Criminology and Criminal Justice

Advance your career with a Michigan graduate degree from University of Michigan-Dearborn in the rapidly growing criminal justice profession.

Faculty, who are experts in their field, developed the Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice to prepare students for research, management and policy positions or continuation into a J.D. or Ph.D. program.

This flexible degree program is 30-32 credits and provides a thesis and non-thesis option, while offering traditional, evening and online courses. The program can be completed entirely on campus, entirely online, or through a combination of on-campus and online courses. 

Public safety professionals from partnering organizations may qualify for a scholarship valued at 20 percent of tuition and fees through our community service personnel scholarship program. 

Students admitted to the Criminology and Criminal Justice graduate program may elect to declare the Criminal Justice Administration Concentration, which was created in collaboration with the Public Administration and Public Policy Program . This concentration is appropriate for individuals who intend to pursue careers primarily in administrative or managerial roles within the fields of courts, law enforcement, and corrections.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master’s program is at the discretion of the Graduate Program Director in consultation with Graduate Program faculty and the Office of Graduate Studies. Supplemental application materials required for applicants include: official academic transcripts, a personal statement describing academic and career goals, a resume, and two recommendation letters.

  • Completion of a Bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA

  • Completion of the following courses or equivalent:

    • CRJ 200 Introduction to Criminal Justice

    • CRJ 468 Criminology

    • CRJ 488 Criminal Law & Procedure

Applicants who meet the GPA requirement but lack one or more required courses may be admitted conditionally with the permission of the Program Director. These course deficiencies may be completed concurrently with graduate courses in the program upon Program Director approval.

Community Service Personnel Scholarships

The University of Michigan-Dearborn provides a scholarship valued at 20% of tuition and fees for public safety employees at partnering organizations. The scholarship is available for degree-seeking students and can be used for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Accelerated Program: 4+1

The 4+1 accelerated program option allows current UM-Dearborn undergraduates majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice or Sociology to complete a Bachelor of Arts in their major field and the Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice in a format that offers substantial savings in both time and money. This is achieved by a double-counting allowance of up to 16 credits worth of graduate level (500-level or above) courses. One additional year of graduate work (15-16 credits) is needed to complete the Master's program, enabling students to earn two degrees in a total of five years. 

Participation in the 4+1 program is limited to students who have completed at least 60 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Admission to the 4+1 program is at the discretion of the Graduate Program Director and requires an admission interview. The "regular" online graduate application should be completed with a "Yes" response to the 4+1 accelerated program question. Supplemental application materials required for 4+1 applicants include:official academic transcripts, a personal statement describing academic and career goals, a resume, and one recommendation letter–preferably from a Program faculty member.

Students in the 4+1 Program must adhere to UM-Dearborn’s Graduate Academic Policies, found here, with respect to all 500-level courses taken; this includes maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better in their coursework in order to remain in good standing. Failure to do so may result in removal from the 4+1 program.  

Courses to choose from in the 4+1 Program are: CRJ 501, CRJ 509, CRJ 515, CRJ 517, CRJ 518, CRJ 519, CRJ 532, CRJ 535, CRJ 546, CRJ 547, CRJ 553, CRJ 560, CRJ 565, CRJ 566, CRJ 568, CRJ 569, CRJ 570, CRJ 572, CRJ 573, CRJ 576, CRJ 580, CRJ 582, CRJ 583, CRJ 584, CRJ 587, CRJ 588, CRJ 590, CRJ 598, CRJ 699, COMP 500, PAPP 502, PAPP 505, PAPP 540, PAPP 561, PAPP 580, PAPP 581, PAPP 582, PAPP 583, SOC 510

Below are the 4+1 undergrad equivalencies/substitutions:

CRJ 509 - CRJ 409
CRJ 515 - CRJ 415
CRJ 517 -CRJ 417
CRJ 518 - CRJ 418
CRJ 519 - CRJ 419
CRJ 532 - CRJ 432
CRJ 535 - CRJ 435
CRJ 546 - CRJ 446
CRJ 547 - CRJ 447
CRJ 553 - CRJ 453
CRJ 560 - CRJ 460
CRJ 565 - CRJ 465
CRJ 566 - CRJ 466
CRJ 568 - CRJ 468
CRJ 569 - CRJ 469
CRJ 570 - CRJ 470
CRJ 572 - CRJ 472
CRJ 573 - CRJ 473
CRJ 576 - CRJ 476
CRJ 580 - CRJ 480
CRJ 582 - CRJ 482
CRJ 583 - CRJ 483
CRJ 584 - CRJ 484
CRJ 587 - CRJ 487
CRJ 588 - CRJ 488
CRJ 590 - CRJ 490
PAPP 505 - PAPP 405
PAPP 561 - PAPP 461
PAPP 581 - PAPP 481
PAPP 583 - PAPP 483
SOC 510 - SOC 410

Students that have completed the 400-level equivalent of the courses listed above cannot receive credit for the 500-level version toward the graduate program. Course substitutions should be discussed with the Criminology and Criminal Justice Director.

