All application materials for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice are due by the date prescribed by the Graduate School to be considered for admission. Students may apply and begin the graduate program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer if fully admitted into the program.

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, you must meet the following requirements prior to the application deadline:

• Submit an application for graduate studies by the due dates provided by the Graduate Office. Deadlines can be found at: http://www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/
• Pay the application fee
• Submit transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• Submit a professional resume

Automatic Admission will be granted to students with a bachelor’s degree (in any major or field) with an overall GPA of 2.8 or above OR a 2.5 overall GPA with 3 or more years of work experience in Criminal Justice or related fields. Applicants with an overall GPA below 2.8 with no work experience in Criminal Justice or related fields will be reviewed by program Faculty.

Applicants with an overall GPA below 2.5 will also be required to submit a 200-word Personal Statement describing their academic or professional background characteristics that will assist them in successfully completing the online degree program and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by Program Faculty.

The admissions committee may request a personal interview.

Declaration of Track

If admitted to the master’s in criminal justice program, students will be automatically enrolled as non-thesis track.

Students who wish to declare thesis track must:

• Meet with a faculty member during the first semester of enrollment in the MSCJ program and obtain commitment from that faculty member to serve as thesis advisor. Only a thesis advisor will be eligible to approve the change of Track from Non-thesis to Thesis
• Maintain a 3.5 GPA during the first full year of enrollment in the MSCJ program.
  • Students who do not maintain a 3.5 GPA during the first full year of enrollment may petition to remain on thesis track by writing a letter to the criminal justice faculty that includes:
    • Reasons for first year GPA
    • Name of thesis advisor and confirmed or potential thesis committee members
    • Research question to be answered by the thesis
    • Methodological plan to answer the research question
    • A statement from the thesis advisor supporting continued enrollment in thesis track
• Enroll in CRIJ 5398 and CRIJ 5399 during the last two semesters of the program.

Major Curriculum - Criminal Justice