About the Program
Criminal Justice Department
Cassety Hall Room 102
(716) 878-4517
https://criminaljustice.buffalostate.edu/
This program integrates theory, research, and practice that are grounded in the social sciences. The academically rigorous curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in professional criminal justice fields or for advanced graduate study.
Program graduates have a broad base of knowledge in criminal justice and related disciplines; academic skills in critical thinking, conceptualization and analysis; and an in-depth understanding of the complexities of decision making, policy implementation, and planned organizational change in criminal justice.
Admission Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in the last 60 credit hours or a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A written statement of intent that includes the applicant’s preparation for graduate study.
If minimum requirements are not met, the graduate faculty may grant an applicant conditional admission to the program as a premajor if the applicant has a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale) AND a minimum of five years of full-time work experience in the criminal justice field.
Applications are reviewed on a continual basis for the fall and spring semesters.
In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of methods of gathering evidence in criminal justice and an understanding of what constitutes acceptable and appropriate evidence.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the impacts and outcomes of various criminal justice policies and practices.
3. Demonstrate the ability to articulate, apply and critically evaluate criminal justice theories.
4. Demonstrate competence in writing discipline specific research-based papers incorporating supporting material.
5. Demonstrate the ability to think critically.
Program Requirements
Required Core Courses (18 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
CRJ501 THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ504 RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ601 CORRECTIONAL STRATEGIES | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ604 CRIMINAL COURTS | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ606 LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ609 STATISTICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
Elective Courses (9-18 credit hours)
Select 9-18 credit hours from the following:
Complete course(s) and earn 9 - 18 credit(s) from the following:
CRJ508 HISTORY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ511 ADVANCED CRIME ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ590 INDEPENDENT STUDY | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
CRJ602 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ603 ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ608 SPECIAL TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ611 DATA-DRIVEN POLICING | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ620 WHITE-COLLAR CRIME | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ622 JUVENILE JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ624 COMPUTER APPLICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ625 RACE AND ETHNICITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ626 GENDER ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ630 CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ635 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ETHICS | 3 - Credit Hours
CRJ710 RESEARCH PROJECT | 3 - Credit Hours
Up to 9 credit hours of electives may be taken outside the department with prior written approval of the student's academic adviser.
Comprehensive Examination or Master's Project (0-3 credit hours)
Select the following course OR Comprehensive Examination
Complete course(s) and earn up to 3 credit(s) from the following:
CRJ690 MASTER'S PROJECT | 3 - Credit Hours
36 Total Credit Hours