Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership degree prepares students to examine the important ethical and psychological processes that criminal justice personnel use in interacting with the public and evaluate the various methods of critical decision-making and innovation in day-to-day criminal justice operations in dealing with controversies. They will also be challenged to evaluate the public perception phenomenon concerned with fact-based truth and virtual truth shaped by popular opinion, media coverage, and reputation.
The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework.
Admission Requirements
Applicants will be considered for admission to the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership program if they fulfill the General Requirements and Application Procedures for graduate admissions at the University of the Incarnate Word, including evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning with an overall GPA of 2.5 or better. Official transcripts from each college and university previously attended must be mailed directly from the college or university to the Admissions Office.
Unconditional Admission: Unconditional Admission to the MACJ program will be granted to applicants who satisfy all general requirements for admission to graduate studies to include:
- Baccalaureate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
- A completed application
- GRE not required for unconditional applicants
Conditional Admission: Conditional Admission (2.5-2.99 GPA) to the MACJ program will be granted to applicants who satisfy all general requirements for admission noted above but who have a GPA of 2.50 but less than 3.0. Those granted Conditional Admission will be required to complete the first four courses with a “B” or better. Neither the GRE nor the GMAT is required.
Conditional Admission (Probationary): Conditional Admission Probationary (2.0-2.49 GPA) to the MACJ program will be granted to applicants who satisfy all general requirements for admission noted above but who have a GPA of 2.00 but less than 2.5. Applicants with a GPA above 2.0 but less than 2.5 MUST take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test or the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT). Applicants must achieve a minimum verbal score of 150 and a minimum quantitative score of 144 or higher and an analytical writing score of at least 3.5 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test OR a 450 or higher on the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) before they can be admitted into the MACJ program. Those achieving these scores will be granted Conditional Admission Probationary status and and will be required to complete the first four courses with a “B” or better.
As a general rule, applicants with an earned baccalaureate degree with an overall GPA less than 2.0 will not be admitted.
Evidence of an earned Baccalaureate degree from a degree-granting institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education if post-secondary education was completed in the United States, or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an international institution that is officially recognized by that country.
If a student falls within a conditional admission probationary status and expresses their desire to waive the graduate entrance examination, then they must:
- Provide justification of 300-500 words that includes their reasoning and how they will be successful in their program.
- Justification must be sent to and approved/denied by the Dean of SPS
- Approved: Student will submit 2 letters of recommendation (1 professional & 1 academic) in place of the exam for a complete file review
*2 academic or 2 professional letters can be substituted
**Letters cannot be submitted from relatives of the applicant
- Denied: Student will be required to submit scores and obtain minimum required scoring for acceptance