Criminology, M.A.

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College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
Department: Criminology

Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

This Major shares core requirements with the Cybercrime, M.S. .

The M.A. in Criminology is a two-year major designed to provide the student with an in depth understanding of the major ideas, issues, theories, and research comprising the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

Preferred minimum scores of 154 Verbal (62nd percentile), 145 Quantitative (17th percentile) or higher on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). All applicants must submit GRE scores taken within the preceding five years.
A statement of purpose detailing: (a) reasons for seeking a MA degree in criminology, (b) research interests, and (c) future career plans.
A professional or academic writing sample providing evidence of the candidate’s academic capabilities.
Three letters of recommendation speaking to the applicant’s academic capabilities

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum Hours - 33 credit hours

Shared Core Requirements - 11 Credit Hours
Additional required courses - 7 Credit Hours
Electives – Non-thesis option - 15 Credit Hours
Electives – Thesis option - 9 Credit Hours
Thesis (optional) - 6 Credit Hours

Shared Core Requirements (11 Credit Hours)

CCJ 6118 Introduction to Criminology Theory Credit Hours: 4
CCJ 6705 Research Methods in Criminology Credit Hours: 3-4 (3 credits for this program)
CCJ 6706 Quantitative Analysis in Criminology I Credit Hours: 4

Additional Required Courses (7 Credit Hours)

CCJ 6485 Criminal Justice and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6707 Quantitative Analysis in Criminology II Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6937 Pro Seminar in Criminology Credit Hours: 1

Non-Thesis Option (15 Credit Hours)

Students in the non-thesis option complete 15 elective hours. Options include but are not limited to:
CCJ 6624 Seminar in Violence Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6638 Seminar in Nature and Causes of Crime Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6654 Seminar in Drugs and Crime Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6669 Seminar in Social Inequality and Crime Credit Hours: 3
A maximum of three hours may be directed Independent Study. Up to six graduate hours may be taken in the area outside the Major with approval from the Graduate Director.

Thesis Option (15 Credit Hours)

Students in the thesis option complete 9 elective hours. Options include but are not limited to:
CCJ 6624 Seminar in Violence Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6638 Seminar in Nature and Causes of Crime Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6654 Seminar in Drugs and Crime Credit Hours: 3
CCJ 6669 Seminar in Social Inequality and Crime Credit Hours: 3
A maximum of three hours may be directed Independent Study. Up to six graduate hours may be taken in the area outside the Major with approval from the Graduate Director.
CCJ 6971 Thesis: Master’s Credit Hours: 2-19
The thesis will consist of research that makes an original contribution to the scholarly literature and may be of either a quantitative or qualitative nature. 6 credit hours of thesis is required.

Comprehensive Exam

For students pursuing the thesis option, an oral defense of a written thesis is required after the final draft of the thesis has been accepted by the candidate’s supervisory committee.

For students pursuing the non-thesis option students must pass a comprehensive exam or complete a project. The comprehensive exam is designed to test the student’s knowledge of the three core areas of the Master’s program; criminological theory, current issues in criminal justice and research methodology. A project is typically a research proposal, but can be other types of research activities, including an internship focused on understanding a criminal justice problem along with a literature review on that problem. Approval for the proposed project must be received from the Major Professor and one other Criminology faculty member.

University of South Florida

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