MASTER OF SCIENCE in CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & APPLICATION PROCESS Department of Criminal Justice College of Human Ecology
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OVERVIEW Degrees offered Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Resident and Distance Education Options Graduate Certificate in Security Studies Option Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Undergraduate Minors Criminal Justice Forensic Science Faculty 11 full-time faculty positions (all with PhD degree) Numerous part-time faculty Extensive teaching and research specializations Comprehensive student learning opportunities Study abroad, field experience, faculty mentoring
Master of Science in Criminal Justice Overview Resident and Distance Education Options Graduate Certificate in Security Studies Academic and applied-focus study to prepare students for the professions or more advanced degrees Exceptional graduate teacher/scholar faculty Financial aid available~ more information found at http://www.ecu.edu/financial/ Funded research and teaching assistantships (contingent upon funding availability) Study abroad, internship, and academic honor society Opportunity to interface with peers and faculty in a vibrant academic community
MSCJ Degree Plan 2 year full-time study (must enroll in 9 hours or more per semester) 3 year part-time study (must enroll in at least 6 hours per semester) Core curriculum (21 semester hours) JUST 6000 Criminal Justice Principles JUST 6001 Seminar in Research Methods/Statistical Interpretation JUST 6006 Seminar in Corrections JUST 6012 Seminar in Law Enforcement JUST 6201 Seminar in Criminology JUST 6300 Principles of CJ Admin. and Management JUST 6500 Seminar in Criminal Justice Courts Electives (15 semester hours) Varies each semester but may include subjects such as juvenile justice, terrorism, diversity issues, civil liability, and victimology A non-credit comprehensive examination is required for degree completion
Application Process Submit all documents online See application link as a user guide Admission into the program is competitive ECU Graduate School requires the following for an applicant to be considered a Regular Admission Minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (cumulative) Ranking of over 30% on the GRE score
APPLICATION PROCESS Step 1 See Check List for ECU Graduate School PDF document is available on the MSCJ website at http://www.ecu.edu/che/just/graduate.html Go online to find all application materials then fill out the application and pay fee http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gradschool/applicationinfo.cfm http://www.ecu.edu/che/just/graduate.html (Note: ECU will neither process an online application nor update its status without a paid application fee.)
APPLICATION PROCESS: Step 2 Transcripts ECU undergraduate transcripts will be automatically added to your application (if less than 10 years old) Applicants without a degree from ECU can use the automated transcript request function found in the online application If you choose to submit print transcripts, independent of the online application, they must be official (i.e., bearing the Registrar s original signature and seal; note: copies not accepted) and mailed to ECU in a sealed envelope by the degree conferring institution. Transcripts are required from every institution attended not just those where a degree was obtained
APPLICATION PROCESS: Step 3 Request letters of recommendation Using the online graduate application (preferred), letters of recommendation can be submitted digitally. It is recommended that applicants obtain 2 academic and 1 professional letter of recommendation (3 total).
APPLICATION PROCESS Step 4 Write the Statement of Purpose (SOP) Statement of purpose should describe: Relevant work experience; Short- and long-term goals; and Specific interests in the Criminal Justice Master s program Should be 500-750 words in length, single-spaced, and typewritten Thoroughly review and edit the SOP to insure that it s well written (i.e., structure, grammar, and flow) and contains the requested content.
APPLICATION PROCESS Step 5 The GRE Graduate Record Examination Find information about the GRE at www.ets.org/gre/ Practice tests are recommended The Graduate School evaluates both verbal and math scores It s recommended that applicants take the test six weeks in advance of the application due date to allow for the timely reporting of scores Have the scores sent to ECU (reporting code: 5180)
APPLICATION PROCESS (Distance Education) Step 6 For Distance Education Applicants Only Distance Education (DE) admission requirements All requirements for resident admissions apply to DE admissions. DE applicants must also be employed as a criminal justice practitioner, or in a closely related field, and have a minimum of five years of full-time (paid) employment experience in the positions. Written employment verification is required on official agency letterhead and it must be signed by an agency administrator. Written employment verification must be submitted at the time of application.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Need Help Additional help is available after you review the Power Point slides, PDF document, ECU MSCJ program website, and Graduate School s online application instructions. For additional assistance contact Department of Criminal Justice Graduate Program Office East Carolina University 245 Rivers Building Greenville, NC 27858-4353 Phone: 252-328-4192 Fax: 252-737-1769 Email: MSCJ@ecu.edu Web Address for MSCJ Program http://ecu.edu/che/just/graduate.html Web Address for Graduate School Application: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gradschool/applicationinfo.cfm