Master's Program in Criminal Justice School of Criminal Justice Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark

Master's Program in Criminal Justice at Rutgers-Newark is Highly Ranked

Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, founded in 1776, is one of the nation's foremost public research universities and the state's pre-eminent public institution of higher education. Rutgers University is known for its exceptional faculty members, groundbreaking research, and solutions-based programs. Its 3 New Jersey campuses are located in Newark, New Brunswick, and Camden.

The Newark campus of Rutgers University, which houses the School of Criminal Justice (SCJ), is consistently ranked among the most diverse university campuses in the nation by "US News and World Report," while numerous academic departments, including the School of Criminal Justice, are considered among the top 10 in their discipline. "US News and World Report" also ranks SCJ among the top 10 institutions in the nation in the field of criminal justice.

School of Criminal Justice

Founded in 1972, the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice is located on the university's Newark campus and is a major national and international center for scholarly research on all aspects of policing, delinquency, crime, and criminal justice administration. Faculty members and students work together on sophisticated, multi-disciplinary research in juvenile justice, public security, international crime, crime analysis, justice processes, and other areas. Graduates go on to occupy positions in top research universities and colleges, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations.

The School of Criminal Justice is located within the Center for Law and Justice, one of the most technologically advanced academic buildings in the nation. The Center for Law and Justice also houses Rutgers School of Law-Newark, the Center for Global Change and Governance, and the Rutgers-Newark Provost's Office, providing an environment that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration on many levels.

Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Overview

The master of arts degree program in criminal justice at Rutgers University focuses on the criminal justice system, its organizational components and processes, and its legal and public policy contexts. Through classroom study and fieldwork, students examine criminal law and policy, police and correctional systems organization, the administration of justice and the judiciary, and public perceptions about criminal justice issues.

Curriculum Requirements

Pre-service students (those with undergraduate degrees and no professional experience in criminal justice) must complete 27 credits in coursework each, as well as a 3-credit fieldwork course, for a total of at least 30 credits to earn their master's degrees in criminal justice. Students entering the master's degree program without a criminal justice or related undergraduate degree must enroll in the Theories of Crime and Criminality course within the first 2 terms of the program.

In-service students (those with undergraduate degrees currently employed in the criminal justice field) may substitute another 3-credit class for the fieldwork requirement. All requirements for the MA degree must be completed within 3 years of the first matriculation in the program.

All students in the master's program, both pre- and in-service, satisfy at least 18 credits with the following required courses: "Justice; Law and Policy;" "Problem Analysis;" "Planning and Evaluation;" "Foundations of Scholarship;" and a "Master's Project Seminar" research paper. Students also each complete 12 credits of electives to create a concentration. Outside of the School of Criminal Justice, students may enroll in graduate concentrations with the Rutgers Business School and the Women's Studies Department.

Faculty and Research

Rutgers School of Criminal Justice faculty members come from a variety of disciplines and perspectives, bringing significant resources, expertise, and influence. Many have made major contributions to criminal justice policy and criminological theory over the years. In addition, SCJ faculty members regularly conduct and disseminate research findings on issues of crime and justice, the shaping of public policy, and best practices across policing, courts, and sentencing. Their research is typically funded by competitive grants at the local, state, and federal levels and through support by private foundations.

Notable faculty members include Dr. Robert Apel, whose research focuses on the relationship between employment and crime, with special emphasis on the youth labor market and the transition to adulthood; Dr. Bonita Veysey, whose research expertise concerns behavioral health and justice issues, including police interactions with persons with mental illnesses; and Dr. Ko-lin Chin, who has written extensively on issues related to Chinese crime groups and networks, and has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, as well as 2 Fulbright Scholarships for his work on transnational organized crime.

Financial Assistance and Scholarships

A variety of state grants, awards, and scholarships are available to eligible graduate students to assist with tuition and fees. Graduate students can also qualify for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.

Campus and Surroundings

Rutgers University's Newark campus is situated on 40 acres in New Jersey's largest city, just 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Newark is also home to numerous corporations and universities, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Prudential Center, and other significant cultural and sports venues.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Arts (MA)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 17
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Not reported
• Evening/weekend programs available? Not reported
• Distance learning programs available? Not reported
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• AppliedNot Reported
• AcceptedNot Reported
• Acceptance RateNot Reported
• EnrolledNot Reported
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $60
• Application Fee - International $60
• Electronic applications accepted? Not Reported
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Not Reported
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesGRE, minimum undergraduate B average
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *$10,694
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitNot Reported
• Application deadlines for financial awardsNot Reported
• Types of financial support availableTeaching Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students98
• Female Percentage57%
• Male Percentage43%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students98
• Part-time Percentage42%
• Full-time Percentage58%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino4%
• Black / African American12%
• White / Caucasian62%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian14%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races0%
• Unknown8%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty16
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Female Percentage19%
• Male Percentage81%