Criminal Justice Professional M.A

Designed for the full-time criminal justice professional, the Professional Master’s Degree Program in Criminal Justice provides students with advanced knowledge of the nature of crime, criminal justice institutions and processes, current criminal justice policy and training in research methods, statistics, and program evaluation. The program will also be open to students seeking a terminal master’s degree and a career in the criminal justice system. Upon completion of the program, students will have furthered their understanding of crime, the criminal justice system, and be able to conduct evaluations of policies and programs within various agencies in the justice system. This program is structured so that enrolled students can complete the program in two years of part-time study (six credit hours per regular semester and six credit hours during the summer sessions).

Recognizing most full-time professionals have schedules that often preclude attendance during regular class times, the program utilizes a variety of distance education techniques, including prerecorded and compressed video, and online instruction.

Admission Requirements

1. An undergraduate degree from an institution with regional or national accreditation is required. Students are encouraged to complete some undergraduate course work related to criminal justice/ criminology, and statistics in social sciences. A minimum GPA of 2.75 for all undergraduate work and a 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate work is required for admission to the program. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission.
2. A Criminal Justice Graduate Program Application Cover Page must be completed.
3. A Statement of Purpose for pursuing the Professional Master’s Degree, addressing the student’s particular interests in the field of criminal justice and his or her professional goals, will be provided at the time of the student’s application.
4. Two letters of reference are required.
   It is preferred that both letters be from professors from whom the applicant took the classes. If the applicant completed the undergraduate degree work within the past five years, it is required that at least one letter be from a professor, unless the applicant can document the reasons why a letter from a former professor is difficult to obtain.  If the applicant completed the undergraduate degree work more than five years ago and is currently working in a criminal justice-related field, two letters may be obtained from the applicant’s direct supervisor or co-workers. References from other sources will not be reviewed.
5. The admissions process requires submitting all information and materials through the UNLV Graduate College Online Application for admission. See the Criminal Justice Department website for more details.
6. International Students. Applicants who are citizens of a country where English is not the native language must show competency in the English language. As a part of the entrance requirements, they must take the “Test as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL) and receive a minimum of 500 (written) or 213 (computerized). International applicants must also submit a completed financial statement before their application can be reviewed and should check with the Graduate College regarding application procedures.