Criminal Justice
Hyoungah Park, Director, Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program
https://www.saintpeters.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-arts-criminal-justice/curriculum/
The MACJ program emphasizes a balance between theoretical knowledge, practical application, and
advanced research, equipping students with the skills required to lead and innovate in various criminal
justice roles. With 36 credits, students will engage in rigorous coursework, hands-on experiences, and a
capstone project or comprehensive exam, preparing them for real-world challenges and leadership
positions within criminal justice agencies, government, nonprofit organizations, and private sectors.
PROGRAM AVAILABILITY
The courses are offered on a trimester calendar and during the summer at the Jersey City Campus.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The degree requires 36 semester-hour credits. There are two tracks: the thesis MACJ Program and
the Non-thesis MACJ program. The thesis program requires 21 credits for core courses, 12 credits for
elective concentration courses, and a thesis (3 credits). The non-thesis MACJ program requires 21
credits for core courses, 15 credits for elective concentration courses, and a comprehensive
examination.
TIME LIMITATION
Students are expected to enroll continuously until their programs are completed. Students are required
to maintain satisfactory academic progress by maintaining the required grade point average and
accumulating sufficient credits within five years. By federal regulation, F-1 International students must
enroll as full-time students, so their time to completion will be considerably shorter.
CURRICULUM – MASTER OF ARTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Students in the Masters in Public Administration program take classes with their cohort, allowing them
to develop relationships while learning and growing with their peers. The 36-credit program focuses on
the skills and knowledge needed for professionals in Criminal Justice.
Core Curriculum (21 credits)
All students complete a core curriculum focusing on constitutional law, advanced criminological
theories, policy analysis, ethical issues, and research methods. This solid foundation prepares graduates
to critically assess and address complex challenges within the criminal justice system.
| U.S. Constitution and Criminal Justice | ||
| Advanced Criminological Theory | ||
| Crim Justice Policy Formation & Analysis | ||
| Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice Admin | ||
| Research Methods in Criminal Justice | ||
| Management & Human Behavior | ||
| Managerial Accounting |
Specializations (12 credits for the Thesis MACJ Program, 15 credits for the non-thesis MACJ Program)
To provide targeted expertise, the program offers three unique specializations:
Criminal Justice Administration Specialization: This track focuses on leadership in law enforcement and
criminal justice management. It includes courses on human resources, multicultural law enforcement,
and community policing, culminating in practical experiences through an internship.
| The Judicial System | ||
| Multicultural Law Enforcement | ||
| Community Policing and Problem Solving | ||
| Probation Patrol & Comm Correc | ||
| Human Resources |
Global Criminal Justice Specialization: Ideal for those interested in the international dimensions of
criminal justice, this specialization covers terrorism, transnational crimes, multicultural perspectives,
and comparative criminal justice systems, offering students a global understanding of justice issues and
solutions.
| Terrorism | ||
| Multicultural Law Enforcement | ||
CJA | Transnational and Organized Crimes (to be developed) | |
CJA | Cyber-criminology (to be developed) | |
CJA | Comparative CJ System (to be developed) |
Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity Specialization: This track focuses on the advanced skills
and knowledge needed to address the increasing complexity of cyber threats and digital crimes. As
technology rapidly evolves, so do cybercriminals methods and sophistication. This specialization
prepares graduates to investigate, prevent, and respond to cybercrimes while also understanding the
broader cybersecurity landscape, making it ideal for those pursuing careers in law enforcement,
corporate security, intelligence, or cybersecurity consulting.
| Cybercrime and Digital Forensics | ||
| Cyber Security Planning & Risk Analysis | ||
| Cyber Security Ethical & Legal Concerns | ||
CJA | Cyber-criminology (To be developed) | |
CJA | Cyberterrorism (To be developed) | |
CJA | Artificial Intelligence and Criminal Justice (To be developed) |
Courses
CJA-616. U.S. Constitution and Criminal Justice. 3.00 Credits.
