Program Availability
The Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Indiana State University are traditional, on-campus graduate programs offered on the Indiana State University campus in Terre Haute, Indiana. Each program is open to U.S. and international applicants who satisfy admission requirements.
Why Earn a Master's in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Indiana State?
Indiana State University’s MA and MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice provide exceptional academic and industry-based preparation for criminal justice professionals or academic criminologists who seek to pivot or elevate their careers. They also prepare students for doctoral degree programs, to teach at the college or university level, and to conduct research in any federal, state, or local criminal justice agency dealing with the prevention, control, and/or correction of crime and delinquency. Successful completion of the MA and MS programs can help students build strong portfolios in criminological theory, law enforcement, investigation, corrections, cybercriminology, security studies, and intelligence analysis.
Join a Credible Program with Industry Connections
For more than 50 years, Indiana State University’s School of Criminology & Security Studies has offered advanced preparation and academic specialization to professionals working in criminal justice occupations. The School is recognized by local, state, and federal agencies and organizations for our high-quality instruction and the industry expertise of our faculty.
Learn from Our Excellent Faculty
Award-winning faculty in the School of Criminology & Security Studies bring decades of experience in criminal justice, jurisprudence, cybercriminology, intelligence analysis, and other specialties to their courses. Most hold doctoral degrees and engage in research and scholarly activities.
Our relatively small classes allow you to work on-on-one with instructors in research and interactive coursework that emphasizes teamwork, active inquiry, and practical experience, in addition to lectures. You will benefit from instructors’ expansive professional networks, and they will assist you with professional development, including career planning, internships, graduate research, and participation in professional conferences.
Gain Hands-On Laboratory Experience
The School of Criminology & Security Studies offers hands-on training in a state-of-the-art Crime Laboratory and Cyber/Intel Laboratory. In these spaces you will practice advanced investigative, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and intelligence and behavioral analysis techniques as part of your hands-on graduate curriculum.
The Crime Lab facility features technology to support ballistic analysis, fingerprint collection, trace evidence collection, blood spatter analysis, crime scene documentation, and related activities. The Cyber/Intel Lab is equipped with technology including an 85-inch Sony monitor and individual workstations with HP laptop computers, 32-inch LG monitors, and Gaming chairs. The space provides a closed environment with limited access for faculty and a single Internet connection separated from the University’s main networks.
Have Practical Learning Experiences
Students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice MA and MS programs are prepared for professional internships, research (often with faculty), and other professional development activities. This work can be directed toward specific topical interests and career goals.
What You’ll Learn in the Criminology and Criminal Justice MA and MS Programs
The choice of pursuing an MA or MS degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice gives you the flexibility to direct your program toward specific career objectives and professional interests. Both programs focus on the scientific approach to the nature and causes of crime, helping you develop skills, knowledge, and practical experience in investigations and analysis, research and statistics, and policy and planning.
Master of Arts
The Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program is 33 credits and represents a traditional approach to the study of criminology. It includes the completion and defense of a formal thesis, which is required as preparation for a doctoral dissertation. Courses include seminars in criminology research; statistics; ethics in criminal justice; criminological theories; law and society; law and criminal justice administration; correctional counseling; treatment practices and techniques in corrections; police problems and practices; criminal justice organization and management; public administration; and organizational behavior in public agencies.
The Criminology and Criminal Justice MA is ideal if you wish to pursue a PhD or attend law school. The program provides advanced coursework for:
- Research, statistics, and planning at local, state, or federal organizations
- Doctoral studies and academic research
- Teaching at the college or university level
Master of Science
The Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program is 36 credits and features an applied emphasis designed for students seeking a terminal master’s degree.
The program requires a comprehensive examination based on the degree’s core courses. These include seminars in criminology theories; criminology research; ethics in criminal justice; law and society; correctional counseling; treatment practices and techniques in corrections; police problems and practices; law and criminal justice administration; criminal justice organization and management; advanced criminal procedure; corrections; advanced criminal investigations; public administration; and organizational behavior in public agencies.
The Criminology and Criminal Justice MS degree is ideal if you have a professional or agency focus or plan to apply to law school. It provides specialized courses and practical experiences that prepare you for:
- Policy, planning, and leadership in criminal justice organizations
- Research, analysis, or investigative roles in the private or public sector
- Teaching at the university or college level
The Criminology and Criminal Justice MS program includes 21 credits of directed electives that can be applied to concentrated study in one of the following areas:
- Traditional Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Cybercriminology and Security Studies
- Intelligence Analysis
- Self-Designed Multidisciplinary Emphasis
Career Possibilities for Criminology and Criminal Justice MA and MS Graduates
Graduates with a Criminology and Criminal Justice MA or MS degree are well-positioned to shift their professional focus or pursue specializations in a variety of fields. These include:
- Business and Industry Intelligence
- Courts Administration
- Corrections
- Cybercriminology and Security
- Law Enforcement
- National Security and Intelligence
- Security Planning and Threat Assessment
The School of Criminology & Security Studies maintains extensive professional networks with local, state, and federal agencies. Each spring, the School hosts a Criminology and Criminal Justice Career Fair where students meet with representatives of agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, the Indiana State Police, and many others. This event helps our undergraduate and graduate students network with recruiters and discover excellent job opportunities in their field of interest. Our alumni find employment with these and many other federal, state, and local agencies, and many others pursue doctoral degrees or law degrees.
