Department of Criminology and Political Science
The Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Texas A&M University–San Antonio is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to pursue a career in the study of crime and the criminal justice system. Upon completion of this program, students will be prepared for administrative, upper-level staff, treatment, management, and planning positions in crime and criminal justice related agencies. Students will also be prepared to enter the criminal justice system as criminal justice professionals or pursue another graduate program, such as law school or a doctoral program. This degree program will be especially beneficial to working professionals who wish to further their education, but need the flexibility that a distance learning program offers. In order to prepare students for a career in the study of crime and the criminal justice system, this graduate program will offer courses in a wide array of topics in both criminology and criminal justice.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree should have a minimum 3.2 GPA over the last 60 completed hours or an overall 3.0 GPA. Applicants with a GPA below the minimum may be conditionally admitted, but are required to take the GRE to be eligible for conditional acceptance. The minimum GRE score for conditional acceptance is 320. Students wanting to transfer to our program are also welcome to apply.
Texas A&M-San Antonio Department of Social Sciences offers a Master of Science Degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice. The program provides excellent professional training for students seeking employment with federal, state and local agencies, as well as private industry. In addition, students will gain comprehensive theoretical training that prepares them for doctoral work or employment in a research capacity. The program offers an innovative curriculum to prepare students to address today’s most pressing criminal justice challenges as well as the skills necessary to become an effective leader.
The online program prepares graduates to:
- Gain a more critical understanding of theory, policy, and contemporary research in the field of criminal justice.
- Think critically about criminal justice problems and develop sustainable solutions to them.
- Develop effective leadership skills for criminal justice organizations such as law enforcement, corrections, and the legal system as well as related fields.
- Gain a command of advanced research methods and statistical techniques necessary to pursue doctoral studies or research-related positions.
Criminology and Criminal Justice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRIM 5301 | Advanced Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CRIM 5302 | Critical Issues in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIM 5303 | Law and Policy in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIM 5304 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| CRIM 5305 | Data Analysis | 3 |
| CRIM 5306 | Criminology and Criminal Justice Comprehensive Exam | 3 |
| CRIM 5307 | Thesis I | 3 |
| CRIM 5308 | Thesis II | 3 |
| CRIM 5309 | Courts and Sentencing | 3 |
| CRIM 5310 | Comparative and International Criminology | 3 |
| CRIM 5311 | Race, Class, Gender, and Crime | 3 |
| CRIM 5312 | Media, Crime, and Policy | 3 |
| CRIM 5313 | Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice Management | 3 |
| CRIM 5314 | Causes and Control of Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| CRIM 5315 | Crimes of the Powerful | 3 |
| CRIM 5316 | Punishment and Society | 3 |
| CRIM 5317 | Nature and Nurture of Crime Causation | 3 |
| CRIM 5318 | Leadership in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIM 5319 | Law, Social Change, and Social Control | 3 |
| CRIM 5320 | Violence and Victimization | 3 |
| CRIM 5321 | Managing Criminal Justice Organizations | 3 |
| CRIM 5322 | Cyber Crime, Cybersecurity, and the Law | 3 |
| CRIM 5323 | Seminar on Police Effectivenes | 3 |
| CRIM 5324 | Immigration, Crime, and Immigration Policy | 3 |
| CRIM 5325 | Ethical Decision-Making in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIM 5326 | Fieldwork in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIM 5327 | Special Topics in Criminology | 3 |