Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science

The Applied Behavioral Science program currently offers a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Social Problems.

The Criminal Justice and Social Problems track emphasizes methodology and theoretical courses and topics-focused workshops aimed at improving the research and intellectual foundations for employment and professional advancement in the criminal justice fields. Students in the program typically work for, or plan to work for, the courts, probation offices, police agencies, prison administrations, or private and public programs for juvenile offenders.

The training received in basic social science skills and knowledge is also a useful foundation for those who wish to proceed to doctoral-level study in a number of fields. An optional practicum provides field experience for those without prior experience in a criminal justice field. The program culminates in an applied research effort that, at the student's option, takes the form of either a journal article project or a traditional thesis. Courses are offered primarily in the evenings and workshops primarily on the weekends to accommodate employed students.

In addition to meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate School, students applying for admission into the Criminal Justice and Social Problems M.A. degree program are generally expected to have an undergraduate degree in criminal justice, social work, or a social science (such as sociology, psychology, or political science). Significant experience working in a criminal justice field can substitute for this expectation for students with degrees in other fields. Admission is generally for summer or fall semesters; but students can be admitted year round.

If your native language is not English and you do not have a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, you must have a minimum score on one of the following exams:

A score of 79/120 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

A band 6 or higher through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

A score of 57 or higher on the Pearson PTE