Online Option

Graduation Requirements

Minimum GPA of 3.0; Minimum of 33 graduate credits; A grade of B or better in the following: CRM JST 743, CRM JST 756 and CRM JST 773. All students complete a minimum of 33 graduate credits; 27 credit hours must be taken within the criminal justice program and the other 6 may be taken elsewhere in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare or in other UWM departments with the consent of the student’s advisor. Students must complete all degree requirements within seven years of enrollment.

Thesis Option (Essay Option)

Ideal for students intent on pursuing a doctoral degree. Required: 3 credits of approved research and an oral exam in defense of the essay.

Capstone Option (Non-Essay Option)

Students who do not complete the essay option are required to complete the capstone seminar course (CRM JST 920, Masters Capstone Seminar). This seminar integrates learning from the degree coursework and synthesizes criminal justice theories, empirical research, and program creation and implementation.

The curriculum offers criminal justice professionals a broad foundation for understanding criminal justice policy. Legal, organizational, political and behavioral frameworks are used to analyze the operation of the U.S. criminal justice system. Students are introduced to advanced knowledge on the nature and causes of crime, the justification and means of social control, the administration of the justice system, and the evaluation of criminal justice programs.

All students must take the following five courses.

Course	Credits
CRM JST 713: Measuring Crime and Analyzing Crime Data	3
CRM JST 756: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research	3
CRM JST 743: Administration of Criminal Justice Systems	3
CRM JST 773: Perspectives on Crime and the Criminal Justice System	3
CRM JST 920: Criminal Justice Masters Capstone Seminar	3
Criminal Justice Electives (4)	12
Electives (2 Criminal Justice or outside electives with advisor’s consent)	6
Total	33

Sample Course Schedule

The following example begins in Spring 2023 and includes four semesters, excluding summer.

Spring 2023	Fall 2023	Spring 2024	Fall 2024
CRM JST 743 Administration of Criminal Justice Systems (core class)	CRM JST 756 Analysis of Criminal Justice Research (core class)	CRM JST 773 Perspectives on Crime and the Criminal Justice System (core class)	Elective
Elective	CRM JST 713 Measuring Crime and Analyzing Crime Data (core class)	CRM JST 920 (Capstone)	Outside Elective
Elective	Outside Elective	Elective
Total Credits			33