This course will be a comprehensive analysis of the United States Constitution with an exploration into the historical foundation and overall context of the constitution. In addition, students will also examine the U. S. Constitution and the relation to its impact at the local, state and federal levels. This will require an in-depth review of the key United States Supreme Court decisions and their effect on American law enforcement agencies' policy making.
CJA-650. Research Methods in Criminal Justice. 3.00 Credits.
This course will focus on the basic techniques and designs used in criminal justice research. An emphasis is placed on problem-statement writing, research design, data gathering, data analysis, and evaluation. Topics of sampling theory, surveys, observations, experiments, and the Institution Review Board will be discussed. The course will prepare the student to gather decision-relevant information and how to influence policy decisions.
CJA-652. Multicultural Law Enforcement. 3.00 Credits.
Examination of roles of race and ethnicity in crime and justice. Focus on the differing experiences of racial/ethnic groups as they come into contact with the various agencies of the criminal justice system, racial disparity and discrimination in the criminal justice system, and the impact of criminal justice policy and practice on racial/ethnic minorities. Discussion of contemporary issues in race, ethnicity, and justice such as racial profiling, the impact of felony voting laws on racial minorities, and the ways in which cultural stereotypes about race/ethnicity shape policies and practices at the different stages of the criminal justice process (police, courts, corrections). Students will critically evaluate crime policy to identify meaningful solutions to increase social justice.
CJA-658. Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice Admin. 3.00 Credits.
Exploration of ethical dilemmas faced by professionals in law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Examination of discretionary power in criminal justice agencies and different stages of the criminal justice process. Seminar discussion of/reflection on decision making and ethical scenarios in criminal justice contexts.
CJA-662. The Judicial System. 3.00 Credits.
This course examines the structure and operation of the criminal court systems of the United States at the local, state, and federal levels. The students will be introduced to the pretrial and adjudication processes and the organizational roles and behaviors within the court system. This course is designed to provide experience in critical analysis of current and emerging justice policies and practices within this same judicial system. Students will be required to analyze the relationship of court operations and constitutional mandates related to issues of judicial independence, interdependence, and their overall accountability.
CJA-663. Community Policing and Problem Solving. 3.00 Credits.
The philosophy of community policing will be discussed and practical community examples provided for the student to use the SARA method for a thorough problem-solving analysis. A historical review of community policing is provided. Significant attention is given to the rationale and implications of various methods of social control. Pre-requisite: CJA560. Prerequisites: CJA-560.
CJA-665. Advanced Criminological Theory. 3.00 Credits.
Examination of classic and contemporary theoretical explanations of crime from multiple criminological perspectives including classical, biological, psychological, and sociological theories. Analysis of crime patterns and crime correlates and substantive focus on the application of such theories to criminal justice agencies, community, and society.
CJA-672. Terrorism. 3.00 Credits.
The pragmatic approach to the analysis of terrorism must be founded in the fundamental understanding of both the theories of terrorism and the practical aspects of implementing a coordinated response. The effect of globalization plays an important role today in the ability of any agency to prevent, protect, respond and mitigate a specific terror event. Through a comprehensive review of major theories, definitions, focused readings, and practical applications this course will provide the student with a thorough understanding of the nature and extent of terrorism today. The course will identify the major law enforcement, intelligence, and military agencies, and discuss their importance in providing global, national, and regional terror assessments.
CJA-674. Crim Justice Policy Formation & Analysis. 3.00 Credits.
This course will serve to bring the goals of fairness, justice and equality in a criminal justice system with regard to its effect on the organizational policy decision making process. The focus on the utilization of discretionary decision making by administrators throughout the entire criminal justice system will be critically analyzed. Students will be required to assess this discretionary decision making process and its impact on the daily functioning of the criminal justice system. Students will also examine how to identify and define discretionary decisions in the justice system, and how to establish methods for checking discretion.
CJA-688. Probation Patrol & Comm Correc. 3.00 Credits.
This course is designed to analyze the current legal, managerial, and political factors which impact upon the probation and parole system. It will examine organizational innovations, caseload management techniques, and technological advances used to confront such problems.