https://www.uwplatt.edu/program/master-criminal-justice

Patrick Solar, Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Address: University of Wisconsin-Platteville
1 University Plaza
Platteville, WI 53818-3099
Phone: 608.342.6126
Email: criminaljstc@uwplatt.edu

Statement of Purpose

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is a comprehensive and highly interactive online degree. It is designed for criminal justice and social service professionals who wish to continue their graduate education or who need additional knowledge and skills to advance to higher-level positions in their field. The program is also designed for those seeking an advanced degree as a prerequisite for entry into more specialized criminal justice positions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

1. Demonstrate advanced, in-depth knowledge of criminology and the criminal justice system;
2. Apply research and statistical methodology to policy issues in the criminal justice agency setting;
3. Exhibit effective communication skills in both formal and informal written communication;
4. Demonstrate organizational, managerial, and supervisory skills appropriate to criminal justice agencies;
5. Identify, analyze, and solve problems at the organizational, inter-organizational, or community levels;
6. Show advanced knowledge and skills in one of the three areas of emphasis.

Special Students

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation may register as a Special Student. Students will receive academic credit for courses taken while on this status. Students can be considered for admission into a degree program if they maintain a 3.00 grade point average in all graduate-level work and all other admission requirements are met. With the program area advisor’s approval, students may transfer up to 12 credits earned at UW-Platteville into a degree program. All graduate-level work will be included in computing a student’s GPA.

Curriculum

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is awarded upon successful completion of 30 credits: 15 credits of required courses and 15 credits of electives.
With the help of an academic advisor, a student will develop an academic program plan consistent with specific goals from one of the three emphasis areas:

• Criminal Justice Theory - This emphasis is appropriate for those who want to continue graduate education in a Ph.D. program, teach at a two-year college, or embark on a career in governmental research.
• Criminal Justice Management - This emphasis is appropriate for those seeking promotion to supervisory or administrative positions.
• Victim and Offender Services - This emphasis is designed for those interested in working with crime victims, juveniles, probation and parole clients, or providing services in institutional or community-based settings

All courses are three credits unless otherwise noted.  Graduate credits in which a grade lower than a "C-" has been earned will not be counted toward a degree in Criminal Justice; however, these lower grades will be reflected in the student's grade point average.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Required Courses		15
CRIMLJUS 7030	Criminal Justice Systems
CRIMLJUS 7130	Criminal Justice Research and Statistical Methods
or CRIMLJUS 7730	Evaluation and Program Analysis in the Criminal Justice System
CRIMLJUS 7230	Criminological Theory
CRIMLJUS 7330	Law as Social Control
CRIMLJUS 7920	Seminar Paper Research
or CRIMLJUS 7990	Thesis Research
Elective Courses
Select 15 credits of the following: 1		15
CRIMLJUS 6030	Criminal Law
CRIMLJUS 6230	Community-Based Corrections
CRIMLJUS 6330	Criminal Procedure and Evidence
CRIMLJUS 7120	Policing in a Democratic Society
CRIMLJUS 7310	Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Child Advocacy
CRIMLJUS 7320	Juvenile Delinquency & Justice: Race, Class, Gender and Youth
CRIMLJUS 7340	Cyber-Crime
CRIMLJUS 7430	Victimology
CRIMLJUS 7520	Civil Liabilities in Criminal Justice Agencies
CRIMLJUS 7530	Criminal Justice Administration
CRIMLJUS 7540	Principles of Emergency Operations Management
CRIMLJUS 7630	Contemporary Correctional Systems: Institutional and Community-Based Corrections
CRIMLJUS 7880	Criminal Justice Internship
CRIMLJUS 7940	Special Topics in Criminal Justice
CRIMLJUS 7980	Independent Study in Criminal Justice
POLISCI 5830	Civil Liberties
PSYCHLGY 7030	Psychology in the Criminal Justice System
PSYCHLGY 7230	Crisis Intervention Theory
PSYCHLGY 7330	Theories of Personality in the Criminal Justice System
PSYCHLGY 7430	Abnormal Psychology in a Dangerous World
PSYCHLGY 7980	Independent Study in Psychology
BUSADMIN 5030	Human Resource Management
BUSADMIN 5340	Management, Gender and Race
BUSADMIN 5530	Organizational Behavior
COUNSED 7130	At Risk Youth
Total Credits		30

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With the help of an academic advisor, students develop an academic program plan consistent with specific goals from one of the three emphasis areas. Additional electives may be available through transfer and/or other arrangements. Contact the program coordinator for more information.

Courses are continuously being developed to provide knowledge and expertise in high demand.

Any new elective courses will apply for all catalog years unless otherwise stated.

Certificate in Child Advocacy Studies

The Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) certificate is designed to prepare students for the realities of child protection and serve the needs of learners specifically interested in professions that work directly with or among maltreated children. It’s specifically tailored for students who intend to pursue careers in law enforcement and as child protection professionals, victim witness workers, lawyers, school social workers and treatment providers.

The CAST certificate meets the mission of the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC), funded by the U.S. Department of Justice to end child abuse in the United States. In recognition of UW-Platteville students’ contribution to its mission, the NCPTC will recognize the UW-Platteville CAST certificate by including its logo on each awarded UW-Platteville CAST certificate.

UW-Platteville offers several graduate certificates.  These certificates are distinct from the Master's degree, but credit earned for them might be applied toward the completion of the degree.  To earn a certificate, students must complete all the required courses through the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, under the direction of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty.  Transferred courses or course substitutions are not allowed.

To obtain a graduate certificate, students must:

• Complete the certificate with a minimum GPA of 3.00
• Achieve a minimum grade of “C” in each course from the certificate program
• Request a certificate through their advisor within one year from completion of the final course of the certificate

To earn the certificate, students must complete the following three graduate courses:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
CRIMLJUS 7310	Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Child Advocacy	3
CRIMLJUS 7430	Victimology	3
Select one of the following:		3
CRIMLJUS 7880	Criminal Justice Internship (CAST Internship)
CRIMLJUS 7980	Independent Study in Criminal Justice (CAST Project)
Total Credits		9