Take the next step towards righting the wrongs in your community with a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree from Lincoln Memorial University. When you join our program, you will have access to a high-quality curriculum, developmental support from our faculty, scholarly exploration and debate and ultimately, a deeper understanding of our country's foundational principles in justice.
Of course, there's even more that sets our program apart from those at other institutions in Tennessee and beyond. We offer a variety of elective courses sure to provide you with the opportunity to customize your criminal justice education to meet your unique individual needs and interests. Throughout the course of our program, you will have the opportunity to develop a proficiency in the theories of:
- Crime and justice
- Justice ethics
- Scientific research methodology
- Policy analysis
- Leadership
- and more
Our MSCJ program can be completed in just 30 credit hours and is offered 100% online. That means you can learn and work from the comfort of your own home, at your own pace and schedule. In addition to the program's online convenience, you will also work with and be mentored by our dedicated faculty, and enjoy small class sizes that ensure a level of individual attention that other institutions simply cannot offer.
Admission Requirements
Review our list of requirements below to ensure that you are eligible for the MSCJ program! To qualify, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (or of equivalent verification for international degrees). An international degree must follow university policies in existence for certifying international degrees and/or credit.
- Completed all recommended undergraduate coursework, including Introduction to Criminal Justice and Criminology or other courses on policing, corrections and juvenile justice.
- An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a four point grading scale.
- Two letters of reference from your undergraduate instructors or one letter from an instructor and one from a professional source.
- An essay explaining your purpose for attending the LMU MSCJ program, as well as noting your relevant skills, qualifications, preparation, and a statement of your goals after completing the program.
An entrance interview may be required if one or more requirements are not met.
A maximum of nine graduate credit hours or the equivalent of graduate work closely related to the MSCJ degree will be allowed in transfer by approval of the program's Admissions Committee.
How to Apply
To be admitted into the MSCJ program, you must apply through the LMU application portal. Though there aren't any set deadlines for the program, the Graduate School Selection Committee would prefer that you application be submitted at least three to four weeks prior to the start of your desired semester.
Dual Degree Opportunities
At LMU, we offer a Dual Degree program through which you may obtain both the Juris Doctor (JD) degree and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree. If you are enrolled in LMU Law School's JD program, you must successfully complete ninety (90) credit hours. The program of legal education includes sixty-seven (67) credit hours of required courses and twenty-three (23) hours of elective courses.
If you are enrolled in the LMU MSCJ program, you mut successfully complete thirty (30) credit hours, including eighteen (18) required credit hours and twelve (12) elective credit hours. If you are enrolled in the JD-MSCJ Dual Degree program, you may use up to twelve (12) credit hours of coursework in approved JD elective courses to fulfill MSCJ program elective credit hours.
Contact Us
Want to learn more about the Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program at LMU? Contact us at any time and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Paige Dzindolet
AHSS Graduate School Administrative Assistant
Office Address: 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752
Phone: 423.869.6764
Email: Paige.Dzindolet@LMUnet.edu
Dr. Jacqueline Black
Master of Criminal Justice Program Director
Office Address: Rm 171, 421 Park 40 N Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: 865.531.4167
Email: Jacqueline.Black@LMUnet.edu