The School of Criminology and Security Studies has also been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the U.S. National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
Admissions Requirements and Application Instructions
The School of Criminology & Security Studies evaluates applications on a rolling basis for the Fall and Spring semesters.
Applicants seeking graduate assistantships or scholarships must apply by April 1 for the next Fall semester. Scholarships and assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis, and recipients are chosen by a graduate committee made up of three professors. All applicants must have and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
Contact the School of Criminology & Security Studies at ISU-Criminology@indstate.edu or call 812-237-2192 for more information about assistantships and scholarships.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants to the Criminology and Criminal Justice MA or MS program are selected for admission based on undergraduate grades, references, and significant accomplishments.
Applicants must also meet the following minimum requirements; however, meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission to the program.
Admission Requirements
Applicant must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
Applicants for the Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice must have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (based on a 4.0 scale).
Applicants should have completed the following courses or their equivalents:
- Criminology 200 (3 credits)
- Juvenile Delinquency 423 (3 credits)
- Courses in sociology, psychology, and political science (12 credits)
Criminology 200 and Juvenile Delinquency 423, or their equivalents, must be taken as undergraduate courses prior to admission to the graduate program; however, a student will be able to take six credits of undergraduate criminology, plus six credits of graduate course work, in departments other than Criminology & Criminal Justice under a Tentative Admission status.
The 12 credits of courses required in the social sciences may be taken for undergraduate credit at the same time as graduate courses are being taken toward the degree.
Applicant must submit the following documents when applying for admission:
- A one- to two-page Personal Statement that minimally includes the following:
- Career goals, including professional achievements
- Academic experience to date
- Discussion of how a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Indiana State University will assist the applicant in achieving personal and professional goals.
- Three letters of recommendation from academic/professional sources. Only one letter may be from a resource in the School of Criminology & Security Studies. Important: Have the names and email addresses of your references available at the time that you are completing your admission application, as you will need to enter them in the online application. Explain to your references that they will receive an email from Indiana State University requesting that they submit a letter of recommendation. Please ensure that your references expect to receive this request. It will be sent to your references immediately upon completing the application.
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit/attach/upload all documents required by the department prior to submitting the online application. All materials must be received with the application. Applications without the required application materials will not be considered for admission.
How to Apply
Complete Indiana State University’s online application for admission at apply.indstate.edu/apply
Submit a nonrefundable application fee of $45.00 (U.S. citizens and domestic residents) or $65.00 (international applicants) payable by Visa, MasterCard, or check or money order to Indiana State University. Submit payment to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809.
Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate coursework at the time of your application. International applicants must submit academic records from every secondary and post-secondary institution attended and may be required to submit additional documentation to ensure full evaluation.
To be official, transcripts must be sent directly from the college attended to: Graduate Admissions, Indiana State University, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809. E-transcripts should be sent to admissions@indstate.edu. (Students who have previously attended Indiana State University do not need to have their transcripts sent to Graduate Admissions. We already have access to transcripts from Indiana State.)
Applicants must submit the following documents when applying for admission:
- A one- to two-page Personal Statement that minimally includes the following:
- Career goals, including professional achievements
- Academic experience to date
- Discussion of how a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Indiana State University will assist the applicant in achieving personal and professional goals.
- Three letters of recommendation from academic/professional sources. Only one letter may be from someone in the School of Criminology & Security Studies. Important: Have the names and email addresses of your references available at the time that you are completing your admission application, as you will need to enter them in the online application. Explain to your references that they will receive an email from Indiana State University requesting that they submit a letter of recommendation. Please ensure that your references expect to receive this request. It will be sent to your references immediately upon completing the application.
Eligible applicants from outside the U.S. must take these additional steps to be considered for admission.
- International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (http://www.ets.org/toefl) or provide equivalent evidence of language proficiency. Submit scores to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. Exemptions are available for students with citizenship in select countries or who have earned a degree/diploma from approved countries.
- If studying in the United States, a copy of your current I-94 card, F-1 or J-1 visa, and I-20 or DS2019 are required. If currently in the United States but not studying, a copy of the applicable visa must also be submitted.
- All international applicants to Indiana State University must complete an affidavit of financial support. You can upload the affidavit of financial support and other required documents to your online application.
- For additional information about applying to Indiana State as an international student, visit indianastate.edu/admissions/international.
The School of Criminology & Security Studies evaluates applications on a rolling basis for the Fall and Spring semesters.
Applicants seeking graduate assistantships or scholarships must apply by April 1 for the next Fall semester. Scholarships and assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis, and recipients are chosen by a graduate committee made up of three professors. All applicants must have and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
Contact the School of Criminology & Security Studies at ISU-Criminology@indstate.edu or call 812-237-2192 for more information about assistantships and scholarships.
All materials must be received with the application. Applications without the required application materials will not be considered for admission.
Next Steps
Once admitted, you will receive a notification from the University and will be provided your University ID number, which is needed to activate your University username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important services, including e-mail and University announcements.
Note: Returning ISU students must apply for re-admission if they have not attended Indiana State University for more than two calendar years.
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