For additional information about the Master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice, please see the Criminology and Criminal Justice website.

 

Requirements

Theoretical Foundation8
Criminology & Criminal Justice Proseminar
Criminology
Legal & Ethical Argumentation
Methods
Select two courses from the following:6-8
Criminal Justice Research Methods 1
Quantitative Research
Stat Method for Decisionmaking 2
Program Evaluation 2
Elective Courses (Students also have the option to declare the Criminal Justice Administration concentration in place of the electives) 2
Select three to four courses for a combined total of at least 12 credits from the following:12
Focus Area in Gender, Race, & the Law
LGBTQ+ Criminology
Marriage and Family Problems
Family Violence
Sociology of Law
Race, Crime and Justice
Inside Out Prison Exchange
Legal & Ethical Argumentation
Justice, Crime and Environment
Focus Area in Crime & Social Justice
Restorative Justice
Crimmigration: Intersections of Immigration and Criminal Justice
Victimology
Urban Sociology
Media & Crime
Deviant Behavior/Soc Disorganz
Race, Crime and Justice
Inside Out Prison Exchange
Applied CJ Theory
Legal & Ethical Argumentation
Justice, Crime and Environment
White Collar Crime
Focus Area in Applied Criminal Justice
Intel and Homeland Security
Victimology
Media & Crime
Deviant Behavior/Soc Disorganz
Youth, Crime, and Justice
Correctional Systems
Inside Out Prison Exchange
Applied CJ Theory
Justice, Crime and Environment
White Collar Crime
Forensic Science
Criminal Law & Procedure
Other Electives
Directed Studies
Graduate Writing Studio 3
Politics of Public Policy 2
Intro to Public Admin 2
Government & Nonprofit Finance 2
Organization Develop & Theory 2
Stat Method for Decisionmaking 2
Policy Analysis & Development 2
Program Evaluation 2
Master's Thesis or Additional Elective4
Students must either complete CRJ 699 or a 4-credit graduate level CRJ elective course of their choosing (see above)
Criminology & Criminal Justice Thesis 4
Total Credit Hours30-32
1

 CRJ 518 is required for students completing the thesis option (CRJ 699).

2

Students may declare the optional Criminal Justice Administration Concentration. PAPP 505, PAPP 540, PAPP 561, and PAPP 580 or PAPP 583 are required courses for the optional Criminal Justice Administration Concentration and must take these courses in place of the Electives requirement. This concentration is appropriate for those individuals who intend to pursue career choices primarily in administrative or managerial roles.

3

COMP 500 is an optional one-credit-hour workshop that provides small-group, student-centered support on many aspects of the writing process for graduate classes.

 
4

The thesis option is generally for those who are planning to continue their education at the Ph.D. level.

Criminal Justice Administration Concentration Requirements

Students admitted to the Criminology and Criminal Justice graduate program may elect to declare the Criminal Justice Administration Concentration, which was created in collaboration with the Public Administration and Public Policy Program . This concentration is appropriate for individuals who intend to pursue careers primarily in administrative or managerial roles within the fields of courts, law enforcement, and corrections.

 
Criminal Justice Administration Concentration
PAPP 505Intro to Public Admin3
PAPP 540Government & Nonprofit Finance3
PAPP 561Organization Develop & Theory3
PAPP 580Stat Method for Decisionmaking3
or PAPP 583 Program Evaluation
Total Credit Hours12

Learning Goals

  1. Strengthen the professional qualifications of those currently employed in the criminal justice field.
  2. Develop skills in research and in criminology and criminal justice program planning and evaluation.
  3. Develop skills in the organization and administration of public criminal justice systems.
  4. Prepare students for doctoral study in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

CRJ 501     Criminology & Criminal Justice Proseminar     4 Credit Hours

This course provides an introduction to the field(s) of Criminology and Criminal Justice and justice studies more broadly, as well as offers a review of recent trends, topics, and controversies in criminology and criminal justice research. It also emphasizes professional development and socialization with respect to graduate level research and writing and career preparation. (YR).

