Criminal Justice, MA

Program Mission Statement

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ) program at Stockton University provides a quality graduate program that promotes advanced inquiry and application of new knowledge and fosters advanced-level career opportunities. The program aims to serve the criminal justice educational, and research needs in the southern New Jersey area. Program faculty participate in research and service activities that benefit criminal justice and social service agencies locally, statewide, and nationally. The faculty’s involvement in research and community affairs enhances the classroom experience, as faculty members are able to engage students in discussions of current dilemmas and controversies in the field. The program provides students with the education needed to advance in the practitioner realm of criminal justice; it also prepares those who want to continue with their education by giving them the research and analytical skills needed to pursue those goals. 

Program Objectives

The faculty of the MACJ program emphasizes dialogue, critical thinking, policy evaluation, and clear and effective written and oral communication of ideas. Specifically, students in the program will:

1. Gain knowledge, insight, and sensitivity to occupy professional positions in public and private criminal justice agencies or prepare for continuation of graduate work in Criminal Justice or related field.

2. Apply criminal justice theories, concepts, or principles to criminological problems.

3. Use relevant data, information sources, and applied principles of data analysis to enhance understanding of the criminal justice system.

4. Gain greater understanding of all branches of the criminal justice system and issues related to the administration and management of these branches.

5. Appreciate political and ethical dilemmas confronting the process of designing or evaluating effective criminal justice policy.

6. Learn how the scholarly community contributes to understanding of current issues facing the criminal justice system. 

Admission Requirements

The Criminal Justice program offers a direct entry option for applicants who are (1) current Stockton students who are majoring in Criminal Justice or Psychology with at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA or (2) Stockton Criminal Justice or Psychology alumni with a 3.3 cumulative GPA who graduated within one year of application to the MACJ program. Other majors/graduates may be eligible with the permission of the Graduate Program Chair. 

The following are admission requirements for direct entry into the MACJ program: 

• A cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.

• Completion of the following prerequisites with minimum grade requirements met:

1. CRIM 1100 with a C or better on the first attempt of the class.

2. CRIM 2141, PSYC 3242 or equivalent research class with a B or better on the first attempt of the class.

3. CRIM 2114 or a social science theories class with a B or better on the first attempt of the class.

4. CRIM 2145, PSYC 2241, or equivalent statistics class with a B or better on the first attempt of the class.

5. CRIM 36xx capstone course or PSYC 36xx senior seminar with a B or better on the first attempt of the class.

• Forensic Psychology Track students must also have completed PSYC 1100 with a C or better on the first attempt of the class.

• Homeland Security Track students must have also completed CRIM 2216 with a C or better on their first attempt of the class. 

Students who have withdrawn from the Criminal Justice dual degree program are not eligible for direct entry if they withdrew from a graduate course or earned a grade of B- or below in a graduate course. 

The following are the admissions requirements for traditional entry into the MACJ program for (1) candidates with BA/BS degrees from other colleges, (2) candidates who graduated from Stockton over a year prior to their application to the graduate program, and (3) candidates who graduated from Stockton, but do not qualify for direct entry:

• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• Completion of the following prerequisites with minimum grade requirements met:

1. CRIM 1100 with a C or better.

2. CRIM 2114 or a social science theories class with a C or better.

3. CRIM 2141 or equivalent research class with a C or better.

4. CRIM 2145 or equivalent statistics class with a C or better.

• Forensic Psychology Track students must also have completed PSYC 1100 with a C or better.

• Homeland Security Track students must have also completed CRIM 2216 with a C or better on their first attempt of the class. 

Transfer Credit

Provided that the courses sufficiently match corresponding Stockton courses, the University will accept up to six credits of appropriate, relevant graduate credit from other regionally accredited colleges and universities that have been earned within the last six years.  The credits may only be transferred in as electives credits and must be approved for use toward the MACJ degree by the Program Chair. 

Non-Degree Option

Students who desire graduate education, but do not necessarily intend to earn a graduate degree may attempt three courses (9 credits) as non-degree (non-matriculated) students. An application for non-matriculated status is required, and registration for classes is on a space-available basis. Non-matriculated students must complete the undergraduate course prerequisites before taking graduate program classes. 

Graduation Requirements

The program requires 36 credits for completion.  Students will typically take a total of 12 three- credit courses.  Eight of the courses, or 24 credits, will be taken in a required core curriculum that introduces the student to general issues across the criminal justice system. The remaining twelve credits will be earned in four elective courses, which are determined by the track of study.  Credits applied to the MACJ degree or certificate must be earned within the last six years from a regionally accredited college or university.   Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate.  Students with an overall GPA of at least 3.8 will be eligible for graduation with distinction; those with a 4.0 GPA will receive the Dean’s Award. 

Academic Progress

University policy states that a graduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 to be considered making minimum academic progress.  If the GPA for a given semester is below 3.00, but the cumulative GPA is at or above 3.00, the student will be placed on Academic Warning. A graduate student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 is placed on Academic Probation. A graduate student on probation, who does not make minimum academic progress as outlined by the program, may be dismissed from the program.  

