Criminal Justice and Human Security MA Degree Requirements

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Program Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or recognized international institution
• Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Two years of college-level language study or fluency in a second language
  • Students who have not completed this requirement but feel that they have language competency to this level may take an oral and written exam, confirming such competency or they may complete the language requirement at the University of Bridgeport or at another regionally accredited institution of higher education prior to the conclusion of the degree program.

Required Materials

• Application
• Official transcript for the last degree earned
• Résumé
• Two letters of recommendation commenting on your work ethic, communication skills and ability to complete a graduate degree program.
• Personal statement
  • In 250-500 words, detail why you are seeking this degree, how you expect to apply your degree to your professional career after graduation and why you seek to pursue your degree through University of Bridgeport

International Applicants

Please consult the International admission requirements page, or for specific queries, contact your admissions officer.

Deadlines

Completed application and all supporting documents must be received by:

• July 15 for the fall semester
• Dec 1 for the spring semester

Master’s in Criminal Justice Courses

While pursuing your Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Human Security degree, you will be required to take 21 semester hours of core courses and 15 semester hours of electives.

Program Core Requirements (with Concentrations)

These courses are specific to the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Human Security degree program.

CJHS 501	Criminal Justice Research Methods
CJHS 511	Human Security and Approaches to Justice
CJHS 530	US Law and Criminal Justice
CJHS 532	Law Enforcement Management
CJHS 591	Internship
CJHS 598	CJHS Capstone
CJHS 599A	Thesis OR
CJHS 599B	Project Demonstrating Competence

Elective Courses

Select five electives that appeal to your area of interest.

CJHS 522	International Conflict and Negotiation
CJHS 535	Theories on Crimes, Norms, and Deviance (comparative across major cultural spheres & historically)
CJHS 540	International Criminal Law
CJHS 550	Comparative Criminal Procedures
CJHS 559	Cybercrime and Cyberterrorism
CJHS 560	Transnational Crime — Drugs, Human Trafficking, Arms Shipment
CJHS 578	Topics in Criminal Justice Policy

Keys to Completing the CJHS MA Degree Program

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Human Security degree program requires successful completion of 36 semester-hours of required coursework broken into 21 semester-hours (or seven courses) of core material, and 15 semester-hours (or five courses) of electives. This includes completion of the following three Capstone projects: CJHS 591 Internship; CJHS 598 CJHS Capstone; and CJHS 599 (a Thesis or a Project Demonstrating Competency (PDC). The program will require two years for completion.

In addition to required coursework, students will be expected to:

• develop written and oral communication skills as well as intercultural literacy and critical thinking skills through the course offerings and Capstone experiences
• develop specific skills in addressing the international dimensions of crime
• complete an internship with an appropriate law enforcement or other approved agency
• demonstrate a basic working knowledge of a foreign language equivalent to two years of University-level foreign language study

 

View all courses offered and read full course descriptions in our online course catalog system.

Learning Outcomes and Careers

Our Criminal Justice and Human Security MA graduates will:

• Demonstrate the skills necessary to excel in professional careers in federal, state, and international law enforcement agencies where intercultural communication skills, foreign language skills, and insights into other cultures are increasingly important both to address criminal activity and to take needed steps to prevent it
• Demonstrate an understanding of and appreciation of the rule of law, law enforcement’s role in the securing and protection of civil and human rights, and an understanding of the social conditions and circumstances that foster or discourage criminal behavior
• Demonstrate an understanding of Human Security and its role in the realization of a just and lawful society and the impact that this understanding of security has upon the existing notions of national, regional and international security
• Demonstrate the intercultural literacy skills needed to relate to an increasingly globalized population where norms and values may differ
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of non-state actors in international crime and justice, in such fields as norm creation, deviance, terrorism, and crime prevention
• Demonstrate an understanding of the interpretations of religion, ideology, and culture that contribute to the proliferation and/or the deterrence of violence and crime

Careers

No matter who you are when you begin UB’s Criminal Justice and Human Security MA degree program, upon graduation, you will be a well-prepared graduate ready to work in the area of criminal justice, international security, defense, intelligence, and transnational crime prevention or deterrence anywhere in the world.

This program is an excellent choice for domestic and international students looking to continue their education in criminal justice and human security; law enforcement employees—from local police to international officers, seeking to gain further expertise in the field; as well as military personnel looking to enter security at the civilian level. Students interested in pursuing positions in federal organizations, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or in state or local criminal justice agencies that have an international focus will also benefit from completing this program. The program also provides a solid foundation for students looking to pursue advanced study in law or doctoral-level study of criminal justice upon graduation.

• National Security (FBI, CIA, DEA, IRS)
• Global Intelligence
• Education
• Criminology
• Corporate Security
• Private Security

• Cyber Security
• Security Analyst / Penetration Tester
• Advocacy
• Law Enforcement (local, state, Interpol)
• Surveillance
• Legal Research