Master of Criminal Justice and Criminology Graduate Program

Admission
Program of Study
MCJC Comprehensive Exam Option

Admission
The Master of Criminal Justice and Criminology admits students from a variety of backgrounds.  We look for evidence of knowledge and/or experience in the following areas.

1.Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System
2.Knowledge of Sociology and Criminological Theory
3.Knowledge of Research Methods
4.Knowledge of Statistics

For students who do not have a background in all of these areas the graduate advisor will make specific recommendations after admission to assist you in making up these deficiencies.

Step One: Apply to the University by going to www.csumentor.edu, apply to the Master of Criminal Justice and Criminology Program. For more information on this process please visit: http://catalog.sdsu.edu/GD.pdf or http://gra.sdsu.edu/index.php

Step 2 : Assemble one complete admission packet:

  • Two sets of official transcripts of all previous postsecondary academic work attempted in sealed envelopes (Note: have institutions send official transcripts to you and include them unopened, in your admission packet).
  • Applicants with international coursework must submit two sets of official transcripts and proofs of degree (If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation).
  • GRE Exam scores (institution Code: 4682) and TOEFL test score (if postsecondary instruction is in a language other than English).
  • Mail to:
    Enrollment Services
    Graduate Admissions, Document Processing Unit
    San Diego State University
    San Diego, CA 92182-7416

Step 3: Submit the following items to the School of Public Affairs

  • Two Letters of Academic Recommendation
  • Personal Statement (500 word essay about your professional and educational goals) 

To: Master of Criminal Justice and Criminology
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4505

Application deadline for the Fall 2008 academic year is May 1, 2008. For international students the Fall 2008 deadline is October 1, 2007. The MCJC program does not accept spring applications.

Program of Study
This 30-unit masters is designed to be completed in 2 years of full time study.  Students must research and write an independent thesis in their final semester. The following is a typical course sequence:
First Semester (Fall) (9 units)

  1. Administration of Criminal Justice (CJA 601)
  2. Criminal Justice and Urban Administration (CJA604)
  3. Survey Research Methods (PA 604)

Second Semester (Spring) (9 units)

  1. Juvenile Justice and Youth Violence (CJA 605)
  2. Community & Restorative Justice (CJA 603)
  3. Statistics (PA 606)

Third Semester (Fall) (9 units)

  1. Criminology and Criminal Justice Theory (SOC 743)
  2. Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (CJA 602)

Fourth Semester (Fall) (Full Time status)

  1. CJA 799A Thesis OR CJA 797 Comprehensive Exam Elective

To view the MCJC Program of Study please click here and for instructions please click here.

MCJC Comprehensive Exams
Comprehensive exams (comps) are typically written exams, but can include an oral component, that addresses primary subject areas of the academic field. These exams are taken after the majority of required course work has been completed and after most of the requirements for the degree have been satisfied. In the Criminal Justice and Criminology Program they serve as an alternative non-thesis option toward degree completion.

Comps enable students (near graduation) to engage in a systematic review of their coursework and a deeper understanding of core literature in the field of criminal justice and criminology. The comps are designed to evaluate a student's ability to integrate knowledge from course material, critical and independent thinking and demonstrate mastery of the field. The exam provides faculty the opportunity to assess whether students have achieved mastery of the field before being granted the Master's degree. The results of the examination should demonstrate independent thinking, appropriate organization, sophisticated writing competency, critical analysis, and accuracy of documentation.

Students must register for CJA 797, the 3-unit CR/NC, Comp Reading Course to satisfy program requirements. Students who withdraw from the exam will not receive credit for the course.  Students who do not pre-register for the exam or do not register for the Comp Reading Course will not be allowed to take the exam. Students who have 30 graduate units in their program can request exemption from CJA 797.

Students must have successfully completed at least 24 units of graduate coursework, have filed an Official Program of Study, and have been Advanced to Candidacy before being eligible to register for the exam. Students are not permitted to count the courses for which they are registered during the semester of the exam toward the total units required for candidacy.

The comprehensive exam will be offered once a semester during the 12th week during an in-class session (typically at the end of November and early in April). The exam will take eight hours: 9:00-12:00 Noon for Part A and 1:00-6:00 for Part B. Students intending to take the exam must have advanced to candidacy, and must register for the exam with the Graduate Program Coordinator at the start of the semester that it is offered (e.g., if taking the Comps in Spring ’08, students must register by February 28, 2008).

Structure/Questions
The comprehensive exam will consist of three questions. The first question is mandatory and will require students to integrate their knowledge and understanding of theory, research methods, policy, and practice as these pertain to issues of justice and the criminal justice system.

The two subsequent questions will be chosen from among four options provided. These questions will reflect topics covered in the program’s core or elective courses, possibly including: juvenile justice, community and restorative justice, social justice and human rights, the historical context of crime and justice, etc.

Format/Page Length of Answers
Students will be provided an envelope and identification number with their exam. This ID number must be included at the top of the first page of responses. The student’s name should not be included anywhere on the test. Students must return their exam answers in the envelope provided. This will allow graduate faculty to grade exams without knowing the identity of the candidates whose exam they are grading, known as “blind grading.”

Exam answers must be typed, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins all around and using a 12-point font. Each response should be clearly numbered. Students are responsible for printing their exam and ensuring the printed copy is fully legible. No disks or emailed copies will be accepted; PSFA staff or faculty will not print the exam.

Answers should be written in essay format (i.e., no outlines or bullet points for answers) and should be thoughtfully conceived (logically structured and articulately argued) and reviewed for technical errors (i.e., proofread and spell checked). Citations and references must be in APA or ASA style.

Students may write a maximum of 15 pages (double-spaced), including references; The target length is an average of 5-6 pages per answer, although the answer to the mandatory question might run longer than answers to the other two.

Plagiarism or any form of academic dishonesty will result in failure. For a review of what constitutes plagiarism, please go to: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/ivc/library/webplag.htm
In completing their answers students are expected to work independently from each other. Getting help from others in crafting the answers will be considered unethical and grounds for failure of the examination.

Exam Grading
Exams will be graded by graduate faculty on a pass/fail basis. Each student’s exam answers will be read, assessed and graded by two (or more) faculty members. This dual reading and the anonymity of the number system is designed to eliminate bias in grading, to provide a check on the system, and also to ensure the grading is completed in a judicious and timely manner. Each section (section 1: mandatory question, section 2: elective questions) will be graded separately and each must be passed to receive an overall passing grade. Exams will be graded and results will be available within 3 weeks.

If a student passes two out of three questions, but fails one question, s/he will have the opportunity to revise and resubmit the failed question. Exam retakes will take place 48 hours after the exam results are distributed to the students. The revised question must be submitted within 24 hours of being re-taken.
If a student fails more than one section (for instance, fails 2 out of 3 or 3/3 sections), then s/he is ineligible for revising/resubmitting those sections, but may re-take the comprehensive exam in the subsequent semester (note: the exam questions will change each semester). Under these circumstances the student will need to re-register for the exam at the start of the following semester.

Students can take the comprehensive exam a maximum of two times. If a student fails both times, s/he will not be eligible for re-examination and will be deemed to have failed the program.

Exam Preparation
Students should prepare for the exam by reviewing the readings from their MCJC course syllabi. Sample test questions will be provided. You are encouraged to contact instructors who taught graduate classes at anytime prior to taking the exam.
For study groups, students need to make arrangements on an individual basis with other students in the program.  (It is not School policy to provide contact information for students)