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The criminal justice system is rapidly evolving and requires applicants who are well-versed in the complexities surrounding law, policing, corrections, criminology, public safety, and other spheres of justice. The multifaceted criminal justice faculty at WOU has been educating the next generation of public service leaders for generations. Whether you’ve already completed a bachelor’s in criminal justice and want to advance your career, or you are looking for a career change, the MACJ at WOU is right for you.

Now accepting applications for 2024-2025!

credits required

Program Details

Overview

Where this degree can take you:

  • Management roles within criminal justice field
  • Teaching at community college level
  • Preparation for doctoral programs

To start, you need:

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Desire to further your professional career

Begin your Online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program:

  • You may apply to start the program fall, winter, or spring terms.

Finishing will take:

  • 45 credits
  • A capstone project

Where you will take classes:

  • Online/distance fall, winter, spring

Technology you will need:

  • Computer with internet connection
  • Video conferencing capability (e.g., Skype)

What you will learn:

This degree will teach students how to conduct social science research and learn how to apply these methods toward solving the actual problems encountered in the administration of justice.

Learning outcomes:

  1. Analyze the organizational structures and management challenges that define the field of criminal justice.
  2. Use methods of social science research to investigate problems and questions in the field of criminal justice.
  3. Apply theory-to-practice within the criminal justice environment.

Application Requirements

Deadlines and key dates:

  • You may apply to start the program in fall, winter, or spring terms.

Graduate Student Assistant Positions are a form of student employment, earning a compensation package including both salary and tuition remission for the performance of research or teaching services to the University as part of a student’s academic and professional training and development. If you are interested in applying for a Graduate Assistant Position, please apply for this position no later than February 1st for priority processing. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Detailed application requirements:

Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:

  • Application Fee $60
  • Transcripts
    • You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
    • Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing MAT/GRE scores to be fully admitted.
  • Current Resume
    • Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the title. Applicant’s resume must include 3 references that can vouch for your ability to be successful in the program.
  • Biographical Letter
    • Please provide a biographical letter explaining why you are seeking a graduate degree and how it meets your professional and academic goals.
  • Writing Sample
    • Your ability to write well is an important factor in your success in a graduate program. Please submit a writing sample that demonstrates your writing abilities. This should be an academic or professional writing sample written within the last three years. This can be a paper you submitted for a class, a report you wrote at work, etc. The writing sample should be 4 pages of text at minimum. Alternatively, you may write an essay on a criminal justice topic of your choice. Ideally, this should be academic in nature and contain sources to support your points (4 pages minimum).

Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.

Curriculum

MA in Criminal Justice curriculum overview:

Provides students with an academic foundation for managerial and other advanced professional roles in criminal justice. The program is also designed to prepare individuals to teach at the community college level or to prepare those interested in furthering their education at the doctoral level. Students complete five professional core classes, six electives, and complete an exit requirement consisting of a thesis, professional project, or comprehensive exams.

Your plan of study:

Once admitted to MA in Criminal Justice , you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.

Core Courses


  • CJ 608 Workshop Credits: 1-15 Credits: 1
  • CJ 612 Research in Criminal Justice Credits: 4
  • CJ 618 Theory of Criminal Law Credits: 4
  • CJ 619 Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice Organizations Credits: 4
  • CJ 653 Advanced Corrections Credits: 4
  • CJ 660 Advanced Criminology Credits: 4

Capstone Sequence


  • CJ 623 Criminal Justice Research: Explore and Initiate Credits: 4
  • CJ 624 Criminal Justice Research: Construct and Compile Credits: 4
  • CJ 625 Criminal Justice Research: Compose and Complete Credits: 4

Choose Three


  • Students may choose any three 500 or 600-level CJ or JS courses as electives

Exit Evaluation Requirement


Students must complete one of the following exit evaluations in order to receive their degree:

  • Thesis
  • Professional Project

Total Credits: 45

Faculty

OMAR MELCHOR-AYALA

PhD, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-9219 | ayalao@wou.edu | MA 217

MISTY WEITZEL

Professor, Division Chair, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8520 | weitzelm@wou.edu | MA 203

GREG WILLEFORD

NTT Instructor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-9617 | willefog@wou.edu | MA 224

TERRY GINGERICH

NTT Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8854 | gingert@wou.edu | MA 201

KEVIN JONES

NTT Instructor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8733 | jonesk@wou.edu | MA 214

JENNIFER MORENO

NTT Assistant Professor/Adjunct Instructor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-9711 | morenoj@wou.edu | MA 204

MARI SAKIYAMA

Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-751-4215 | sakiyamam@wou.edu | MA 211

TARYN VANDERPYL

Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8356 | vanderpylt@wou.edu | MA 215

Where this degree can take you:

  • Management roles within criminal justice field
  • Teaching at community college level
  • Preparation for doctoral programs

To start, you need:

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Desire to further your professional career

Begin your Online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program:

  • You may apply to start the program fall, winter, or spring terms.

