Criminal Justice Degree Online

As professional standards in criminal justice continue to rise, administrators are finding that they need not only professional skills but also advanced proficiency in such areas as analysis, communication, and management. The M.C.J.A. program helps criminal justice professionals develop those skills across a broad array of settings and contexts. Students can select from prescribed concentrations or design their own emphasis in such specialized areas as security, prevention, education, and training.
The program’s flexible approach makes it ideal for those who wish to pursue their degree part time or at a distance. It also allows students who are working in professional settings to tailor their graduate study to specific workplace challenges and goals, and to use the working environment as a setting for action research.
A graduate certificate in criminal justice education, focusing on theory and research, is also available for those who wish to prepare for teaching or for advanced graduate study.
APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
Admission to the graduate program in criminal justice administration, including both the M.C.J.A. program and the graduate certificate in criminal justice education, is open to those with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field (with a comparable course distribution) from a regionally accredited college or university. There are no standardized test requirements, although upon admission a writing sample may be required for advising and assessment purposes.
To apply, submit a graduate application and arrange for transcripts of all your undergraduate studies, as well as any graduate work you have completed elsewhere, to be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies. You can apply, enroll, and begin your studies at any time during the academic year.Because of the individualized nature of the program, it is recommended that you discuss your educational goals with the program staff either before you apply or as soon as possible after you are accepted.
THE GRADUATE EXPERIENCE
Your graduate experience can be of immense value to you in the future, not only because it advances specific career or educational goals, but also because it cultivates habits of mind and discipline that will be important throughout your life. It fosters independent critical thinking; the ability to plan and perform; and skills in communication, research, and presentation.

Students applying for admission to the Criminal Justice program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) above 3.00 for full admission. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.00 will be considered for admission on a provisional basis. Such applicants may be required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies test scores as a condition for admission. Students admitted on a provisional basis must take SOC 4585 Professional Writing for Law Enforcement and SOC 4005 Research Methods and Analysis (or SOC 4075 Advanced Research Methods and Analysis) the first time they are offered. Such students may also be required to take prerequisite courses offered through the University College. If required, prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in any graduate courses including those indicated above. Students must achieve a grade of at least B in all courses while in a provisional status. At the conclusion of the above, the student’s application will be reviewed for a full admissions decision.

Applicants should submit or have sent to Graduate Admissions the following:
a completed application form accompanied by a non-refundable application fee,
complete and official transcripts of all coursework from each undergraduate and graduate school attended
two letters of recommendation appraising the candidate’s promise and capacity for graduate study, reflecting, from a professional’s point of view, the candidate’s ability to pursue a rigorous, independent course of study at the graduate level
a personal statement outlining the candidate’s professional goals and educational objectives for the program, including the applicant’s rationale for program choice and professional study.

Admission is on a rolling basis and applications will be considered at any time throughout the year; however, applicants are asked to meet the application deadlines listed below:

Freshman Admissions: students who will have obtained their high school diploma or equivalent by the time they start their college education at Penn State. If you are a student who has attended another college or university for fewer than 18 credit hours, taken college courses at another institution while you were still in high school, or taken nondegree courses at a Penn State campus while still in high school, you are considered Freshman Admission.

Transfer Admissions: students who have obtained their high school diploma or equivalent and who have attempted more than 18 successful credit hours at another accredited college or university before starting at Penn State Abington. Students seeking transfer admission directly to our University Park campus must have successfully completed the equivalent of two years of college-level course work before starting there.

High School Non-Degree Program: academically superior students who want to take a college credit course or courses at Penn State Abington. Students must be in their senior year of high school, complete a formal interview process, and present letters of support from their guidance counselor and parents/guardians.

International Admission is offered to students who are not U.S. residents and require any form of visa to attend Penn State. If you are a permanent U.S. resident who has foreign credentials, you are not considered an International Student. You would apply as a traditional freshman or transfer student and submit all of your official international transcripts.

