Criminology and Criminal Justice, M.A.

Today’s justice and community systems need professionals who can think across disciplines, adapt to change, and lead in complex environments. Saint Louis University’s Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice gives you a strong foundation in criminology while helping you build advanced, career-ready skills.

This SLU program prepares you for advanced roles across justice and community settings, including leadership, analysis, treatment, policy and innovation. Graduates pursue careers in government, nonprofit and private organizations, justice agencies, treatment programs and policy-focused fields. 

Classes are offered in flexible formats, with some courses in person and others online. Students can enroll full time or part time, making it possible to balance graduate school with work and life while building a degree that opens doors to what’s next. 

Curriculum Overview

Cybersecurity

Learn to apply security principles to analyze, detect and mitigate vulnerabilities and intrusions into justice-serving organizations' cyber infrastructure. As computers play an increasingly vital role in the functioning of the criminal justice system, cybersecurity expertise will continue to be in high demand.

Organizational Leadership

Prepare for leadership roles in justice-serving organizations through coursework designed to increase your management skills and enable you to overcome the challenges of administration in a fast-paced and ever-evolving context. Become the kind of leader that facilitates a healthy and productive professional environment. Students integrate knowledge gained through rigorous coursework with community-based learning opportunities to create solutions to complex social and organizational challenges.

Strategic Intelligence

Law enforcement relies on intelligence to fight crime and apprehend perpetrators. Learn to manage various information sources, think strategically and analyze data to develop actionable plans for managing investigations.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Gain an in-depth understanding of human behavior, issues related to the treatment of high-risk populations, and evidence-based practices for improving the health of offenders and the communities in which they reside. A blend of in-class training and community-based practice experiences prepares students to become effective treatment agents.

Careers

An M.A. in criminology and criminal justice is for people who want to move into higher-level roles — where they lead, analyze and guide important work across justice and community settings. Whether you’re interested in intelligence, cybersecurity, leadership, or treatment and rehabilitation, this degree prepares you to step into advanced roles across justice and community systems. 

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Financial Aid

We are committed to helping you make your graduate education both affordable and meaningful. As an incoming student, you may be eligible for several forms of financial support, including scholarships, fellowships and graduate assistantships, as well as additional funding opportunities available during your program. 

FAFSA and Other Resources

All incoming students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. A step-by-step guide to submitting your FAFSA is available online. Saint Louis University Student Financial Services provides a Graduate Financial Aid Handbook that outlines the process of financing your graduate education.

The following links to resources in Saint Louis University Student Financial Services may also be helpful:

• Graduate loan options
• Confirming your award
• Paying your bill and payment plans

Scholarships

All new incoming students will receive a partial scholarship upon admittance, thanks to our generous alumni and benefactors. Scholarship awards vary and are awarded upon admission. No separate application process is required.

Fellowships

Graduate Assistantships and Internships

Other Funding for Current Students

Current students may be eligible for conference/training funding. Opportunities and eligibility requirements vary and are communicated throughout the year by the programs.

1. Graduates will be able to evaluate/interpret existing research and apply it appropriately in their professional lives.
2. Graduates will be able to analyze and apply CCJ theories to problems of crime and justice.
3. Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of how race, gender, social class, sexual orientation and/or sexual identity impacts people who come into contact with the criminal justice system and will be able to address those problems within the context of the criminal justice system to further social justice.
4. Graduates will be able to articulate criminology and criminal justice explanations/arguments to a disciplinary/professional audience in both written and oral formats.
5. Graduates will be able to evidence scholarly/professional integrity (ethics) in criminology and criminal justice. 

Admission Requirements

Successful applicants to SLU's Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. Conditional admission may be considered for students with cumulative GPAs below 3.00.

Application Requirements

• Application form 
• Transcript(s)
• Résumé
• Professional statement

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements: 

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency. SLU's M.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program requires a TOEFL of 92 or higher. 
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• Credential Evaluation Reports (such as the WES, ECE, The Evaluation Company (TEC), or Scholaro) are required. 

If admitted to the School of Social Work, the International Office will require additional documentation to issue an I-20. Questions about these requirements can be directed to internationalservices@slu.edu. 

Application Deadlines

Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The admissions committee considers several factors to determine a candidate's eligibility:

• Academic achievement
• Strength of the undergraduate program
• Application information
• Professional statement
• Work experience
• Any graduate degrees earned
• Motivation
• Leadership and service 
• Undergraduate GPA

Program Requirements 

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

¹

CCJ Core classes can be taken in any sequence and are offered on a rotating basis given a student's starting semester (Fall or Spring).  They are rotated on a four-semester basis. Search courses by the following attributes : "MACCJ Even Fall", "MACCJ Odd Fall", "MACCJ Even Spring, and "MACCJ Odd Spring"

²

CCJ 5910 and CCJ 5990 can be taken during any semester. Students need to make arrangements in advance with the Director of the Internship Program or their thesis advisor to take these classes.

³

Students may take electives in a related field, e.g., SWRK 5771 or SWRK 5744. In addition, one (3-credit) class at the 4000 level may be taken, with the CCJ Director’s approval, and counted as a CCJ elective. 

⁴

Students in an approved dual degree program, such as the M.S.W. and M.A.C.C.J. dual degree, will select 12 credits of electives instead of choosing a concentration. Those 12 credits of electives will be fulfilled with M.S.W. coursework. 

Cybersecurity

¹

Select courses from the Cybersecurity concentration may meet the requirements of the Cybersecurity Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered in the School for Professional Studies. 

Organizational Leadership

¹

Select courses from the Organizational Leadership concentration may meet the requirements of the Organizational Leadership Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered by the School for Professional Studies.

Strategic Intelligence

¹

Select courses from the Strategic Intelligence concentration may meet the requirements of the Strategic Intelligence Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offered in the School for Professional Studies. 

Treatment and Rehabilitation

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Classes for the M.A. in criminology and criminal justice rotate on a four-semester cycle. The order of courses depends upon your starting semester. This roadmap is for illustrative purposes only and assumes an odd-year fall start date. 

Apply for Admission

For admission questions contact:

Social Work School Graduate Admissions Office
sswadmissions@slu.edu
314-977-2752

For program questions contact:

Dyan McGuire, Ph.D., J.D.
Criminology and criminal justice program director
Associate professor of criminology and criminal justice
dyan.mcguire@slu.edu
314-977-2191