. In addition to writing the thesis students must successfully complete an oral defense of that thesis before their supervisory committee. Thesis defenses are also open to the public. The research topic of the thesis will address some issue of specific interest to the student under the advisement of their thesis chair. Through courses, literature review, and analyses conducted in developing the thesis, students are expected to become proficient in their specific thesis topic area.
Demonstration Project Option
Students electing the Demonstration Project Option will take 3.0 credit hours of CJC 5590: Directed Studies, during their final semester of coursework. In addition, students conducting Demonstration Projects will take one additional 3.0 credit hour elective. These 6.0 credit hours (CJC 5590 - Directed Studies for the Demonstration Project along with one additional 3.0 credit hour elective) are in lieu of the 6.0 credit hours of CJC 5599 that a student electing to conduct a Thesis would take.
The demonstration project will require the student to write an independent research paper that outlines solutions to a given scenario. The process is designed to reflect the academic peer-reviewed protocol and will involve two stages of blind review. Please see the Graduate Guidebook and/or the graduate director for more detail regarding the Demonstration Project.
Revised
Criminal justice and criminology (CJC) majors may apply for admission to the combined program no earlier than the end of the sophomore year, but must apply to the combined program prior to applying for graduation from the BA program. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a minimum 3.0 major GPA; have completed 12 credit hours of criminal justice and criminology coursework, including CJC 101 (or equivalent).
Applicants must provide a letter of application to the Graduate Director expressing personal plans and interest in graduate work in criminal justice. The application process is competitive, and satisfying minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission to the combined program is provisional pending the award of the Bachelor's degree.
Students must apply after completion of 60 hours toward their BA degree and prior to the start of the anticipated undergraduate graduation term. Student applications will be reviewed and approved or denied at the discretion of the Graduate Committee. The deadline for decision is December 1 for a May Graduation and May 1 for a December graduation.
Admission to the combined program does not guarantee retention in the program. A student whose GPA falls below 3.0 for more than two semesters or who is found guilty of academic dishonesty will be dropped from the combined program. A student who has been dropped from the combined BA/MS program will not automatically be dropped from the criminal justice and criminology BA. Students enrolled in the BA/MS combined program may choose to leave the program before completing the requirements for the MS degree and still receive their BA, conditional upon completing the requirements for that degree.
To apply, students must submit an application (Application form) and a completed Declaration of Major form to the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology (Declaration forms).