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP): alternate form of admission offered to freshman students who are PA residents and who have been educationally and financially disadvantaged.

Admissions Staff
215-881-7600

Steven Mostert, Director of Enrollment Management and Retention

Freshman Admissions
Erica Pulaski, Senior Enrollment Management Counselor
Latanya Moore, Enrollment Management Counselor
Matthew (Matt) Curry, Admissions Counselor

Transfer Admissions
Jackie Payrow, Adult Education and Transfer Counselor
Carol Kalos, Enrollment Counselor

Financial Aid
Christopher Walters, Associate Director Enrollment Management
Debbie Meditz, Assistant Financial Aid Coordinator

Educational Opportunity Program
Yvonne Thompson, Minority Programs Counselor and EOP Coordinator

A completed online application form with the application fee;
Two official transcripts of all colleges and universities attended;
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university;
Three letters of recommendation;
A brief (two-page) statement of purpose, or a writing sample;
Successful completion of college level statistics and/or research methods with a grade of C or better;
A successful undergraduate record with a GPA of 3.0 (either as the cumulative GPA or for the last 60 hours of undergraduate study);
Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), or Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) are required if GPA is less than 3.0. Please note that all students who seek funding must take one of these standardized tests, preferably the GRE (Verbal and Quantitative sections);
In exceptional cases, the program may also approve admission by reason of special backgrounds, abilities, and interests;
Students must submit admission materials for fall semester by May 31 and by November 1 for the spring semester. It is recommended that those students seeking funding for the fall semester submit their applications by February 15.

Ranked among the best in the country (Journal of Criminal Justice Education 2007), the Colleges masters program emphasizes the importance of scientifically rigorous research that informs public policy. It prepares students to be leaders in shaping Americas response to crime.
Admission

Criminology is a multidisciplinary field. We encourage students with various majors as diverse as biology, computer science, and economics to apply. There are no criminology coursework prerequisites.

For consideration for admission in the master’s program, applicants must fulfill these requirements:
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
A 3.25 GPA or higher for the final two years of undergraduate study
A minimum score of 1,000 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE
Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors familiar with your academic qualifications
A 300- to 500-word personal statement describing your background, career goals, and why you want to study criminology
International students whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score at least 600 on the paper-based test, or at least 250 on the computer-based test, or at least 100 on the new Internet-based ibTOEFL test. Applicants may be asked to confirm their scores by retaking the exam when they arrive at FSU.

The College Academic Committee assesses all applicant files. No files will be considered unless they contain all required materials. Admission decisions are made on the following basis:
Whether the candidate meets the minimum qualifications of the University and the College
The level of the GPA and GRE scores
Assessments of the quality of the file documents, especially letters of recommendation and personal statements
The strength of the file when compared with others in the applicant pool

All masters applicants are screened as their files are complete, and admission offers are made to those selected by the Academic Committee.
Masters Application Materials

To apply for admission to the masters program, please submit the following materials on-line at admissions.fsu.edu. The Academic Committee will begin reviewing files on February 1. They will continue to accept applications until the graduate classes are full. No applications will be accepted after July1.
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Official GRE scores (FSU institution code is 5219). Check the GRE Web site, www.gre.org, for additional information.
Three letters of recommendation (preferably academic references).
Personal statement.
Completed graduate application. This can be found on the FSU Web site, www.fsu.edu/prospective/admissions/online/
Application fees can be paid on-line or sent to:
FSU Admissions
P.O. Box 5000
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5000

* International students must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. Check the TOEFL Web site at www.toefl.org for additional information.

As professional standards in criminal justice continue to rise, administrators are finding that they need not only professional skills but also advanced proficiency in such areas as analysis, communication, and management. The M.C.J.A. program helps criminal justice professionals develop those skills across a broad array of settings and contexts. Students can select from prescribed concentrations or design their own emphasis in such specialized areas as security, prevention, education, and training.

