The Master of Science in Criminal Justice provides students with advanced knowledge of crime, the criminal justice system, and related policy proposals to address adverse outcomes and disparities associated with the system. The program offers rigorous training in social science theory and methods and their application in areas such as criminal justice administration, evidence-based policing, public policy reform, and victim advocacy. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to work, or advance their careers in a wide array of criminal justice and social service-related fields, gain employment in organizations that require the application of social sciences methods (e.g., program evaluation, grant writing, etc.), or continue their studies in a Ph.D. program.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
I. Required Courses
CRJU U660	Applied Qualitative Methods	3
CRJU U665	Applied Quantitative Methods	3
CRJU U670	Advanced Criminological Theory	3
CRJU U675	Critical Issues in Criminal Justice	3
CRJU U690	Capstone I	3
CRJU U695	Capstone II	3
II. Electives (12 credits) Select four courses from the following:		12
CRJU U610	Law Enforcement and Social Control
CRJU U615	Special Topics in Criminal Justice
CRJU U620	Processing Offenders
CRJU U630	Treating Offenders
CRJU U635	Public Safety Administration
CRJU U640	Place and Crime
CRJU U645	Children and Crime
CRJU U650	Victim Services
CRJU U655	Violent Crime
CRJU U680	Internship
Total Hours		30

Admission Requirements

A Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university, or at least 90 hours of completed undergraduate credit hours and concurrent undergraduate enrollment in USC Upstate. Applicants to the 2-year program should have a GPA of 3.0 or above from an accredited university. Applicants with a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 from an accredited university may be considered for conditional admission. Applications are reviewed holistically. A personal statement is an important contributor to the decision process.

Application Requirements

1. Application and residency form with all requested information and supporting documents.

2. Transcripts: Individuals seeking admission must provide transcripts from all colleges or universities from which a degree was earned. In some cases, transcripts may be required even if a degree was not completed to verify prerequisite coursework. If an applicant seeks to transfer graduate courses, in alignment with the university graduate transfer policy, graduate transcripts must be submitted. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to USC Upstate or delivered in a sealed envelope bearing a registrar's stamp.

3. Personal statement: Applicants are required to submit a one-page personal statement that describes their career goals and how this degree will be utilized to help attain those goals.

1. Provide students with the skills to apply concepts, theories, and empirical evidence within criminal justice and social service agencies.
2. Prepare graduates to conduct and utilize applied research in criminal justice and social services to meet workforce needs.
3. Provide students with the necessary skills to effectively communicate empirical research finding and theoretical implications.
4. Critically evaluate empirical evidence, especially as it relates to criminal justice and social services.
5. Apply abstract concepts and theories to address issues within criminal justice and social services.
6. Effectively communicate original research findings and theoretical implications in written and oral form.

Suggested Student Course Sequence for Degree Completion: 2-Year Program*

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
CRJU U660	Applied Qualitative Methods	3
CRJU U670	Advanced Criminological Theory	3
Elective		3
	Hours	9
Spring
CRJU U665	Applied Quantitative Methods	3
CRJU U675	Critical Issues in Criminal Justice	3
Elective		3
	Hours	9
Second Year
Fall
Elective		3
CRJU U690	Capstone I	3
	Hours	6
Spring
Elective		3
CRJU U695	Capstone II	3
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	30