Criminal Justice Overview

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Faculty & Staff

Degree Programs

The Department of Criminal Justice offers one graduate program:

Admission Requirements

Master of Criminal Justice

These are the requirements for admission to our graduate program. 

  • A completed Application for Master of Criminal Justice; prospective students can view the application process on the Criminal Justice website;
  • $20 application fee (The application fee is waived if your application is submitted online);
  • A bachelor’s degree and a record of academic achievement from an accredited college or university;
  • An official transcript from each institution attended sent directly to the appropriate admissions office. For transcripts other than English, please provide a certified English translation with an explanation of the grading system;
  • Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s aptitude for graduate work, such as former professors or master’s prepared supervisors;
  • A resume of professional work experience
  • A statement of educational goals that addresses the following points:
         1. How do you think the MCJ degree will enhance your professional development?, and;
         2. What expectations do you hope to realize by earning the degree?
  • A formal interview with one or more graduate faculty members at Loyola

WHERE DO I SEND MY APPLICATION?

Mail ALL application materials for the Master of Criminal Justice Program to:

Office of Professional and Continuing Studies
Master of Criminal Justice Program
Loyola University New Orleans
Marquette Hall, Campus Box 148
6363 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118

International Students

In addition to meeting the above requirements, all international applicants must submit: 

  • Results of the TOEFL, scoring 550 or higher, unless their previous degree is from a college or university in which the language of instruction is English;
  • F-1 or J-1 visas must submit an affidavit of support.

Note 1: Materials submitted in support of an application are not released for other purposes and cannot be returned to the applicant.

Note 2: All application documentation listed on this page must be received by the Department of Criminal Justice before a formal interview can be scheduled and a candidate's possible acceptance into the program can be considered.

Types of Admission

The Department of Criminal Justice Admission Committee reviews all applications and makes admissions decisions. Applicants are notified of the decision by letter. Two types of admission can be recommended:

  • Unconditional Admission: Applicants are admitted unconditionally when they have submitted all required materials and met admission standards. Since admission into the MCJ program is limited, the committee reserves the right to determine which applicants are the best matches for Loyola’s graduate program.
  • Conditional/Probationary Admission: The decision to grant conditional/probationary admission is based on perceived academic promise and is granted to an applicant to provide an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate his/her academic ability. The student with probationary admission remains on probation until he/she has completed a minimum of six graduate hours and has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. If, after the completion of six graduate hours, the student’s cumulative GPA is less than 3.0, the student will not be eligible to return to the MCJ program.

Evaluation of Transfer Credits

Students who have earned graduate academic credit at an accredited university or college may be allowed to transfer a maximum of six credit hours. In all cases, coursework will be evaluated for equivalence to MCJ program requirements; therefore, students must provide course syllabi and other supporting materials to assist faculty in the evaluation process.

Read the Transfer of Academic Credit policy for more information.

Academic Probation and Student Progression

In order to remain in good standing and progress through the MCJ program, a student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation has one semester (fall, spring, or summer semester) to remove the academic deficiency. If the deficiency is not removed in the allotted time, the student may not be eligible to continue in the MCJ program. The final decision to allow a probationary student to remain in the program will be made by the department chairperson.

Progression Through the Curriculum

The MCJ program is a cohort model meaning the student moves through the curriculum taking a prescribed set of courses each semester. If, for some reason, the student cannot adhere to the set schedule, graduation in the 16-month period may not be possible. The department will make every effort to accommodate the student by modifying his/her progression plan.

Length of Time to Complete MCJ Program

Students are required to complete the MCJ program within 5 years of enrolling in coursework.

Comprehensive Examination

By submitting the application to graduate, students are also declaring their candidacy in the Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) program. As part of the requirements for graduation, they are required to register and pass the comprehensive examination (CRJU A991) and the Masters Research & Practicum (CRJU A900) for the program. Students will not be allowed to sit for or complete the comprehensive exam until they have received satisfactory grades in all of their previous coursework.

Degree Candidacy

MCJ students must apply for candidacy after completion of 18 credit hours with an overall 3.0 average in the program. The Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) is a 30-credit-hour program. This program is designed to be flexible both with regard to course delivery as well as completion time.