CRIMINAL JUSTICE

WELCOME TO THE DISCIPLINE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT TAMIU!

The Criminal Justice faculty is dedicated to preparing students to be leaders in the community and to contribute to research and innovation in the discipline.

We offer two degrees, the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science, (thesis and non-thesis plans).

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Requirements

This program of study requires 126 semester credit hours that may include CRIJ 4601, the Criminal Justice Internship of 6 hours which can only be taken by CRIJ majors their senior year.

1. Criminal Justice majors should discuss options within the Core Curriculum with their academic advisor.
2. All CRIJ majors ( non-transfer and transfer students) must satisfy CRIJ 1301, CRIJ 2329, CRIJ 2328, CRIJ 1306 and CRIJ 2313 or their equivalent at the lower-level. The lower-level courses are listed in the degree plan sequence in which they should be taken. Please refer to the University catalog
3. PSCI 4326, The Judicial Process, is interchangeable with CRIJ 1306, Courts and Criminal Procedures, with permission of the CRIJ faculty advisor.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) is a comprehensive program designed to prepare graduate students to actively participate in the development of knowledge in the areas of criminological theory, the administration of justice, ethics and legal studies. It is also designed to prepare students to conduct research in the field of study.

The degree is especially beneficial for students already working in criminal justice system who seek to enhance their professional knowledge and skills as well as those who have full-time jobs as courses are scheduled primarily online. Also graduate students are given alternative options to complete the degree which include a non-thesis or thesis plan.

Both the non-thesis and thesis plan require the completion of 36 total hours of coursework, 9 hours of which are devoted to the student's minor curriculum. Students may choose to minor in Sociology, Political Science, English, Public Administration, History or Spanish. The completion of the degree also requires students to successfully demonstrate their knowledge of course content in criminal jistice and in their minor coursework. Students must therefore successfully pass a comprehensive exam administered during the last semister of coursework.

General Admissions Requirements and Procedures

All students (including trensfer students) seeking sdmission to a graduate degree program in the college of Arts and Sciences, including MSCJ students, must first file an application with the University's Office of Admissions (KL 155) (the application can also be found at ApplicationForm ). Once admitted to the university, this application would be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. All supporting material indicated in the application must be submitted by the stated deadline (See below).

Application Deadlines For Admission Process

               For Summer or Fall:      April 30th                                              For Spring:      November 30th

Outline of MSCJ program Admissions Process

1. Students apply to the Office of Admissions for entry into the University.
2. Once admitted to the university, the application will be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research (KL 326).
3. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research welcomes students who meet the University's requirements and initiates these students' applications for admission to the college of Arts and Sciences.

   As a part of application, students applying for the MSCJ Program, need to submit:

• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. If previous degree was completed within 5 years of applying  to the MSCJ program,students must have earned a 2.5 GPA. If previous degree was completed after 5 or more years of applying to the MSCJ program, a 2.0 GPA is required. (Degree must be posted on the transcript. The degree must be from a college or a university of recognized standing degrees from institutions outside the U.S. will be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees).
• Typed personal anrrative briefly describing career goals, aspirations, and timetable for completion of proposed graduate studies.
• Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional; not from TAMIU Criminal Justice Faculty)
• Gre scores (Official scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service [ETS] and be dated witin five years of enrollment)
• Writing sample (5-10 pages in length) that demontrates student's writing ability (no legal case briefs allowed). The writing sample may be an academic or a research paper submitted as a coursework for previous degree
4. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research submits the students' application to the Director of the MSCJ Program.
5. The Director of the MSCJ Progarm calls a meeting to review applications received by the appropriate deadlines. All relevant information will be considered, including a presentation by any student who wishes to give one.
6. The Director of the MSCJ program sends a memo to the Department Chair and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research documenting the recommendations of the MSCJ Program Admissions Committee.
7. The Dean considers the recommendations and makes a final desicion, which is then communicated to

• the student
• the Department Chair
• the Director of the MSCJ program
• the Office of Admissions

Each student's application will be carefully reviewed (in compliance with HB 1641), and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis but the above factors such as GPA and letters of recommendation will be taken into consideration. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research will notify students in writing about the status of their applications.

Financial Aid

Graduate students interested in financial assistance should obtain a copy of the Financial Aid Student Handbook from the Texas A&M International university Office of Financial Aid.