CRJ 509     Intel and Homeland Security     4 Credit Hours

This course provides an in-depth examination of the principles guiding the collection, analysis, and sharing of intelligence in the United States and how these principles impact homeland security. Topics include, but are not limited to: terrorism and national security, the US Intelligence community (CIA, FBI, military intelligence), and questions of surveillance, ethics, and civil liberties. Emphasis is placed on the increased role of local and state law enforcement and private entities in assessing of threats to homeland security. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 409 and CRJ 509. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

CRJ 513     American Constitutional Law     3 Credit Hours

A major theme of this course is the development of the constitution, especially focusing on the themes of judicial review: judicial self-restraint and judicial activism; the expansion of executive and legislative powers; and the rise of "substantive due process of the law". Prerequisite or equivalent recommended. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. (AY).

Prerequisite(s): POL 101

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 514     Civil Rights and Liberties     3 Credit Hours

An analysis of the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, with particular emphasis upon recent landmark or controversial Supreme Court decisions dealing with freedom of speech and religion, rights of criminal defendants; cruel and unusual punishment, right to privacy; civil rights and equal protection clause; and apportionment. Prerequisite or equivalent recommended. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): POL 101

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 515     Restorative Justice     4 Credit Hours

This graduate course explores the practice of restorative justice as it has been engaged in historical and contemporary criminal justice contexts. Topics addressed include the principles and philosophies underlying restorative justice, differences between retributive and restorative models, victim-offender dialogue, and offender reintegration. Students will be asked to think critically about restorative and retributive systems and to apply these concepts to develop their own approach to restorative justice. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 415 and CRJ 515. (YR).

CRJ 517     Crimmigration: Intersections of Immigration and Criminal Justice     4 Credit Hours

This course explores the intersection(s) of the criminal justice and immigration systems with special attention to race, class, and gender. It covers the evolution of American immigration policy and its application, the criminalization of immigrants, immigrant offending and victimization, the policing of immigrant communities, and the immigrant experience in the United States. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 417 and CRJ 517. (AY).

Prerequisite(s): CRJ 200 or CRJ 468 or CRJ 473 or SOC 200 or SOC 201

CRJ 518     Criminal Justice Research Methods     4 Credit Hours

This course provides an introduction to methods of data collection and analysis, as well as a discussion of research design and the philosophy of social science, within the context of the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Attention is given to quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 418 and CRJ 518. (F, W, S).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

CRJ 519     LGBTQ+ Criminology     4 Credit Hours

This course explores matters of crime, crime control, and the law through the lens of Queer Criminology, which draws attention to the stigmatization, criminalization, and rejection of LGBTQ+ populations. Special attention is paid to the intersections of identity (e.g. class, race, gender, sexual orientation) and offending, as well as identity and victimization, as well as the experiences of LGBTQ+ communities with police, courts, and corrections, in the United States and around the world. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 419 and CRJ 519. (AY).

CRJ 532     Victimology     4 Credit Hours

This course will introduce students to various types of victimization and victims. Patterns of victimization and system impacts, responses, and experiences will be emphasized. Students will analyze official and unofficial methods of crime reporting and will learn to utilize the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Criminal and civil processes will be examined in relation to victimization, and trends will be reviewed. Students will learn to discuss these concepts using a global perspective. Students cannot earn credit for both CRJ 432 and CRJ 532. (AY).

CRJ 535     Urban Sociology     4 Credit Hours

A descriptive study of the form and development of the urban community with respect to demographic structure, spatial and temporal patterns, and functional organization. The relationship of city and hinterland. Social planning and its problems in the urban community. Additional reading assignments or projects will distinguish this course from its undergraduate version CRJ/SOC 435. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ/SOC 435 and CRJ/SOC 535. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

CRJ 543     Gender Roles     3 Credit Hours

This course will investigate the development of gender roles in childhood and adolescence due to either innate physiological differences or sociological patterning, the effect of gender roles upon male-female relationships within our society, and the possibility of transcending sociological gender roles in alternate modes of living. Additional reading assignments or projects will distinguish this course from its undergraduate version SOC 443. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 443 and SOC 543. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 170 or PSYC 171 or SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 546     Marriage and Family Problems     3 Credit Hours