In the MACJ program, grades of B or higher are considered passing. Students have two attempts to successfully complete any given course with a B or above.  Students may withdraw from no more than three courses while in the program.  Students may withdraw from any given course only once. Students who receive a B- or lower in any class will be required to repeat that class if it is a core course or a required course for one’s track.  The faculty member who taught the class will fill out a remedial form, to be approved by the MACJ Program Chair, to identify areas that the student should focus on for improvement in the next attempt.  

In the event that a B or above is not earned on the second attempt after earning a B- or below or withdrawing on the first attempt of the course, a student with a GPA of 3.30 who has not successfully completed the course at the second attempt, will be dismissed from the graduate program. Students who receive two C’s or below while in the program will be dismissed from the program. 

For additional information on remedial plans and dismissal policies, students may refer to the MACJ Program Handbook. 

Program Completion Timeline

Matriculated students may take up to a maximum of four courses per semester.  Students must complete all aspects of the program within six years of matriculation, not including time spent on school-approved leave of absence, or they will be dismissed from the program. Credits applied to the MACJ degree or certificate must be earned within the last six years from a regionally accredited college and university. Students who are not registered for any classes, yet also not finished with other degree requirements, must either take a Leave of Absence or declare Maintenance of Matriculation Status through the Office of Graduate Studies. 

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is a very serious issue. Unless specifically designated otherwise, all work is expected to be the student’s own, independent effort. When in doubt about how to complete an assignment properly, students need to consult with the appropriate faculty member. For more information regarding charges of academic dishonesty, students should refer to the relevant section in the University Bulletin and the MACJ Program Handbook. 

Research and Ethics

If faculty and/or student research or scholarship involves contact with human or animal subjects, the research project requires pre-approval from the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) before conducting the research. In addition to the IRB guidelines, Stockton’s criminal justice faculty and students must adhere to the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ code of ethics regarding research. For more information, students may refer to the MACJ Program Handbook. 

Curriculum

To earn a MACJ degree, students must successfully complete a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit through a combination of core courses, electives, and a capstone course (CRIM 5410, which is one of the core courses). There are three academic tracks available to students: Forensic Psychology, Justice Studies, and Victimology and Victim Advocacy. All students, regardless of track, will complete the same set of eight mandatory core courses; the remaining four courses will vary depending upon the track chosen.

 Forensic Psychology Track

The forensic psychology track explores the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to crime, the law, and legal systems.  In addition to the mandatory core courses, there are two required courses, a track elective, plus one MACJ elective from any track. 

Justice Studies Track

Justice studies allows students to study the field of criminal justice from a broad perspective. In addition to the mandatory core courses, students in the justice studies track will complete four additional MACJ courses of their choosing and may mix and match electives from any of the MACJ tracks. They may also choose an elective course offered by other Stockton graduate programs with the Chair’s permission. 

Victimology and Victim Advocacy Track

Victimology and Victim Advocacy is a comprehensive, intersectional approach to studying victimization within the context of the criminal legal system, as well as other social institutions (e.g., government, education, child welfare system). In addition to the mandatory core courses, there are two required courses, a track elective, plus one MACJ elective from any track.    

Additional MACJ Electives

In addition to the electives in each track above, the MACJ program offers the following elective opportunities: Independent Study (CRIM 5800), Advanced Independent Research and Publication (CRIM 5890) and Graduate Internship (CRIM 5990). 

MSW/MACJ Dual Degree

 Enrollment for a dual master’s degree: Master of Criminal Justice and Master of Social Work will begin in Fall 2026. Students who are interested in pursuing the dual degree option will apply to the dual degree program through the Graduate Admissions Website. Admission criteria for both programs as listed on the admissions website must be met.

In the MACJ/MSW Dual Degree Program, students will earn both Master’s degrees in tandem through combined coursework over a two- or three-year course of study. Students will complete a practicum in accordance with their admission status in the dual degree program.

Students who have earned an MSW or a MACJ in the most recent 10 years can gain direct enrollment in the Dual Degree program to complete either the MSW or the MACJ in an abbreviated time frame.

Capstone Experience

One of the program’s core courses, CRIM 5410 Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, will serve as a capstone experience for students.  Students will not be permitted to take the capstone until they are in their second year (preferably final semester) and have already passed Criminological Theory (CRIM 5206), Crime, Data, and Analysis (CRIM 5315), and Research and Evaluation (CRIM 5316). Students who do not finish the three aforementioned courses prior to taking the capstone may be enrolled in one of these courses while also taking the capstone with permission from the MACJ Chair. 

For more information on the capstone, students should refer to the MACJ Program Handbook. 

Graduate Internship (CRIM 5990)

The goal of the internship program is for students to gain valuable, on-site work experience at a criminal justice agency for academic credit. Students are given the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a practical, applied fashion by observing and contributing to the daily activities of operating agencies and organizations. Internship locations may include, but are not limited to, government agencies, police departments, prisons and jails, probation or parole offices, private security firms, judicial clerkships, legal offices and agencies involving administrative, victim advocacy agencies, research, teaching, and related activities, and offices of emergency management and other first responder agencies. Eligible students must have a 3.0 GPA or better and have completed at least half of his/her course work (which may not include an independent study) by the start of the internship. The deadlines to apply for an internship are November 1 for spring, April 1 for summer, and May 1 for fall. 

