The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration Program reflects Husson’s long-standing commitment to education for professional leadership. The program was developed in response to the Law Enforcement community’s expressed need to have education beyond the B.S. in Criminal Justice. Active classroom discussion, courses tied closely to field experience, and a diverse student body contribute to a relevant and outstanding educational experience.

In the program, there are no undergraduate prerequisites to graduate-level course work. Working professionals with bachelor’s degrees from a wide range of fields find the program well suited to balancing current job demands with the need for continuing professional development. If a student does not have an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice or a related degree or does not have experience working in a criminal justice related career field, then the student will need to take a graduate level introductory course on criminal justice professions and material related to law enforcement, corrections, and the court system.  The student will complete 36 credits for this program.

Classes are scheduled on evenings and online to accommodate participants’ work schedules. The part-time student can complete the program in two and one-half years without career interruption. 

Admission

Application for admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration Program at Husson should be made to:

Graduate Admissions 
Husson University
One College Circle
Bangor, Maine 04401
1-866-567-5990

To be admitted, an applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education and must show promise of ability and motivation to pursue graduate-level work. This requirement is determined by the Graduate Committee based on the following factors:

  • Application
  • Letters of recommendation.
  • Previous college or university work.
  • Previous work experience.

Status

An applicant’s admission status is one of the following:

Regular: Students whose applications are complete and who are accepted by the Graduate Admissions Committee without condition are admitted as regular graduate students.

Conditional: In reviewing a candidate’s application, the Graduate Admissions Committee may recommend that a student be accepted on a conditional basis. The letter of acceptance will contain the conditions that must be met before the student can be reclassified for regular status.

Non-degree: This status is assigned to those students who are taking Husson University graduate courses for professional development or personal enrichment, but do not plan to formally apply to a program of study.  Admission as a non-degree student does not necessarily mean that the student will be accepted as a regular student when and if application is made for such status. No more than 6 hours in non-degree status may be applied toward the master’s degree. Admission to non-degree status requires the submission of official undergraduate transcripts.

Academic Standards

Students must maintain a “B” average (3.0) in order to continue in a graduate program. A student whose average falls below 3.0, who earns a grade lower than a “C,” or who earns more than two grades of “C” or “C+,” will be reviewed by the Graduate Academic Program Committee, which may dismiss the student or determine the conditions under which the student may continue in the program. No more than six credits of course work in the “C” range can be applied toward the master’s degree. A student who has not attained a grade point average of 3.0 or better at the end of his or her program of study will not graduate.

Transfer Credit

Normally six credits of appropriate graduate-level course work, earned within five years of entry into the Husson program, may be transferred from an accredited institution, if the grades earned in such course work are “B” or better.

In special circumstances, an individual who has begun a graduate program at another accredited institution may transfer up to nine credits from the program, if those credits have been earned within five years of the date of entry to the Husson program. Likewise, an individual who relocates out of the area may, with prior approval of the Dean, transfer back to the Husson program up to nine credits of graduate-level course work from an accredited institution in order to complete the requirements for the M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration degree. Only credits earned in course work completed with a grade of “B” or better will be eligible for transfer.

Program Information

The core curriculum in the Husson University Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration program consists of five Criminal Justice courses, and five required and two elective Graduate Business courses. Students with a strong background in one or more of the required course areas may, with approval, substitute an elective for the course(s) in question. NOTE: CJ 700 Introduction to Criminal Justice Administration is required in addition to the five Criminal Justice courses if the student has no prior school or work background in Criminal Justice. In addition to the CJ courses listed in the first box below, students may take special topics in Criminal Justice courses (CJ 799) or other CJ 700 level courses to fulfill the five, CJ designated course requirement. Topics will vary but may include: White Collar Crime, Counter-terrorism, and Crime and the Media.