The program’s flexible approach makes it ideal for those who wish to pursue their degree part time or at a distance. It also allows students who are working in professional settings to tailor their graduate study to specific workplace challenges and goals, and to use the working environment as a setting for action research.

A graduate certificate in criminal justice education, focusing on theory and research, is also available for those who wish to prepare for teaching or for advanced graduate study.

APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
Admission to the graduate program in criminal justice administration, including both the M.C.J.A. program and the graduate certificate in criminal justice education, is open to those with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field (with a comparable course distribution) from a regionally accredited college or university. There are no standardized test requirements, although upon admission a writing sample may be required for advising and assessment purposes.

To apply, submit a graduate application and arrange for transcripts of all your undergraduate studies, as well as any graduate work you have completed elsewhere, to be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies. You can apply, enroll, and begin your studies at any time during the academic year.Because of the individualized nature of the program, it is recommended that you discuss your educational goals with the program staff either before you apply or as soon as possible after you are accepted.

THE GRADUATE EXPERIENCE
Your graduate experience can be of immense value to you in the future, not only because it advances specific career or educational goals, but also because it cultivates habits of mind and discipline that will be important throughout your life. It fosters independent critical thinking; the ability to plan and perform; and skills in communication, research, and presentation.

The Nature of Graduate Study
Graduate work makes use of strong academic skills. The program therefore offers a number of courses that reinforce such key competencies in graduate study as research, critical thinking, professional writing, and fluency in communication and evaluation. Taking advantage of these courses will assist you in furthering your abilities.

During graduate study, you should expect to improve and apply learning characteristics from your past undergraduate work. At the same time, your studies will emphasize higher-order attributes common in graduate education. Psychologists of learning often use the framework known as Bloom’s hierarchy to describe the ascending complexity of learning: assimilation, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. One significant difference between undergraduate and graduate work is that graduate education assumes the first three elements as givens in your work and encourages analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, particularly as a result of independent research. Graduate study not only emphasizes independence but also cultivates higher order learning and presentation bolstered by graduate characteristics.

The Nature of Graduate Individualized Work
If a traditional graduate experience normally includes independent work, graduate individualized study depends on it. This work is directed by advisors but is also the product of self-direction and self-discipline, attributes expected in the culture of graduate education. In graduate individualized study you present your degree plan for faculty and program approval; execute the plan, which may include traditional classes, independent learning classes, and directed independent research; and present a culminating project to your committee. You also work independently to form the committee that will guide you and to ask prospective members to serve on your committee.

GRADUATE INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY COURSES
The M.C.J.A. program provides a number of graduate individualized study (GIS) courses in different subject areas. GIS courses are available in an independent learning format through the School of Graduate Studies.

Registering for GIS Courses
Contact the School of Graduate Studies to begin the process of registering for courses and sections of independent work toward your degree in criminal justice administration.

Withdrawing from GIS Courses
There is no drop period (that is, a time in which you can cancel your registration and receive a refund) for GIS classes. You can withdraw from a GIS class at any time through the scheduled class completion date by completing a withdrawal form (available from the School of Graduate Studies or the Registrar’s Office section of the MSU website) or through Cougar Web. The course will remain on your transcript with a grade of W, and you will remain responsible for all tuition and fees associated with the course. Withdrawal from a class may affect your financial aid status; check with a financial aid representative before withdrawing from any class.

GIS Syllabi, Books, and Materials
Shortly after you register for a GIS class, you will receive a syllabus (or the address of a website where the syllabus is located) and contact information for the professor. Syllabi are project-based and cumulative in nature, and generally include a schedule of deadlines for submitting work throughout the semester.

It is your responsibility to acquire any required textbooks and materials at the beginning of each GIS class. Required textbooks and materials are listed on each syllabus and are available through MSU’s online bookstore. Books listed as references may also be available from the online bookstore or the library (either directly or through interlibrary loan).

