Masters of Science in Criminal Justice

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology program offers students a unique opportunity to integrate knowledge from the fields of criminology and criminal justice. The program emphasizes research methods and theoretical perspectives in criminal justice and criminology with substantive course work in international criminal justice, social control systems and criminal justice policy.

Students earning a MCJC undertake a course of study that prepares them to teach at the community college level or engage in criminal justice research in government or non-profit agencies; it also prepares them for further academic work in a doctoral degree program; or to work in the field of criminal justice as a researcher or policy analyst.

Program Information

Program Structure: For information about the program structure, please view the handbook for the program.
List of Courses: For a list of courses, please visit the course catalog.
Presentation Slides: For an overview of the program, please review the presentation slides from the 2024 orientation.
Culminating Experience: For more information on the Capstone Project or Thesis option please visit the Culminating Experience Guide.

Tuition and Fees

For more information on tuition and fees, please visit the Office of Financial Aid's page for graduate and doctoral students and the SDSU Bursar's Office. The Bursar’s page provides information on basic tuition, in-state tuition, out-of-state, and international student fees.

Additionally, for scholarships, please visit the Aztec Scholarships page and the School of Public Affairs Scholarships page.

To apply to the graduate program in City Planning:

Complete the University Online Application via Cal State Apply – Must be completed by February 1.
- All applicants must fill out the application on Cal State Apply and pay the required fee.
- A SDSUid Number will then be assigned which allows tracking of application status online.
Send official transcripts Graduate Admissions – Must be received by February 15.
- For colleges/universities that provide an option to send transcripts either electronically or by mail, electronic is preferred. If you are required to provide an email address when ordering an electronic transcript for SDSU, please use [email protected].
- If your school does not send electronic transcripts, then they can mail the official transcript. To be considered official, transcripts must be received in a sealed/stamped school issued envelope.
  
  Graduate Admissions
  
  San Diego State University
  
  5500 Campanile Drive
  
  San Diego, CA 92182-8225
  
  Please Note: When you send us mail, please include the last four digitsof the ZIP code to ensure your mail arrives to the correct office.
Complete the Program Online Application via Slate – Must be completed by March 1.
- Within 72 hours of submitting your Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email with a personalized link to Slate to complete your program application.
- Applicants must upload all program documents in Slate. Do not send application documents directly to advisors or the coordinator.

The following documents must be submitted via Slate:

Personal Statement (500 words): In a statement of up to 500 words, please provide a brief description of who you are and your background, then describe and discuss your reasons for choosing the Masters of Science in Criminal Justice & Criminology program, your academic and/or professional readiness for graduate school, your professional aspirations, and indicate specific area(s) of interest in criminal justice or faculty members you might work with.
Current Curriculum Vitae (CV): A CV is a comprehensive academic and professional record that includes your education, work experience, publications, presentations, research, awards, and other accomplishments. It is more detailed than a résumé and is used for academic and professional applications. Please upload a CV only—do not submit a résumé.
Writing Sample: A written piece that displays your academic and/or professional writing skills. Examples of useful writing samples include: A paper written for a college course that demonstrates your ability to synthesize and/or analyze information or a report or or similar professional work product that showcases your writing, research or analysis skills.
Unofficial Transcripts Reminder: Official transcripts must be sent to Graduate Admissions (see Step 2), but you are also required to upload unofficial transcripts in Slate.
Two Letters of Recommendation: Applicants will enter recommender information in Slate, and recommenders will receive a link to confidentially upload their letters.

MCJC Application Checklist

International applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply.

For international applicants, please follow the same steps as those listed for U.S. applicants when applying to our graduate program. In addition, please visit the following pages for further information:

International Graduate Students Admissions Page – for details on applying to the university as an international student and other related information.
The International Admissions Office - to schedule a time to meet with an international admissions advisor.