Juvenile Justice, MSJJ
The Master of Science program in Juvenile Justice (MSJJ) offers a curriculum that enables students to critically evaluate and confront the humanistic, technical, and scientific aspects of criminal justice as applicable to juvenile delinquency. This program is web-based.
The primary objectives of the Master of Science in Juvenile Justice are to:
- Enhance students' knowledge, skills, and resourcefulness related to detained and institutionalized juveniles;
- Increase student's knowledge of theoretical explanations and the etiologies of delinquency and crime;
- Assure that students engage in the humanistic, technical, and scientific aspects of delinquency and related crimes;
- Increase students' knowledge concerning effective methods to intervene and prevent delinquency;
- Increase students' skills in how to conduct research and evaluate programs related to delinquency; and
- Expand students' knowledge of programs and policies related to delinquency.
Graduates will have a unique opportunity to acquire specialized competencies that should positively impact the lives of troubled youth across the state of Texas and the nation.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general admission requirements to Graduate Studies described elsewhere in the catalog, students seeking admission to the MS degree in Juvenile Justice should meet the following requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher preferred;
- Three signed letters of recommendation from persons in the field of the applicant’s academic major or area of concentration. At least two of the letters must be from professors with personal knowledge of the candidate’s skills and potential for master’s work. Each letter must be printed on letterhead of the writer's agency or higher education institution of employment;
- Completion of liberal arts courses at the undergraduate level such as social sciences, behavioral sciences, college algebra, and statistics;
- Completion of a 1,000-word essay detailing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing the degree; and
- Original transcripts for all academic work taken at the undergraduate level.
- International students from a non-English speaking country must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless the student has a degree from a US institution of higher education. A minimum score of 79 or higher is required for the TOEFL or a minimum score of 6.0 on the IELTS.
The MSJJ Program requires the completion of 36 semester credit hours. Two options are available for students: thesis and non-thesis. Students opting for the thesis curriculum must successfully complete 30 hours of course work in addition to 6 hours of thesis. The non-thesis option requires the successful completion of 36 hours of course work and passing a comprehensive examination. In this web-based program, students may take six credit hours during each eight-week session for the fall and spring semesters. During the summer five-week sessions, a student may take six credit hours in each summer session towards completing the degree in one year.
Transfer of Graduate Courses from Other Universities
A maximum of six (6) credits of juvenile justice-related graduate coursework may be transferred from other accredited universities. A minimum grade of “B” is required in any such courses. The transferred class must be equivalent to a course not previously taken, from the list of courses offered in the MSJJ degree program. Students should follow the process described below. Transfer course work will not be considered that will be more than six (6) years old at the time the MSJJ degree from the College of Juvenile Justice is awarded. It is suggested that students gain transfer approval from their advisor, the Department Head, and the Dean’s office before taking the proposed transfer course. The following procedure is recommended.
- The student gathers information/credentials about the course. Each desired transfer course must be from a regionally accredited graduate program. Information and credentials include; syllabus, course description in the catalog of the university in which the class was taken (or will be taken), or a letter from the professor stating the subject matter covered in the class. The more information provided the better.
- The student provides his/her advisor with the information. The advisor reviews the information for adequacy. If the advisor concludes that enough information has not been gathered, the student is told what information is needed. If the class(es) is/are transferable in the opinion of the advisor, a university transfer form is completed by the advisor and forwarded to the Department Head for consideration by the Dean’s office. The transfer form states why the course should or should not be transferred. If the advisor thinks that the course is not transferable, the student may write a letter of appeal to the Department Head.
- The Department Head will verify the transferability of the course and recommend approval or disapproval. If disapproved, the student may appeal to the Office of the Dean of the College of Juvenile Justice.
Continuous Enrollment and Leave of Absence
Students in the MSJJ program who have not completed their formal course requirements are expected to enroll continuously in the program during all consecutive semesters after initial registration. Students who do not expect to be enrolled, should notify the Department Head in writing.
During a leave of absence, a student cannot make use of the University or College of Juvenile Justice resources, nor attempt comprehensive examination nor defend a thesis.
Good Academic Standing
Students remain in good standing when they maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 for graded coursework. An average of “B” must be maintained by the student in all graduate coursework. While one grade of “C” may be counted towards the MS degree, only grades of “B” or better (and 3.00 GPA) indicate satisfactory completion of requirements for the degree. Only grades earned in or approved by the College of Juvenile Justice will be used to calculate a student’s GPA. If a student receives a total of two grades of “C” in any combination of courses (required/elective), his/her graduate status is reviewed by a committee of the graduate faculty. The committee will consider the advisability of continued enrollment in the program, termination or remedial work, i.e. repeat course(s). If the student receives three grades of “C”, his/her enrollment as a graduate student is automatically terminated. Obtaining grades higher than “C” in a repeated course does not remove the original two “C” grades and will be counted against the student toward the three “C” limit. If the student receives a grade of “D” or F” in any course, he/she is automatically dismissed from the program. In any of the above scenarios, the student may petition the graduate committee for readmission. The above requirements apply to all courses taken while enrolled in the program.
Time Limit
A student must complete all requirements for the MSJJ degree within six (6) consecutive calendar years after the first date of enrollment. Any exception must be petitioned to the Department Head, the Dean of the College and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Comprehensive Examination
Comprehensive examinations in the MSJJ program are an elective option for those students who choose not to complete a thesis. These examinations are employed to test the student’s general knowledge and his/her ability to integrate and synthesize the wealth of information in the field. Comprehensive exams are offered three times a year which includes fall, spring and summer semesters.
Financial Aid
The University offers various forms of financial aid, from scholarships to work-student arrangements and loans. Scholarships are usually in very short supply. Those interested in financial aid are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid website.
Degree Program Requirements
| Required Courses | ||
| JJUS 5311 | Foundations of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| JJUS 5376 | Theories of Delinquency | 3 |
| JJUS 5394 | Research Methods | 3 |
| JJUS 5396 | Applied Statistical Methods and Computing | 3 |
| Other Requirements | 24 | |
Select Comprehensive or Thesis option below | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
| Comprehensive Examination Option | ||
| Select eight classes from the following: | 24 | |
| Foundations of Criminal Justice | ||
| Substance Abuse | ||
| Community Building and Organizing | ||
| Domestic and Family Violence | ||
| Victimization | ||
| Correctional Programming | ||
| Alternatives to Incarceration | ||
| Law Enforcement and Juvenile Offenders | ||
| Management of Juvenile Justice Organizations | ||
| Courts and Youth Offenders | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Special Topics in Juvenile Justice | ||
| Policy Analysis and Progam Evaluation | ||
| Total Hours | 24 | |
| JJUS 5698 | Thesis | 6 |
| Select six classes from the following: | 18 | |
| Foundations of Criminal Justice | ||
| Substance Abuse | ||
| Community Building and Organizing | ||
| Domestic and Family Violence | ||
| Victimization | ||
| Correctional Programming | ||
| Alternatives to Incarceration | ||
| Law Enforcement and Juvenile Offenders | ||
| Management of Juvenile Justice Organizations | ||
| Courts and Youth Offenders | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Special Topics in Juvenile Justice | ||
| Policy Analysis and Progam Evaluation | ||
| Total Hours | 24 | |