About the Program
This program integrates theory, research, and practice that are grounded in the social sciences. The academically rigorous curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in professional criminal justice fields or for advanced graduate study.
Program graduates have a broad base of knowledge in criminal justice and related disciplines; academic skills in critical thinking, conceptualization and analysis; and an in-depth understanding of the complexities of decision making, policy implementation, and planned organizational change in criminal justice.
About the Criminal Justice Department
102 Cassety Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-4517
Fax: (716) 878-3240
https://criminaljustice.buffalostate.edu/
Admission Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in the last 60 credit hours or a Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A written statement of intent that includes the applicant’s preparation for graduate study.
3. If minimum requirements are not met, the graduate faculty may grant an applicant conditional admission to the program as a premajor if the applicant has a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale) AND a minimum of five years of full-time work experience in the criminal justice field.
4. Applications are reviewed on a continual basis for the fall and spring semesters.
In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.
Carreer Information
Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of methods of gathering evidence in criminal justice and an understanding of what constitutes acceptable and appropriate evidence.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the impacts and outcomes of various criminal justice policies and practices.
3. Demonstrate the ability to articulate, apply and critically evaluate criminal justice theories.
4. Demonstrate competence in writing discipline specific research-based papers incorporating supporting material.
5. Demonstrate the ability to think critically.
Program Requirements
Required Core Courses (18 credit hours)
CRJ 501 THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3
CRJ 504 RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3
CRJ 601 CORRECTIONAL STRATEGIES 3
CRJ 604 CRIMINAL COURTS 3
CRJ 606 LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES 3
CRJ 609 STATISTICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3
Elective Courses (9-18 credit hours)
Select 9-18 credit hours from the following: 9-18
CRJ 508 HISTORY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRJ 511 ADVANCED CRIME ANALYSIS
CRJ 590 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-3)
CRJ 602 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRJ 603 ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
CRJ 608 SPECIAL TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRJ 611 DATA-DRIVEN POLICING
CRJ 620 WHITE-COLLAR CRIME
CRJ 622 JUVENILE JUSTICE
CRJ 624 COMPUTER APPLICATION
CRJ 625 RACE AND ETHNICITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRJ 626 GENDER ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRJ 630 CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRJ 635 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ETHICS
CRJ 710 RESEARCH PROJECT
Up to 9 credit hours of electives may be taken outside the department with prior written approval of the student's academic adviser.
Comprehensive Examination or Master's Project (0-3 credit hours)
Select one option: 0-3
CRJ 690 MASTER'S PROJECT
Comprehensive Examination
Total Credit Hours 36