Program Admission Requirements
In addition to the university admissions requirements, students applying to the Criminal Justice MA program must:
- Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 (out of a possible 4.0).
- Submit a letter of application explaining a statement of personal interest in pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice.
- Submit three professional or academic letters of reference.
- Completed applications must be submitted by May 15 for a Fall admission, September 15 for Spring admission, and January 15 for Summer admission.
Students seeking admission to the GSU Criminal Justice MA Program with a GPA lower than 2.75 may petition to the graduate program admissions committee for admission.
As criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field of study, students may apply for the MA in Criminal Justice at Governors State University with a baccalaureate degree in any field from an accredited university. We recommend undergraduate courses in the following areas: criminal or juvenile justice, general social science or criminal justice research methods, introductory statistical analysis, survey courses in the criminal justice system, juvenile justice, policing, courts and judicial systems, race and gender studies, policy issues and policy analysis. Strongly recommended undergraduate courses include: theories of deviance and criminal or delinquent behavior, international criminal justice systems, restorative justice, community-based justice, research methods, criminology, the criminal justice system, and constitutional issues pertaining to the justice system. The Criminal Justice MA program will admit students conditionally if they do not meet the undergraduate prerequisites for the graduate core courses, pending successful completion of 12 Criminal Justice MA program credits.
Transfer Credits
Providing that University policies regarding transfer of graduate credits are met, transfer credit will only be allowed for courses taken in graduate criminal justice or related graduate programs at accredited institutions. A limit of nine hours of transferable credits can be awarded for the Criminal Justice master’s degree program.