Sociological analysis of problems encountered within the institution of marriage with particular reference to such issues as choosing a marriage partner, sexual adjustment, occupational involvement, conflict resolution, child rearing, divorce and readjustment. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 547     Family Violence     3 Credit Hours

Sociological analyses of various forms of family violence which occur disproportionately in the lives of girls and women. Topics such as incest, sexual abuse, date rape, wife battering, and elder abuse will be situated within the social and cultural context of contemporary gender relationships. Social and political responses to the phenomena will be examined. Additional reading assignments or projects will distinguish this course from its undergraduate version SOC 447. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 447 and SOC 547. (F).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201 or SOC 301 or SOC 443 or PSYC 405 or WST 405 or PSYC 505 or WST 505 or SOC 543

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 553     Sociology of Law     4 Credit Hours

Various aspects of the relationship between law and society are explored. After a look at processes of law making, attention is turned to the administration of law. This involves a study of the activities of legislatures, courts, police, and correctional agents. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ/SOC 453 and CRJ/SOC 553. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 560     Media & Crime     4 Credit Hours

This course examines how the media depict and impact perceptions of crime and criminal justice. Media is defined broadly to incorporate all forms of mass communication, including print and broadcast news, film, television, radio, and social platforms. Students will analyze how media construct crime and influence policy, discuss various types of moral panics, and learn basic theorization. Portrayals and stereotypes of women, children, police, prisons, offenders, and victims will be explored. Comparisons of cross-cultural perspectives and depictions will be applied. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 460 and CRJ 560. (AY).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

CRJ 565     Deviant Behavior/Soc Disorganz     3 Credit Hours

General analysis of the concepts of social deviance and social disorganizations: factors producing each condition, the effects of social control measures on the course of deviance and disorganization consequences for the social system, and the relationship between the two concepts. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 566     Addiction, Crime, and Justice     4 Credit Hours

Analyses of the sociology of substance use and abuse. Provides a sociological framework for understanding issues and evaluating our nation's responses to the phenomenon of drug use. Drawing on sociocultural and social psychological perspectives, this course systematically examines the social structure, social problems, and social policy aspects of drugs in American society. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ/SOC 466 and CRJ/SOC 566. (AY).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 568     Criminology     4 Credit Hours

Analysis of criminal behavior in relationship to the institutional framework of society. Emphasis upon the more routinized and persistent forms of criminality along with the joint roles played by victims, the criminal, the police, and all other relevant parties. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 468 and CRJ 568. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 569     Youth, Crime, and Justice     4 Credit Hours

The analysis of juvenile delinquent behavior in relationship to the institutional framework of society. Emphasis on the extent, causes, and methods of treatment of juvenile delinquency in the United States. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ/SOC 469 and CRJ/SOC 569. (AY).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 570     Current Issues in Crim Justice     4 Credit Hours

Current issues in the field of criminal justice and law enforcement in the US and other countries. Topics include an evaluation of police activities, problems of apprehensions and prosecution, the courts and the correctional system, and the efficacy of the legal structure in its social context. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 470 and CRJ 570. (OC).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 572     Correctional Systems     4 Credit Hours

Analysis of the legal, social and political issues affecting contemporary correctional theory and practice. Topics covered include the history of corrections; the nature of existing institutions; the functions and social structure of correctional institutions; and alternatives to institutional incarceration; probation and parole. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 472 and CRJ 572. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 573     Race, Crime and Justice     4 Credit Hours

This course is an analysis of race and its relation to crime in the criminal justice system. Students will analyze and interpret the perceived connection between race and crime, while exploring the dynamics of race, crime, and justice in the United States. This course is designed to familiarize students with current research and theories of racial discrimination within America's criminal justice system. Students cannot receive credit for both AAAS/CRJ/SOC 473 and CRJ 573. (W, YR).

CRJ 576     Inside Out Prison Exchange     4 Credit Hours

This community-based course, taught in a local correctional facility, brings university students and incarcerated students together to study as peers. Together students explore issues of crime and justice, drawing on one another to create a deeper understanding of how these issues affect our lives as individuals and as a society. The course creates a dynamic partnership between UMD and a correctional facility to allow students to question approaches to issues of crime and justice in order to build a safer and more just society for all. The course encourages outside (UMD) students to contextualize and to think deeply about what they have learned about crime and criminals and to help them pursue the work of creating a restorative criminal justice system; it challenges inside students to place their life experiences into larger social contexts and to rekindle their intellectual self-confidence and interest in further education. (YR).