Finishing will take:

  • 45 credits
  • A capstone project

Where you will take classes:

  • Online/distance fall, winter, spring

Technology you will need:

  • Computer with internet connection
  • Video conferencing capability (e.g., Skype)

What you will learn:

This degree will teach students how to conduct social science research and learn how to apply these methods toward solving the actual problems encountered in the administration of justice.

Learning outcomes:

  1. Analyze the organizational structures and management challenges that define the field of criminal justice.
  2. Use methods of social science research to investigate problems and questions in the field of criminal justice.
  3. Apply theory-to-practice within the criminal justice environment.

Deadlines and key dates:

  • You may apply to start the program in fall, winter, or spring terms.

Graduate Student Assistant Positions are a form of student employment, earning a compensation package including both salary and tuition remission for the performance of research or teaching services to the University as part of a student’s academic and professional training and development. If you are interested in applying for a Graduate Assistant Position, please apply for this position no later than February 1st for priority processing. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Detailed application requirements:

Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:

  • Application Fee $60
  • Transcripts
    • You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
    • Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing MAT/GRE scores to be fully admitted.
  • Current Resume
    • Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the title. Applicant’s resume must include 3 references that can vouch for your ability to be successful in the program.
  • Biographical Letter
    • Please provide a biographical letter explaining why you are seeking a graduate degree and how it meets your professional and academic goals.
  • Writing Sample
    • Your ability to write well is an important factor in your success in a graduate program. Please submit a writing sample that demonstrates your writing abilities. This should be an academic or professional writing sample written within the last three years. This can be a paper you submitted for a class, a report you wrote at work, etc. The writing sample should be 4 pages of text at minimum. Alternatively, you may write an essay on a criminal justice topic of your choice. Ideally, this should be academic in nature and contain sources to support your points (4 pages minimum).

Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.

MA in Criminal Justice curriculum overview:

Provides students with an academic foundation for managerial and other advanced professional roles in criminal justice. The program is also designed to prepare individuals to teach at the community college level or to prepare those interested in furthering their education at the doctoral level. Students complete five professional core classes, six electives, and complete an exit requirement consisting of a thesis, professional project, or comprehensive exams.

Your plan of study:

Once admitted to MA in Criminal Justice , you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.

Core Courses


  • CJ 608 Workshop Credits: 1-15 Credits: 1
  • CJ 612 Research in Criminal Justice Credits: 4
  • CJ 618 Theory of Criminal Law Credits: 4
  • CJ 619 Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice Organizations Credits: 4
  • CJ 653 Advanced Corrections Credits: 4
  • CJ 660 Advanced Criminology Credits: 4

Capstone Sequence


  • CJ 623 Criminal Justice Research: Explore and Initiate Credits: 4
  • CJ 624 Criminal Justice Research: Construct and Compile Credits: 4
  • CJ 625 Criminal Justice Research: Compose and Complete Credits: 4

Choose Three


  • Students may choose any three 500 or 600 level CJ or JS courses as electives

Exit Evaluation Requirement


Students must complete one of the following exit evaluations in order to receive their degree:

  • Thesis
  • Professional Project

Total Credits: 45

OMAR MELCHOR-AYALA

PhD, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-9219 | ayalao@wou.edu | MA 217

MISTY WEITZEL

Professor, Division Chair, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8520 | weitzelm@wou.edu | MA 203

GREG WILLEFORD

NTT Instructor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-9617 | willefog@wou.edu | MA 224

TERRY GINGERICH

NTT Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8854 | gingert@wou.edu | MA 201

KEVIN JONES

NTT Instructor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8733 | jonesk@wou.edu | MA 214

JENNIFER MORENO

NTT Assistant Professor/Adjunct Instructor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-9711 | morenoj@wou.edu | MA 204

MARI SAKIYAMA

Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-751-4215 | sakiyamam@wou.edu | MA 211

TARYN VANDERPYL

Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
503-838-8356 | vanderpylt@wou.edu | MA 215

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