About the Program
Criminal Justice Department
Cassety Hall Room 102
(716) 878-4517
https://criminaljustice.buffalostate.edu/
This program integrates theory, research, and practice that are grounded in the social sciences. The academically rigorous curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in professional criminal justice fields or for advanced graduate study.
Program graduates have a broad base of knowledge in criminal justice and related disciplines; academic skills in critical thinking, conceptualization and analysis; and an in-depth understanding of the complexities of decision making, policy implementation, and planned organizational change in criminal justice.
Admission Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in the last 60 credit hours or a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A written statement of intent that includes the applicant’s preparation for graduate study. Please follow these guidelines as you write the letter of intent. Keep your letter to a two-page maximum.
-Explain why you want to pursue graduate study in criminal justice.
-Link your academic training and job experience, if applicable, to why you think you are prepared for study in the Master's program in criminal justice.
-Share your expectations of the graduate program in the Criminal Justice Department of Buffalo State University.
-Specify your future goals/plans after you receive the Master's degree in criminal justice.
Conditional Admission
If minimum requirements for admission to the program are not met, the Graduate faculty may grant conditional admission to the program as a Pre-Major if the applicant has a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of the baccalaureate degree AND a minimum of five years full-time work experience in the criminal justice field.
Applications are reviewed on a continual basis for the fall and spring semesters.
Online application and supplemental application materials for this program may be found on the Graduate Studies website.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of methods of gathering evidence in criminal justice and an understanding of what constitutes acceptable and appropriate evidence.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the impacts and outcomes of various criminal justice policies and practices.
3. Demonstrate the ability to articulate, apply and critically evaluate criminal justice theories.
4. Demonstrate competence in writing discipline specific research-based papers incorporating supporting material.
5. Demonstrate the ability to think critically.
Program Requirements
Required Core Courses (21 credits)
CRJ 501 Theoretical Perspectives on Crime/Criminal Justice
CRJ 504 Research Methods in Criminal Justice
CRJ 601 Correctional Strategies
CRJ 604 Criminal Courts
CRJ 606 Law Enforcement Issues
Quantitative Requirement (Choose One)
CRJ 511 Advanced Crime Analysis
CRJ 609 Statistics in Criminal Justice
CRJ 624 Computer Application
Ethics and CRJ Issue (Choose One)
CRJ 625 Race and Ethnicity in Criminal Justice
CRJ 626 Gender Issues in Criminal Justice
CRJ 630 Constitutional Issues in Criminal Justice
CRJ 635 Criminal Justice Ethics
Elective Courses (6 credits)*
Select from the following:
CRJ 508 History of Criminal Justice
CRJ 511 Advanced Crime Analysis
CRJ 590 Independent Study
CRJ 602 Organizational Behavior and Management Process in Criminal Justice
CRJ 603 Administration of Criminal Justice
CRJ 608 Special Topics in Criminal Justice
CRJ 611 Data-Driven Policing
CRJ 620 White Collar Crime
CRJ 622 Juvenile Justice
CRJ 624 Computer Application
CRJ 625 Race and Ethnicity in Criminal Justice
CRJ 626 Gender Issues in Criminal Justice
CRJ 630 Constitutional Issues in Criminal Justice
CRJ 635 Criminal Justice Ethics
CRJ 710 Research Project
*Up to 6 credit hours of electives may be taken outside the department with prior written approval of the student’s academic adviser.
Portfolio or Master’s Project (3 credits)
Select one option:
CRJ 690 Master’s Project (3 credits)
CRJ 590 Graduate Portfolio (3 credits)
Total Required Credit Hours (30 credits)