Concentration in Criminal Justice
Program Description
The Justice Studies Program at Fort Hays State University is an interdisciplinary liberal arts program which emphasizes cognitive skill, while preparing the student for promotions, transfers and basic careers in law enforcement, corrections, courts, juvenile justice, and security. Criminal justice, as a field of inquiry, focuses on the philosophical, theoretical and practical applications of justice and on the resolution of conflict within society. The program offers a broad liberal arts education which focuses on the cultivation of analytical and creative thought, and the ability to communicate effectively in a 21st century workplace and social environment.
Within the mission of the Justice Studies Program, it is our goal for students to create, acquire and transfer knowledge for purposes of growth and responsibility as vested citizens and workers in their respective communities. We also feel it is important to integrate adult learners, at any stage in their lives or careers, into the FHSU student-community. Faculty and students in the Justice Studies Program are central to this growth and positively share experiences, working together to foster team building and reaching out to each other to develop unique, innovative experiences that lead to lifelong learning. We welcome you to Fort Hays State University and invite you to become part of the “Justice Studies community!”
Admittance Requirements
Beginning with the Spring, 2013 review cycle, applicants must earn a minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of their bachelor's degree. Priority deadlines for admission are: April 1 (Summer & Fall), July 1 (Fall), November 1 (Spring). Admission decisions will be made by the department following these deadlines. Students without an undergraduate background in justice studies or criminal justice may be assigned undergraduate leveling courses as a condition of admission to the program.
Program Curriculum
Students completing their MLS degree in this concentration will have the following notation on their transcripts: "Liberal Studies (Criminal Justice)"
Every student is required to take the 10 hours of Core Classes. These include:
- IDS 801 Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies
- IDS 802 Ways of Knowing in Comparative Perspective
- IDS 803 Origins and Implications of the Knowledge Society
- IDS 804 Information Literacy
Every student completing a concentration in Justice Studies will take 18 credit hours from the following list of courses (or other substitutions as deemed appropriate by advisor):
- JUS 610 Criminal Justice Organizational Structures
- JUS 615 Contemporary Criminological Theory
- JUS 620 Advanced Criminal Justice Research Methods
- JUS 640 Workplace Violence
- JUS 670 Independent Study in Justice Studies
- JUS 675 Seminar: Justice Leadership Pro-Seminar
- JUS 675 Seminar: World Criminal Justice Systems
- JUS 675 Seminar: Critical Issues in Justice Studies
Additionally, every student shall take a 3 hour culminating experience (one of the following):
- JUS 600 Internship in Criminal Justice
- JUS 675 Seminar: Advanced Research Project
- IDS 899 Thesis in Liberal Studies
Finally, every student will complete a comprehensive examination in the final semester of his or her course of study. No attendance will be required for the examination. The examination will be given as an independent, comprehensive paper encompassing at least eight hours of study and writing on specific questions given to the student. These questions will cover the field of criminal justice.
Contact us now to see if the Master of Liberal Studies concentration in criminal justice could be right for you. Once you have been admitted to the MLS concentration in criminal justice, please follow the MLS Checklistand carefully read The MLS Student Handbook.