George Kain, M.S. Coordinator                             Phone: (203) 837-8514

                                                                                          kaing@wcsu.edu

Charlene Reid, Dept. Secretary                            Phone: (203) 837-8340

                                                                                          Fax: (203) 837-8527

M.S. in Justice Administration Overview

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Justice Administration program at Western is designed to meet the needs of both practicing justice professionals and other graduate students preparing to enter this field. Most students attend this program on a part-time basis although some pursue this degree full-time. Opportunities exist for networking with and learning from the experiences of other students. Current students and graduates of this program include: correctional professionals at the federal and state levels; other offender rehabilitation specialists; law enforcement officers at all levels (from the rank of patrol officer through chief and from both federal and local agencies); other public safety and security professionals; counselors; and computer security specialists.

Program Mission, Goals, and Objectives

This program prepares students for management and leadership positions in criminal justice and allied fields. In addition, the program:

•   provides pre-service skills and practical experience required for placement in professional positions.

•   provides in-service foundation courses in management required for career advancement within public organizations.

•   educates students in financial/budgetary processes, quantitative methods, institutional analysis, public

     management, political advocacy, and leadership within the criminal justice domain.

•   offers an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to be theoretically sound, as well as skills-based, to enhance the student’s accountability, responsiveness, and ability to analyze policy problems within the field.

M.S. in Justice Administration Admission Requirements

Admission to the M.S. in Justice Administration program requires submission of the following materials:

• Graduate admission application form and fee

• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate courses and degrees

• An entrance examination score from one of the following:

         -Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

         -Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

         -Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

         -Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

• Two letters of recommendation

• Current resume or curriculum vitae

• Interview with program coordinator

Criteria for admission to the program include the following:

Students are considered for admission to the program only after the above requirements have been met. Admission is based on several criteria: academic achievements, entrance examination scores, recommendations and work experience in the field.

Degree Requirements

The M.S. in Justice Administration degree will be awarded to graduate student candidates who complete both the M.S. program and other requirements set forth in this catalog by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Waiver/Transfer/Substitution of Courses

It is possible to substitute certain courses, or to reduce the required semester hours to complete the program, if/when transfer credit of graduate courses is approved. Certain required courses may be waived for appropriate undergraduate experience.

Course Restrictions                                                                     

For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.

Master of Science in Justice Administration

MGT 501   Organizational Behavior                                                           3 SH

MGT 525   Managing Public Organizations                                               3 SH

MGT 526   Public Financial Management                                                   3 SH

MGT 547   Human Resource Management                               3 SH

JLA 500     Legal Issues in Public Administration                3 SH

FIN 510     Quantitative Methods in

                     Public Administration                                                               3 SH

JLA 590     Research in Public Administration                                       3 SH

JLA 515     Policy Analysis in Justice Administration        3 SH

JLA 520     Seminar in Law Enforcement Administration  3 SH

JLA 550     Special Issues in Judicial

                     and Correctional Administration                                           3 SH

Three graduate courses selected with approval of faculty adviser:

_________________________________________           3 SH

_________________________________________           3 SH

_________________________________________           3 SH

Research project or comprehensive examination

Total Semester Hours for

M.S. in Justice Administration Program:                    39 SH

An expanded project in JLA 590 Research in Public Administration may be completed in lieu of the comprehensive examination. Changes in this schedule need the graduate program coordinator’s approval.

Information

All information and queries related to the M.S. in Justice Administration program should be directed to the graduate program coordinator.

*The M.S.J.A. does not provide preparation for careers in business.