Graduate FAQ

PhD In Criminal Justice FAQ

• Is the GRE Required For Admission Into Your Programs?
  In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University has waived GRE Scores for applicants through the Fall 2021 Admissions Cycle.
• What Are Your Application Deadlines?
  For a Fall 2021 start, the application deadline is December 15th, 2020.
• How Many Credits Are Required?

  Total Credits: 60 credits.

  Course Credits: 36 credits

  Research Credits: 24 credits

   

  ***Note: A student entering the PhD program with a Bachelors degree must take two prerequisite courses: CJ 811 Design & Analysis in CJ Research and CJ 887 Quantitative Methods. These classes cannot be applied to doctoral program requirements, so the students will have a total of 66 credits at completion.

• With Approval, How Many Credits Can Be Transferred Or Waived Based On Previous Graduate Work?

  Up to 6 credits can be waived.

   

  ***Note: a syllabus must be provided for any class under consideration.

• How Many Years Does A Student Have To Complete Their Degree?
  8 years to complete degree. Comps/Qualifying Papers must be completed within 5 years.
• How Long Does It Take To Complete The Program On Average?

  On average, 5 years.

   

  ***Assuming a student enrolls in 6 to 9 credits each semester.

• Do All Students Receive Funding?
  All doctoral students who are pursuing the degree full time receive graduate assistantship funding for five years, assuming meaningful progress toward the degree and adequate grades.
• What Is Included In A Half-Time Graduate Assistantship?
  • Averages 20 hours per week assisting faculty with research or teaching prep
  • Nine credit tuition waiver for Fall and Spring semesters (in-state rate for any additional credits)
  • Student health insurance
  • Bi-weekly stipend
  • Students pay student-voted fees and taxes - approximately $20 per semester
• How Many Credits Per Semester Are Required to Maintain Funding Eligibility in Fall and Spring?

  Standard: 3 credits per semester

  After Comps/Qualifying Papers: 1 credit per semester

On-Campus Masters in Criminal Justice FAQ

• Is the GRE Required For Admission Into Your Programs?
  In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University has waived GRE Scores for applicants through the Fall 2021 Admissions Cycle.
• What Are Your Application Deadlines?
  For a Fall 2021 start, the application deadline is February 1, 2021.
• How Many Credits Are Required?

  With Thesis: 30 Credits

  Course Credits: 24 Credits

  Research Credits: 6 Credits

   

  Without Thesis: 30 Credits

  Course Credits: 30 Credits

• With Approval, How Many Credits Can Be Transferred Or Waived Based On Previous Graduate Work?

  Up to 9 credits may be transferred.

   

  ***Note:

  • A syllabus must be provided for any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have earned a 3.0 or better in any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have taken the class within the past three (3) years.
• How Many Years Does A Student Have To Complete Their Degree?
  6 years to complete the program.
• How Long Does It Take To Complete The Program On Average?

  On average, 2 years.

   

  ***Assuming a student enrolls in 6 to 9 credits each semester.

• Is An Internship Required For Masters Students?
  Internships are not required, but are approved for elective credit for all Masters programs, and are particularly encouraged for CJ Masters w/o thesis students and student in the online programs.
  
  Those interested should contact Career Development and Internship Coordinator Tim Homberg (hombergt@msu.edu).
• Do All Students Receive Funding?
  On-campus Masters students may be offered funding, but these decisions are not made until May.
• What Is Included In A Half-Time Graduate Assistantship?
  • Averages 20 hours per week assisting faculty with research or teaching prep
  • Nine credit tuition waiver for Fall and Spring semesters (in-state rate for any additional credits)
  • Student health insurance
  • Bi-weekly stipend
  • Students pay student-voted fees and taxes - approximately $20 per semester
• How Many Credits Per Semester Are Required to Maintain Funding Eligibility in Fall and Spring?
  6 credits per semester.

Forensic Science Masters Program FAQ

• Is the GRE Required For Admission Into Your Programs?
  In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University has waived GRE Scores for applicants through the Fall 2021 Admissions Cycle.
• What Are Your Application Deadlines?
  For a Fall 2021 start, the application deadline is January 15, 2021.
• How Many Credits Are Required?

