Criminal Justice

The Master of Criminology & Justice degree program responds to the need for professionally-trained criminal justice administrators, planners and researchers as well as private security professionals. This program is coordinated through the Department of Criminology and Justice with courses taught by experieneced Faculty and Staff. 

Overview

Degree Program Overview

As a leader in the criminal justice field, you can turn your passion for social justice into a career – actively working towards making the world a safer, more just place. To achieve a high-level position in the field and make the biggest impact, you will likely need an advanced degree. Responding to this need for professionally-trained criminal justice administrators, planners, and researchers, Loyola University New Orleans offers a 100% online Master of Criminology and Justice.

The online Master of Criminology and Justice degree is a convenient program that can be completed in a year. It is designed to serve students directly from completion of their undergraduate studies or those returning to study after beginning their careers. In addition to a variety of specialty criminal justice and criminology courses, students in this program will improve their academic writing and develop advanced research methodology and data analysis skills.

Degree Program Course Listing (DPCL)

The DPCL provides a list of courses required to complete the Master of Criminal Justice:

The College of Arts and Sciences also offers the MCJ as part of a joint program (MBA/MCJ) with the College of Business:

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MCJ program must submit the following: 

  • A completed Application for Master of Criminal Justice; prospective students can view the application process on the online application portal
  • A bachelor’s degree and a record of academic achievement from an accredited college or university
  • An official transcript from each institution attended sent directly to the appropriate admissions office. For transcripts other than English, please provide a certified English translation with an explanation of the grading system
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s aptitude for graduate work, such as former professors or master’s prepared supervisors
  • A resume of professional work experience
  • Writing Sample
    The Master of Criminology and Justice program at Loyola requires graduate level academic writing in all classes, as well as a research project. As such, an original writing sample is required as part of your application.
    Please write a 750-1000 word essay that addresses ONE of the three prompts below.
    1. What do you think causes crime and why?
    2. What do you think is the most important part of the criminal justice system and why?
    3. What do you think is the most pressing issue to address in criminology and criminal justice, and why?

 

International Students

In addition to meeting the above requirements, all international applicants must submit: 

  • Results of the TOEFL, scoring 550 or higher, unless their previous degree is from a college or university in which the language of instruction is English;
  • F-1 or J-1 visas must submit an affidavit of support.

Note 1: Materials submitted in support of an application are not released for other purposes and cannot be returned to the applicant.

Note 2: All application documentation listed on this page must be received by the Department of Criminal Justice before a formal interview can be scheduled and a candidate's possible acceptance into the program can be considered.

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Types of Admission

The Department of Criminology & Justice Admission Committee reviews all applications and makes admissions decisions. Applicants are notified of the decision by letter. Two types of admission can be recommended:

  • Unconditional Admission: Applicants are admitted unconditionally when they have submitted all required materials and met admission standards. Since admission into the MCJ program is limited, the committee reserves the right to determine which applicants are the best matches for Loyola’s graduate program.
  • Conditional/Probationary Admission: The decision to grant conditional/probationary admission is based on perceived academic promise and is granted to an applicant to provide an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate his/her academic ability. The student with probationary admission remains on probation until he/she has completed a minimum of six graduate hours and has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. If, after the completion of six graduate hours, the student’s cumulative GPA is less than 3.0, the student will not be eligible to return to the MCJ program.

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Evaluation of Transfer Credits

Students who have earned graduate academic credit at an accredited university or college may be allowed to transfer a maximum of six credit hours. In all cases, coursework will be evaluated for equivalence to MCJ program requirements; therefore, students must provide course syllabi and other supporting materials to assist faculty in the evaluation process.

Read the Transfer of Academic Credit policy for more information.

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Academic Probation and Student Progression

In order to remain in good standing and progress through the MCJ program, a student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation has one semester (fall, spring, or summer semester) to remove the academic deficiency. If the deficiency is not removed in the allotted time, the student may not be eligible to continue in the MCJ program. The final decision to allow a probationary student to remain in the program will be made by the department chairperson.

Progression Through the Curriculum
The MCJ program is a cohort model meaning the student moves through the curriculum taking a prescribed set of courses each semester. If, for some reason, the student cannot adhere to the set schedule, graduation in the 12-month period may not be possible. The department will make every effort to accommodate the student by modifying his/her progression plan.

Completion Timeline
Students are required to complete the MCJ program within 5 years of enrolling in coursework.

Degree Candidacy

MCJ students must apply for candidacy after completion of 18 credit hours with an overall 3.0 average in the program. The Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) is a 30-credit-hour program. This program is designed to be flexible both with regard to course delivery as well as completion time.

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