Why Study Criminal Justice
Currently, APSU is the only public institution offering an M.S. in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Homeland Security in the state of Tennessee. Courses are offered online in 8-week increments. The 30- hour degree program can be completed in as little as one full calendar year, and admittance is open year-round. Students can start during any semester.
Recent graduates of any social science bachelor’s degree program and non-traditional working professionals in the fields of law, law enforcement, courts, corrections, and other criminal justice related areas would be ideal candidates for this program.
Students completing the MS Criminal Justice program will be well versed in law enforcement, courts, corrections, ethics, research methodology, homeland security, current social issues, theoretical underpinnings, and complex challenges facing the criminal justice system and national defense. The curriculum and skillset competitively position graduates for careers in national security and the criminal justice system, as well as creating an avenue for advancement in military careers.
APSU’s MS Criminal Justice program leverages the knowledge, research proficiency, and professional experiences of APSU faculty and military officials from Ft. Campbell. Our faculty possess expertise in the traditional scholarly fields of criminology, political science, sociology, law, and psychology. These disciplines contribute to the intellectual basis for criminal justice as an academic field.
Admissions Requirements
For information related to admission requirements or to view the courses within each program, please visit the graduate bulletin.
The College of Graduate Studies requires a conferred undergraduate degree from a regional accredited university, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 and English proficiency due to country of origin, education at an English speaking and learning institution or a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or IELTS exam.
The Department of Criminal Justice has defined additional admissions requirements as listed below:
A minimum GPA of 2.7 is required. Students with a GPA of at least 2.5 may be considered for admission on provisional status. Provisional status can be lifted with GPA of 3.0 after 6 semester hours. Other expectations of graduate students will follow the APSU College of Graduate Studies standards. The department will reevaluate these standards should experience show that the number of qualified applicants begins to significantly exceed the number of available seats in any incoming cohort of students.
What will I Learn
- MS in Criminal Justice students take innovative coursework on issues currently facing the criminal justice system, advanced theories of crime, and graduate research methodology.
- Students who choose the homeland security concentration will also take coursework on homeland security law, and domestic and international terrorism.
- Elective coursework can include additional choices of topics or areas that are of interest to the student in pursuit of their specific career goals.
- The department offers a wide variety of courses and specialty topics throughout the academic year, including summer sessions.