Contacting Faculty Members
After registering for a graduate individualized study course, you begin coursework by e-mailing the professor. You are responsible for initiating contact with the professor at the beginning of the class; if you do not do so, you will be marked on attendance rosters as not attending and will be subject to administrative withdrawal. You are also responsible for contacting the professor in a timely manner if you have any questions about the syllabus or course material.

Submitting GIS Assignments
Unless instructed otherwise, you must submit all assignments directly to the e-mail address provided for the professor. You should make sure to keep a backup copy; MSU and the School of Graduate Studies will not be responsible for any loss of materials due to transmission. If you have difficulty reaching the professor or problems with interaction, contact the School of Graduate Studies immediately.

GIS Time Limits
The starting date for a GIS course is the date you register for the course as printed on your schedule. You have 20 weeks from the date of registration to complete each GIS course unless a different limit is stated in the course syllabus. The specific completion date for each course is listed on your schedule.

You may request an extension from the class professor. If your request is approved, the professor will notify the School of Graduate Studies, which will post the extension dates and new deadline. This process is the only way of obtaining an official extension.

Approved extensions should state the time frame within which the professor agrees to receive any remaining work. A grade of WIP (Work In Progress) will be assigned until the professor has received and graded the remaining work. If the coursework is not complete by the specified date, the professor will determine a grade for the course based on the work received by the deadline. Students who have exhausted their extensions are not eligible for administrative withdrawal.

GIS Completion
Unless you have received an official extension, you must complete each graduate individualized study course by the completion date posted on your schedule. If you do not finish the course by the assigned completion date and have not withdrawn or received an extension, you will receive a grade of F that will become part of your official transcript.

Re-enrollment
If you fail a GIS course but are in good standing in the School of Graduate Studies, you can request an opportunity to re-enroll in the course. Such requests must be made in writing to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, who will consider the request and may or may not grant approval.

GENERAL PROGRAM POLICIES
This section includes M.C.J.A. policies that apply throughout the program. Additional policies that are relevant to a single phase of the program appear with the description of that phase under “Program Structure and Requirements” later in this chapter.

Graduate Advisors and Mentors
Your Methodology proposal must include the membership of a graduate committee that will guide and advise you throughout the program. Committee membership is voluntary, and it is your responsibility to ask advisors to serve on your committee.

Graduate committees typically include faculty members from MSU or other colleges or universities, as well as qualified individuals outside the academic sector. It is important that committee members have a terminal degree or equivalent credentials, although in some fields of study a committee may include a member who lacks a terminal degree but has unique and appropriate professional experience. Register for GCJA 580 Content to complete independent work under the guidance of an advisor.

If your degree plan includes the design of a special topics course (i.e., with regular graded assignments, an instructional syllabus, and continual teaching), the instructor for that course is designated a mentor. Register for GCJA 590 Mentored Content to complete a special topics course with a mentor. In some cases, a mentoring team can take the place of a graduate committee with the approval of the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

The selection of committee members or mentors is your responsibility and is contingent on graduate program approval. Proposed members who are not MSU faculty members must provide documentation of appropriate credentials, and your student file must include a résumé or CV for each committee member (as submitted with your Methodology proposal).

If an illness or calamity affects one of your mentors or committee members in a way that alters the outcome of any degree work or deadlines, or if you are having difficulties with a mentor or committee member, you should immediately notify the School of Graduate Studies as well as the others involved.

Concurrent Program Enrollment
It is generally preferable for graduate students to pursue a single degree pathway, but there are exceptions. The following processes apply to concurrent enrollment in two individualized graduate programs.

After consulting with the academic officers for both programs, you can register for a second section of Methodology, in which you construct a concurrent enrollment plan for proposal to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. This proposal should include any concepts of structure and content developed in discussion with the academic officers.

The dean will consider the proposal to ensure that degree requirements are properly fulfilled and that an appropriate amount of content is shared between degree programs. To maintain the integrity of each degree program, the sum of the credits for the two degrees should not diminish by more than 20 percent. Two 36-hour degree programs, for example, could share 14 hours of Content credit. Of course, pursuit of a second graduate individualized degree requires that both a new Methodology and a new Perspective project be submitted.