Lamar Bruni Vergara Educational Fund

The Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust offers qualifying students scholarships. The Trust was established in 1989. The legacy of its namesake continues through the enhancement of the Catholic Church, educational and health institutions and numerous local social services organizations.

As her health deteriorated in later years, she thought to ensure that her care for her community would continue. She was a Laredo philanthropist whose vision and legacy of assisting higher educationcontinues through the benevolent acts of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust. Her cousin, J. C. Martin, Jr. and formed a trust to provide continuous support of the social, religious, healthand educational initiatives of the community. The Trust has provided gifts and support for the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing and its programs, student scholarships, faculty research, the Lamar Bruni Vergara Memorial Garden and most recently, the Lamar Bruni Science Center.

Scholarships

Tution upto $1500 per year ($500 each semester, including summer)

Eligibility Requirements

1. Must be a fully admitted graduate student who is working towards a master's or doctoral degree.
2. Must enroll in 6 graduate hours each semester (or summer) that you receive scholarship money.
3. Must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.5.
4. Application deadline is May 1 (earlier preferred) .

For more information go to:

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate Assistantships

The Office of Graduate Studies and Research may provide a limited number of teaching and research assistantships for graduate students who demonstrate outstanding ability. Such assistantships will be awarded on a competitive basis, and students receive such appointments will be subjected to regular evaluationby their departments. These assistantships will constitute no more than 1/2 employment, and graduate assistants will be expected to register for no less than six credit hours per semester and to maintain a grade point average of atleast 3.5. Students interested in applying for such assistantships should contact the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

CURRICULUM

                            Master of Science in Criminal Justice : Non-Thesis Plan                                                                  (Students must complete Required courses with a grade of "B" or better)

MAJOR CURRICILUM - CRIMINAL JUSTICE                                                                                                 Required Courses:*                                                 15 sch                                  

*These courses are restricted to those TAMIU students fully admitted into the MSCJ Program

Prerequisites

Elective Courses:(Can be taken by criminal justice majors, criminal justice minors and 6 credit eligible degree/non-degree seeking sudents)                                                          

Four courses chosen from:                                           12sch                                                                                                        

MINOR CURRICULUM :                                           9sch                                                                                          Three graduate coursesfrom one discipline; at least 2 MUST be at 5000 level(or higher)

A student may not major and minor in criminal justice

                    Master of Science in Criminal Justice : Thesis Plan                                                                            (Students must complete Required courses with a grade of "B" or better)

MAJOR CURRICILUM - CRIMINAL JUSTICE                                                                                                 Required Courses:*                                                         15 sch  

*These courses are restricted to those TAMIU students fully admitted into the MSCJ Program

Prerequisites

Elective Courses:(Can be taken by criminal justice majors, criminal justice minors and 6 credit eligible degree/non-degree seeking sudents)                                                         

Two courses chosen from:                                           6sch                                                                                                 

MINOR CURRICULUM :                                           9sch                                                                                          Three graduate coursesfrom one discipline; at least 2 MUST be at 5000 level(or higher)

THESIS                                                                           6sch

Twenty-four hours must be completed prior to enrollment in CRIJ 5398 and CRIJ 5399

A student may not major and minor in criminal justice

Faculty List and Research Interests (DOC)

Program Handbook_Comprehensive Examinations (DOC)

PROGRAM FACULTY

Champion, Dean. Professor of Criminal Justice – Email : dchampion@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. Purdue University.

Hartley, Richard.  Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice – Email: rhartley@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. University of Nebraska.

Kilburn, John. Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice & Chair – Email: jckilburn@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. Louisiana State University

Lee, Jenifer. Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice –Email: jlee@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Rudolph, Bonnie. Associate Professor of Psychology – Email: brudolph@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. Illinois Institute of Technology

San Miguel, Claudia. Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice – Email: csanmiguel@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. Sam Houston State University

Warner, Judith.  Associate Professor of Sociology – Email: jwarner@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. University of Arizona

Frantzen, Durant. Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice – Email: dfrantzen@tamiu.edu
Ph.D. Sam Houston State University

For more information, please contact http://www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/  or Dr. Claudia San Miguel - csanmiguel@tamiu.edu