The MS in criminal justice prepares students to acquire jobs or advance their careers in the field of criminal justice policy and practice. Students receive the scientific foundations and practical insights required to evaluate, select, and implement criminal justice policies and practices that are effective, efficient, and fair. They also learn data analysis skills that equip them with the knowledge required for many policy-oriented and front-line operational positions. Criminal Justice, MS graduates are prepared to be leaders and change agents in the criminal justice field. 

Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to the MS degree in criminal justice, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Banner Code: LA-MS-CJUS

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30

Core Courses 

CRIM 511Evidence-based Crime and Justice Policy3
CRIM 512Implementing Crime and Justice Policy3
CRIM 513Leadership in Justice Organizations3
CRIM 514Legal and Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice3
CRIM 515Criminal Justice Research Methods and Data Analysis3
CRIM 516Evaluation of Crime and Justice Policies and Practices3
CRIM 517Research Practicum in Justice Policy and Practice3
Total Credits21

Electives 

Select three courses from the following:9
Justice Organizations and Processes
Policing
The Constitution, Criminal Procedure, and Security
Law and Social Control
Conduct of Justice Organizations at the Street Level
Corrections
Crime Analysis
Politics of Crime Policy
Crime and Place
Special Topics
Total Credits9

Bachelor's Degree (any)/Criminal Justice, Accelerated MS

Overview

Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA/BS in a chosen major and an MS in Criminal Justice in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.

See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees for policies related to this program.

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

BAM Pathway Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees policies. For information specific to this degree, see the department's website

Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits, 15 upper-level credits completed at Mason, and a minimum overall GPA of 3.50.

Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits.

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements

Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form.

  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.25
  • Successfully meeting Mason's requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:

Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits)

Courses include any graduate CRIM course with the exception of CRIM 517 Research Practicum in Justice Policy and Practice. Accelerated master's students will work with undergraduate and graduate advisors to select courses for their plan of study.

Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program

Any graduate CRIM course with the exception of CRIM 517 Research Practicum in Justice Policy and Practice


For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements see AP 6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees policies.

Program Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to identify and apply the latest research evidence on a particular justice policy or practice relevant to a particular organization.
  • Students will analyze data on a particular justice problem using appropriate techniques and translate research for practitioner and policy audiences.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to conceive of new ideas for research projects relevant to a particular organization and write reports, policy briefs and other publications using evidence-based research.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to give effective presentations applying evidence-based research to organizational policies, programs, and practices.
  • Students will analyze legal, ethical, and leadership challenges relevant to translating evidence-based research into policy and practice.
  • Students will develop key strategies and techniques for overcoming resistance to the translation of evidence-based policies and practices into the workplace.