Copyright
An understanding of copyright regulations and the concept of fair use is critical in considering how to incorporate the citations of others in any graduate work intended for publication, such as a thesis, article, or book. It is recommended that you read Kenneth D. Crews’s booklet Copyright Law and Graduate Research: New Media, New Rights, and Your Dissertation, published by UMI (www.umi.com) or a similar guide to current copyright and permissions issues.

Institutional Review Board
Proposed projects involving human subjects, restricted populations, the necessity for secure storage of possibly identifying data, or similar issues must be approved by MSU’s Institutional Review Board, or IRB. The IRB may require a full review or an expedited review, or may determine that a project is exempt if it does not work with human subjects. The School of Graduate Studies can assist you in obtaining IRB forms.

When planning your Methodology proposal, you should consider the need for such review in constructing timelines for your work. If your project involves working with other sites or agencies that have their own IRB, you must also fulfill their requirements.

Degree Candidacy
You must have a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.0 to be granted degree candidacy (usually at the end of Methodology), to maintain degree candidacy, and to progress in the program. See “Qualifying for Degree Candidacy” in the Methodology description later in this chapter for additional information.

Program Standing
While enrolled in Content or Perspective, you must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale. If you are carrying 12 hours of graduate courses from previous semesters, you will not be permitted to register for new courses until the prior work is completed. This restriction does not apply to GCJA 580 or GCJA 590 projects that are designed to extend through more than one semester as stated in your approved degree plan.

Program Withdrawal and Reinstatement
To withdraw from the program, you must provide written notice to the School of Graduate Studies. Your committee or mentoring team then disbands and you are no longer a degree candidate (if you have reached that point in your studies).

To be reinstated in the degree program, you will be required to retake Methodology, obtain approval of a new proposal, and form a new committee or mentoring team.

Removal from the Program
The following nonexclusive list of events constitutes or causes immediate removal from the program:
Failure to complete the program within five years without an extension granted by an accepted petition to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
A cumulative GPA that falls below 3.0 while you are in any aspect of Content or Perspective.
A grade below C on a Methodology proposal.
Failure to register within two regular semesters of degree plan approval (in which case you must retake Methodology).
Failure to register in the approved sequence within two semesters in the absence of correspondence.
A letter or e-mail to the School of Graduate Studies stating that you are no longer in the program.
A change of major form signifying your exit from the program.

Academic or behavioral violations, in accordance with University policy.
See “Student Code of Conduct” and “Academic Appeals” in the Graduate Study at MSU chapter.

Program Time Limit
The time limit for completion of the M.C.J.A. program is five years from the date of your first enrollment. If you transfer credit hours from another program, you have five years from the date of your earliest enrollment in a course that you are transferring. Exceptions to this policy may be granted with the approval of the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Criminal Justice Major (46 credits plus 1-17 credit internship):
The criminal justice major is intended to provide an overview of criminal justice institutions, the causes of crime, and issues relating to social control. The major is structured around a core of criminal justice courses on such topics as law enforcement, the judicial process, drugs and crime, and correctional processes. The course of study consists of a general overview of the components of the criminal justice system with the overall goal of exposing students to a wide variety of academic disciplines: human services, political science, psychology, and sociology.

The corrections track is designed for students who wish to work in a correctional setting for juveniles or adults (e.g., probation officer, correctional caseworker, drug counselor, parole officer, or correctional guard).

The law enforcement track is designed primarily for students who wish to become local, state or federal law enforcement officers (e.g., city police officers, state highway patrol officers, or Federal Bureau of Investigations agents). In order to become a police officer in Minnesota, a student must be licensed by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (POST). This licensing is a two-step process requiring certification of graduation by an accredited college or university with a POST approved program and the passage of a statewide POST-administered examination. The peace officer education program at the university is certified by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board), 1600 University Avenue, Suite 200, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104-3825; telephone: 651-643-3060.