  Total Credits: 38 Credits

  Course Credits: 32 Credits

  Research Credits: 6 Credits

• With Approval, How Many Credits Can Be Transferred Or Waived Based On Previous Graduate Work?

  Up to 9 credits may be transferred.

   

  ***Note:

  • A syllabus must be provided for any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have earned a 3.0 or better in any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have taken the class within the past three (3) years.
• How Many Years Does A Student Have To Complete Their Degree?
  6 years to complete the program.
• How Long Does It Take To Complete The Program On Average?

  On average, 2 or more years.

   

  ***Assuming a student enrolls in 6 to 9 credits each semester.

• Is An Internship Required For Masters Students?
  Internships are not required, but are approved for elective credit for all Masters programs, and are particularly encouraged for CJ Masters w/o thesis students and student in the online programs.
  
  Those interested should contact Career Development and Internship Coordinator Tim Homberg (hombergt@msu.edu).
• Do All Students Receive Funding?
  On-campus Masters students may be offered funding, but these decisions are not made until May.
• How Many Credits Per Semester Are Required to Maintain Funding Eligibility in Fall and Spring?
  6 credits per semester.

Online Masters in Criminal Justice Program FAQ

• Is the GRE Required For Admission Into Your Programs?
  In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University has waived GRE Scores for applicants through the Fall 2021 Admissions Cycle.
• What Are Your Application Deadlines?

  Spring 2021 Start:

  September 1, 2020

  October 30, 2020

  Summer 2021 Start:

  February 1, 2021

  March 30, 2021

  Fall 2021 Start:

  February 1, 2021

  March 30, 2021

  May 15, 2021

  July 15, 2021

• How Many Credits Are Required?
  Total Credits: 30 Credits
• With Approval, How Many Credits Can Be Transferred Or Waived Based On Previous Graduate Work?

  Up to 9 credits may be transferred.

   

  ***Note:

  • A syllabus must be provided for any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have earned a 3.0 or better in any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have taken the class within the past three (3) years.
• How Many Years Does A Student Have To Complete Their Degree?
  6 years to complete the program.
• How Long Does It Take To Complete The Program On Average?

  On average, 2 years.

   

  ***Assuming a student enrolls in 6 to 9 credits each semester.

• Is An Internship Required For Masters Students?
  Internships are not required, but are approved for elective credit for all Masters programs, and are particularly encouraged for CJ Masters w/o thesis students and student in the online programs.
  
  Those interested should contact Career Development and Internship Coordinator Tim Homberg (hombergt@msu.edu).
• Do All Students Receive Funding?
  Online Masters students are not eligible for graduate assistantship funding, but may apply for SCJ scholarships.

Online Masters in Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis Program FAQ

• Is the GRE Required For Admission Into Your Programs?
  In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University has waived GRE Scores for applicants through the Fall 2021 Admissions Cycle.
• What Are Your Application Deadlines?

  Spring 2021 Start:

  September 1, 2020

  October 30, 2020

  Summer 2021 Start:

  February 1, 2021

  March 30, 2021

  Fall 2021 Start:

  February 1, 2021

  March 30, 2021

  May 15, 2021

  July 15, 2021

• How Many Credits Are Required?
  Total Credits: 30 Credits
• With Approval, How Many Credits Can Be Transferred Or Waived Based On Previous Graduate Work?

  Up to 9 credits may be transferred.

   

  ***Note:

  • A syllabus must be provided for any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have earned a 3.0 or better in any class considered for transfer.
  • Masters students must have taken the class within the past three (3) years.
• How Many Years Does A Student Have To Complete Their Degree?
  6 years to complete the program.
• How Long Does It Take To Complete The Program On Average?

  On average, 2 years.

   

  ***Assuming a student enrolls in 6 to 9 credits each semester.

• Is An Internship Required For Masters Students?
  Internships are not required, but are approved for elective credit for all Masters programs, and are particularly encouraged for CJ Masters w/o thesis students and student in the online programs.
  
  Those interested should contact Career Development and Internship Coordinator Tim Homberg (hombergt@msu.edu).
• Do All Students Receive Funding?
  Online Masters students are not eligible for graduate assistantship funding, but may apply for SCJ scholarships.