CRJ 580     Theories of Justice     4 Credit Hours

This course is designed to provide an introduction to basic moral philosophy and social justice, with particular focus on how these issues pertain to the field of criminal justice. It will explore various perspectives of "justice" through readings from classical and contemporary theorists. In addition, students will discuss topics related to political economy, culture and cross-cultural engagement, and critiques and advancements of justice. They will review the limits of the justice system and issues such as globalization, capitalism, and reform. Applied learning will be used to identify, articulate, and defend different ethical positions. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): CRJ 200 and CRJ 468 and CRJ 473 and (SOC 200 or SOC 201)

CRJ 582     Legal & Ethical Argumentation     4 Credit Hours

This course will explore the ethical dilemmas faced by professionals in the legal system. We will pay particular attention to the criminal justice system and to the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Students read real legal cases and engage in thinking like attorneys to discuss questions like: How should an attorney consider their own ethical beliefs when deciding the appropriate course of action in a case? How should a judge consider their own ethical beliefs when making a juvenile justice decision? How should a police officer, investigator, or lawyer determine the ethical course of action when the law's instructions are ambiguous? Through practical "hands-on" learning, students will practice core skills in legal thinking, like writing briefs, examining the legal reasoning on both sides of a case, and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective in a case. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 482 and CRJ 582. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

CRJ 583     Justice, Crime and Environment     4 Credit Hours

This service-learning course focuses on environmental justice and law. Environmental Justice is defined as the fair treatment of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws. In the classroom, students learn the theory, history, and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations in Detroit, Michigan, and nationwide. In a required civic engagement project, students apply their substantive knowledge to solve local environmental problems. Through classroom learning and projects with community organizations, students connect law and justice concerns to Detroit's environmental problems. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 483 and CRJ 583. (AY).

CRJ 584     White Collar Crime     4 Credit Hours

This course reviews the history, categories, and problems related to white-collar crime. The course covers these topics by incorporating both legal and empirical perspectives in the study of white collar crime. In this course, we will focus on the substantive and procedural white collar crime laws ('law on the books) and analyze real white collar crime cases. Simultaneously, we will pay special attention to the dynamic relationship between white color crime and the American regulatory framework. As a result, we will assess the relationship and differences between various types of white collar crime and the regulatory regimes that oversee the business sector ('law in action'). Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 484 and CRJ 584. (AY).

CRJ 587     Forensic Science     4 Credit Hours

This course explores the application of the methods and techniques of science to matters of justice and the courts, including: crime scene investigation (CSI), the analysis of evidence, and court testimony. The history of forensic science is explored, and forensic technigues pertaining to common areas such as toxicology, firearms/toolmarks, trace evidence controlled substances, blood pattern analysis, digital evidence are examined. Relevant ethical and scientific controversies are discussed, including issues of bias and wrongful convictions. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 487 and CRJ 587. (YR).

CRJ 588     Criminal Law & Procedure     4 Credit Hours

A survey of the major legal decisions in the fields of substantive criminal law and criminal procedure. This course gives special attention to the nature of individual rights, and issues & procedures relating to arrests, searches, confessions and identifications under Constitutional case law. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 488 and CRJ 588. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

CRJ 590     Topics in Criminal Jusice     4 Credit Hours

Examination of problems and issues in selected areas of criminal justice. Title as listed in Schedule of Classes will change according to the content of the course. This course is distinguished from its 400 level counterpart by the requirement of additional readings and research. Students cannot receive credit for both CRJ 490 and CRJ 590. (OC).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

CRJ 598     Directed Studies     1 to 8 Credit Hours

Directed individual study of any subject agreed upon by the student and the instructor. May not duplicate a formal course offering. (OC).

CRJ 699     Criminology & Criminal Justice Thesis     4 Credit Hours

Full Title: Criminology & Criminal Justice Thesis Students electing the Thesis option in the last stage of the MS in Criminology & Criminal Justice program will work under the general supervison of a member of the graduate faculty in the Criminology & Criminal Justice Program but will plan and carry out the work independently. Students should obtain a copy of the thesis requirements from the CASL Office of Graduate Programs or the Program Director before registering for this course. The student will submit the thesis and give an oral presentation to a panel of faculty members when the thesis is completed.

Prerequisite(s): CRJ 518

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate
Can enroll if Major is Criminal Justice Studies, Criminology & Criminal Justice