Criminal Justice Core:
A. All of the following:
CJ111 Introduction Criminal Justice
CJ250 Police Process
CJ302 Correctional Processes
PS332 American Constitutional Law II
S110 Sociological Imagination
S250 Logic of Analysis
S301 Crime and Delinquency
S320 Children and the State
S350 Field Methods

B. One of the following:
ST132 Reasoning with Statistics
ST232 Introduction to Statistics

C. Section C or D:
CJ489 Thesis Development
CJ490 Research in Criminal Justice

D. Section C or D:
CJ496/497Internship: Criminal Justice
CJ498 Internship Integration

Corrections Track:
A-D. Criminal Justice Core

E. All of the following:
CJ352 Drugs in American Society
CJ425 Ethnicity, Class & Gender
HS306 Case Management
HS352 Public Policy
S305 Political and Social Thought II

Law Enforcement Track:
A-D. Criminal Justice Core

E. All of the following:
CJ352 Drugs in American Society
CJ402 Minnesota Criminal Law
CJ460 Law Enforcement Professional
PY220 Abnormal Psychology

Students applying for admission to the Criminal Justice program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) above 3.00 for full admission. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.00 will be considered for admission on a provisional basis. Such applicants may be required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies test scores as a condition for admission. Students admitted on a provisional basis must take SOC 4585 Professional Writing for Law Enforcement and SOC 4005 Research Methods and Analysis (or SOC 4075 Advanced Research Methods and Analysis) the first time they are offered. Such students may also be required to take prerequisite courses offered through the University College. If required, prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in any graduate courses including those indicated above. Students must achieve a grade of at least B in all courses while in a provisional status. At the conclusion of the above, the student’s application will be reviewed for a full admissions decision.

Applicants should submit or have sent to Graduate Admissions the following:
a completed application form accompanied by a non-refundable application fee,
complete and official transcripts of all coursework from each undergraduate and graduate school attended
two letters of recommendation appraising the candidate’s promise and capacity for graduate study, reflecting, from a professional’s point of view, the candidate’s ability to pursue a rigorous, independent course of study at the graduate level
a personal statement outlining the candidate’s professional goals and educational objectives for the program, including the applicant’s rationale for program choice and professional study.

Admission is on a rolling basis and applications will be considered at any time throughout the year; however, applicants are asked to meet the application deadlines listed below:Enrollment expected Application package deadline
Fall July 15
Spring November 15
Summer April 15

Admission to University

The admission process includes:
A formal completed application. Students may apply online http://www.lim.loyno.edu/admissions.html or send their application by postal service directly to the LIM enrollment office.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum 2.5 GPA for all degree-seeking students.
Submission of official transcripts from colleges or universities previously attended for all degree-seeking students. Transcripts are mailed directly from the academic institution and may not be submitted online.
A statement of educational purpose.
A résumé of work experience including professional and/or voluntary ministerial responsibilities.
Two recommendations (on forms supplied by the institute) attesting to student’s capability for graduate study.
$20 nonrefundable application fee. This fee is waived for student who apply online at www.lim.loyno.edu/admissions.html.
For extension students, a notification of application form (supplied by Loyola) should be sent directly to the sponsoring agency.
For LIM Outreach students, a notification of application form (supplied by Loyola) should be sent directly to the on-campus associate director.

All materials should be submitted online or sent directly to the LIM enrollment office two months prior to the start of the student’s first course or semester. (International extension students not applying online have these materials sent directly to their administrative liaison at their sponsoring agency.) This allows time for transcripts and other supporting documents to reach the LIM enrollment office and subsequently for the admissions committee to come to an admission decision. Late applications are accepted, but such applicants may only be admitted to their first LIM course as transient students.
Admission to Candidacy

The institute offers courses of instruction leading to the degrees of master of religious education and master of pastoral studies for properly qualified students who have been admitted to degree candidacy.

