Master of Science in Justice Policy

(MSJPY)

Department of Criminal Justice

College of Public Policy

What can a Master’s DegreeDo for Me?

• Broaden job opportunities• Advancement in current job• Prepare for a Ph.D. if interested in teaching or

research• Be educated by nationally-recognized faculty• Network with a group of like-minded students

Program GoalsTo provide students with competency in:

• Policy analysis• Evaluation and research• Criminal justice agency management• CJ Theory and Systems

Examples of Our Graduates• Eladio Castillo, ‘08

– FBI, Special Agent

• Jorge Gonzales, ‘08 – Equal Opportunity Specialist, Department of Labor

• Fabian Romero, ’09– Ph.D. student at Texas A&M, Sociology

• Kristina Lopez, ’10– Ph.D. student at Texas State University, Criminal Justice

• Bill Prock, ‘11– Adjunct instructor at UTSA

Faculty & Research InterestsTenure-Track Faculty

Leanne Alarid, Sam Houston State UnivMegan Augustyn, University of MarylandRoger Enriquez, University of IowaMichael Gilbert, Arizona State UniversityRichard D. Hartley, University of NebraskaHolly V. Miller, Univ of South CarolinaJ. Mitchell Miller, University of TennesseeByongook Moon, Michigan State UniversityJamie Newsome, University of CincinnatiMichael Tapia, The Ohio State UniversityMarie Tillyer, University of CincinnatiRob Tillyer, University of CincinnatiJeff Ward, University of Florida

Research Interests/ExpertiseCorrections; CJ Decision-Making CriminologyLegal Issues; Delinquency PreventionRestorative and Community JusticeCourts and SentencingDelinquency; Immigration; CorrectionsDrugs and Crime; Prog EvaluationSchool Bullying; Violence; TheoryBiosocial Crim/Evolutionary PsychJuvenile Justice; Gangs; Race/ethnVictimization and ViolencePolicing; Crime preventionLife-course Criminology; Gangs

36 hour Degree Program

•15 hours

Core courses

•9 hours of CRJ Prescribed electives

•6 hours of CRJ OR Free electives

Electives

•6 hoursThesis or

Comprehensive Exam

Core Classes (15 Hours)

Offered in the FALL Semester:• CRJ 5073 Research Methods• CRJ 5123 Justice Policy Formation/Implementation• CRJ 6373 Crime Theory and Justice Policy

Offered in the SPRING Semester:• CRJ 5083 Quantitative Analysis• CRJ 5133 Management of Justice Organizations

Electives (15 Hours)

Prescribed Electives (9 Hours)• Topics include:

– Program Evaluation– Gender Issues in CJ– Race/ethnicity in CJ– Corrections Policy– Policing– Jury Decision Making– Courts

• Prescribed courses listed in Catalog

Free Electives (6 Hours)• Can take more Prescribed CJ

Electives from First List

OR• Courses from Other

Disciplines Selected from a Pre-approved list (in the dept graduate handbook on-line)

Option I: Thesis After the completion of 24 hours of

coursework:

Thesis- 6 hours• Preparation for Doctoral Education• Theory Based Original Research Project with

Policy Implications• Committee of 3 UTSA faculty• Completed Thesis Bound and on UTSA Library

Shelves

Option II: Comprehensive Exam6 hours of electives which can include• CRJ 6383 Capstone- will prepare students for the

comprehensive exams (3 credits)• + Must Pass a Comprehensive Exam• EXAM LOGISTICS

– 5 question exam, with a question coming from each core area– Held on a single 6 hour day (9-12, hour lunch break, 1-3).– Scheduled during the spring semester– Pass/Fail

Minimum Requirements for Admission

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or equivalent training at a foreign institution

• Completed 18 hours in criminal justice or in areas related to CJ or professional CJ experience

• Minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in last 60 hours of coursework

• Good Standing at the last institution attended• Completed Application Packet to the graduate school

What is Needed to Complete my Application Packet?

UTSA application + fee paid to graduate school http://graduateschool.utsa.edu/

Official Undergraduate transcripts from all previous community colleges/universities

Two letters of recommendation Your personal statement Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores

Priority Deadline: April 15th

(for August start date) •Fall Admission FINAL Deadline: July 1

•Spring Admission FINAL Deadline for: Nov 1

(International student deadline: April 1 for Fall and Sept 1 for Spring admission)

Financial SupportVisit http://graduateschool.utsa.edu/ for information on:

Scholarships: Opportunities to offset the cost through competitive funding Financial Aid: Access to financial loans

Research Assistantships (GRA): Paid part-time employment through the Department of Criminal Justice to help faculty members with their research or teaching (apply directly through the department)Once you have been accepted to graduate school, contact: Forrest.Wilson@utsa.edu for an GRA application

UTSA MSJPY

For questions, please contact : Leanne Alarid

Graduate Advisor of RecordGraduate Program Committee Chair

Leanne.alarid@utsa.edu