Master Of Criminal Justice Administration M.Cj.A. at Mountain State University West Virginia
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.