To apply for candidacy the student must file a formal petition to the institute’s graduate studies committee on the basis of items listed below. (Extension program students are advanced to candidacy by the graduate studies committee when the following criteria are met.)
Not less than 12 credit hours nor more than 15 credit hours in the institute’s graduate courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. For on-campus students, of these hours at least six must consist of core courses, including Introduction to Practical Theology.
Students must evidence responsible and competent participation in the learning process.
Currently registered for credit at Loyola. Appropriate recommendations will be made by the graduate studies committee to the dean of College of Social Sciences as a result of their review. Degree candidates will be notified and such notification will become part of their permanent records. Students not admitted to candidacy will be informed of their deficiency. Removal of such deficiency under the direction of the student’s adviser must take place upon completion of 15 credit hours. The student must then reapply for degree candidacy.
Course Requirements

The candidate must complete a total of at least 36 credit hours of graduate work including the work earned prior to his or her admission to degree candidacy. A course in which the student has earned a grade of D or F cannot be counted toward the completion of the credit hour requirement, but will be used in determining the student’s grade point average.
The capstone course, Pastoral and Educational Praxis, is required of all students (except those in the pastoral care focus area) for graduation, and is taken at the end of their program. Students, in their final synthesis-praxis paper, give evidence of understanding and competence in the following areas: 1) articulation of the meaning of practical theology; 2) identification and interpretation of their ministry as an expression of practical theology; 3) evidence of critical reflection on their understanding and practice of ministry through an examination and responsiveness to the influence and interplay of multiple contexts of ministry; and 4) an ability to identify, integrate, and act on significant learnings and challenges emerging from engaging the curriculum.
Students in the pastoral care focus area participate in clinical pastoral training or experience, ordinarily arranged through a local CPT or CPE supervisor in a hospital, prison, or other pastoral counseling setting. This praxis experience is the capstone course of the pastoral care focus area. One unit of CPT is the minimum requirement. Students may complete one unit of CPE to fulfill this requirement.

Towson University is a great place to discover and explore your academic interests. We’re the second-largest school in the University System of Maryland, enrolling more than 16,000 undergraduates and 3,500 graduate students. Among U.S. colleges, we’re nationally ranked for the number of international students we enroll—more than 800 students from 100 countries choose Towson.

As a metropolitan university, Towson combines research-based learning with practical application. We’re known for excellent academic programs in business, computer science, health professions, education, fine arts, communications, and the arts and sciences. Our many partnerships with public and private organizations throughout Maryland provide opportunities for interdisciplinary research, internships and service-oriented projects. In addition, Towson offers a superb honors program, as well as international programs to help you acquire a global perspective on your life and career.
Freshman Applicants

Freshman applicants are currently enrolled high school students and students who have completed fewer than 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of university-level credit beyond secondary school at the time they plan to enter Towson University.
Freshman Admissions

Applicants who currently hold or intend to seek an F-1 Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor visa to study in the United States should follow the international application instructions.
Transfer Applicants

Transfer applicants are students who graduated from high school and subsequently completed at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours during a regular term (this excludes summer school) at a regionally accredited college or university.
Transfer Admissions

Applicants who currently hold or intend to seek an F-1 Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor visa to study in the United States should follow the international application instructions.
International Applicants

International applicants who currently hold or intend to seek an F-1 Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor visa to study in the United States should complete the international admissions process.
International Admissions - Undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree)
International Admissions - Graduate (Master’s and Doctoral Degrees)

All other non-immigrant visa holders (including A, E, G, H, I and L), permanent residents and U.S. citizens who wish to apply for admission should follow the regular application instructions for freshman, transfer or graduate admission.
Readmission Applicants

Readmission applicants are students who previously attended Towson University as undergraduates. Students who attended on a “term” only basis or who were admitted to the university but did not attend must complete a regular application for undergraduate admission.
Readmission Applicants