For more information on the internship process, students should refer to the MACJ Program Handbook. 

Dual Degree Program

The dual degree program is a combined 4+1 BA/MA degree program in Criminal Justice and is designed to offer students a broad, multidisciplinary and multidimensional perspective of the criminal justice system. Students will embark on an intensive academic experience for five years. This program includes all the liberal arts courses that all Criminal Justice students at Stockton are expected to take, plus all the undergraduate and graduate core Criminal Justice classes. This is an intense program and not recommended for students who work many hours outside of school.

Enrollment of Eligible Students 

There are three paths through which students can enroll in the dual degree program:

1. High school seniors who apply to Stockton expressing an interest in majoring in Criminal Justice, who hold a minimum 3.7 GPA, and demonstrate math, writing, and reading readiness through either a) earned Accuplacer scores of at least 255 for math, 250 for writing, and 250 for reading or b) earn at least a 570/24 SAT/ACT math score, a 27/20 SAT/ACT writing score, and a 26/20 SAT/ACT reading score, will be considered for early, conditional admission into the dual degree program upon acceptance to Stockton University as undergraduate students that indicate conditional admission to the dual degree program in Criminal Justice.  

2. Eligible first year Stockton students who were not enrolled into the dual degree program at admission to the University, but who are interested in the dual degree program, can only apply for the program in May at the end of their first year.  These students may apply for admission if their first two semesters and cumulative GPA is at least 3.3. 

3. Transfer students may apply for early, conditional admission if they have a GPA of at least 3.3 every semester at their sending institution. The program will accept a maximum of 64 undergraduate transfer credits, but students with this amount of transfer credits will likely have to take summer classes or extra classes during the regular semester to graduate on time.  This is because students entering Stockton with an associate degree will have 64 credits by the end of their sophomore year, but dual degree candidates will have completed or need to complete at least 68 credits by that time.  Transfer students who are eligible for the dual degree program will have any excess transferred Criminal Justice electives count toward At-Some-Distance requirements.  If At-Some-Distance credit requirements are fulfilled, excess transferred Criminal Justice credits may then be applied to the Cognate area.  

To formally enroll in the dual degree program, applicants must sign and return an admission contract acknowledging the requirement that they must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3 every semester, earn at least a C in CRIM 1100 on the first attempt, as well as uphold the academic honesty policy for the University during their undergraduate years to maintain their eligibility in the dual degree program.  Once accepted into the program, students may decide to change their major to something other than Criminal Justice or graduate with a B.A. degree only by notifying the Criminal Justice dual degree coordinator and the University in writing.

 Maintenance of Academic Eligibility

To maintain eligibility in the dual degree program, the following standards for academic progress and requirements would be published and all dual degree students will sign a letter of commitment in writing acknowledging their acceptance of these requirements. Students without this written acknowledgement will not be admitted into the program.

• Students must pass CRIM 1100 with a C or better on the first attempt at taking the class.

• Students must maintain a semesterly and cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 while they are at Stockton to remain conditionally admitted to the accelerated dual degree BA/MA program. Students who fail this standard will have their early, conditional admission to the MACJ program withdrawn. They could be eligible to apply for regular admission to the MACJ program following completion of a baccalaureate degree.

• Students should complete all their General Studies and At-Some-Distance courses as well as the accompanying attributes by the end of their junior (third) year and they will have completed all their required courses for the BA and MA degrees by the end of their fifth academic year.

• Students with undergraduate status must uphold the academic honesty policy for the University to maintain their eligibility in the dual degree program.

• Students must work closely with the dual degree coordinator to be sure they are enrolled in the proper classes each semester. For students to start MACJ classes in their fourth year, they must have met the requirements outlined in the dual degree curriculum worksheet for Years 1 through 3 and received approval from the dual degree coordinator. In order to ensure this occurs, students must meet with the dual degree coordinator, at minimum, once per semester, typically during registration. 

Curriculum  

To earn a bachelor’s and master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, students must complete a minimum of 128 undergraduate credits and 36 graduate credits. Students in the dual degree program will be enrolled in the dual degree concentration and cannot enroll in any other undergraduate concentration. They can, however, declare an academic track as part of their graduate work.

The undergraduate course work will consist of the following:

• 32 undergraduate criminal justice credits

• 14 undergraduate cognate credits

• 32 undergraduate general studies credits

• 32 undergraduate at-some-distance credits

• 18 graduate credits applied to the baccalaureate degree 

All students should complete their General Studies and At-Some-Distance (non-social and behavioral science) electives as well as the accompanying attributes by the end of their junior year. By the time students begin to take graduate courses in their senior year, they should have only eight undergraduate credits remaining.

The graduate curriculum consists of 36 graduate credits, including eight core courses for the master’s degree.  Eighteen graduate credits will also be counted toward the bachelor’s degree, noted above. Once fully enrolled in the MACJ program, dual degree students will complete an additional six graduate courses including the capstone experience.

Full details about the curriculum can be accessed on the MA in Criminal Justice website.