Master of Arts in Criminal Justice  

Mission Statement

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program will broaden and deepen its students understanding of the criminal justice system through advanced analysis and research combined with extensive experiential learning opportunities.  Our goal is to train students to become thoughtful, caring, inclusive and active professionals committed to fairness, human rights and constitutional remedies. This program will sharpen research and critical thinking skills and develop advanced knowledge in criminal justice content areas.  

To learn more about graduate programs at Adrian College, please access the Graduate Students page. 

Program Goals

1. To prepare students to be mature, competent and effective scholars and/or working professionals in the criminal justice field. 

2. To develop in students advanced understanding of criminal justice content areas such as criminal justice policy, law and society, criminal procedure, crime prevention, juvenile justice, policing and corrections. 
3. To promote and develop in students an understanding of multiple perspectives, conflicting values, and the role of advanced research-based knowledge and critical thinking in the criminal justice field. 
4. To prepare students for application to Ph.D. programs in Criminal Justice.

Program Objectives 

Before completion of the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program students will:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how to function effectively and with advanced competence in criminal justice occupations and organizations.

2. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking skills to sophisticated criminal justice readings, produce publication-quality academic writing and deliver professional presentations. 
3. Demonstrate the ability to apply advanced theoretical frameworks to the criminal justice system and explain the multiple perspectives and value conflicts inherent in the history of the U.S. criminal justice system.
4. Demonstrate ability to analyze, formulate, and assess social policies.
5. Demonstrate professional values and conduct such that the program faculty can recommend the student to employers, doctoral programs and law schools.

Application Process

1. To be eligible for admission into the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program students must:

2. Have earned, or be in the process of earning, a bachelors degree in criminal justice.
3. Have earned a minimum undergraduate 3.0 grade point average undergraduate, both cumulatively and within the criminal justice discipline.   
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking skills to sophisticated criminal justice readings, produce publication-quality academic writing and deliver professional presentations.
5. Demonstrate the ability to apply advanced theoretical frameworks to the criminal justice system and explain the multiple perspectives and value conflicts inherent in the history of the U.S. criminal justice system.
6. Demonstrate ability to analyze, formulate, and assess social policies.
7. Demonstrate professional values and conduct such that the program faculty can recommend the student to employers, doctoral programs and law schools.

To gain admission to the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program applicants must submit an application to the Office of Admissions and a personal statement of 2-3 pages to Prof. Nathan Goetting, Sociology & Criminal Justice Department Chair at ngoetting@adrian.edu no later February 15th. This personal statement should explain why the applicant is seeking admission and the applicant believes he or she will be successful in this program. In March applicants will be interviewed by criminal justice faculty. During this interview, applicants will present their personal statement and answer questions. They will receive notice of their admissions status by the end of the academic year.

Waivers or exceptions to the above requirements will be considered at the discretion of the program faculty.