Program Type: Full-time, accelerated 
Degree Offered: BA and MA in Criminal Justice
Program Length: 5 years (for students who enroll in freshman year); opportunities for transfer students to catch up
Total Credits: 164 credits for both degrees, with double-counting
Dual Degree Savings: 18 credits of undergraduate tuition and fees
Financial Assistance: Graduate assistantships and scholarships are available

Two types of students may apply for admission to the dual degree program:

The first group consists of high school seniors who apply to Stockton. Students expressing an interest in majoring in Criminal Justice will be considered for early, conditional admission into the dual degree program if they:

• • have a 3.7 GPA from high school, AND,
  • demonstrate math, writing, and reading readiness through either:
    • Accuplacer scoers of 255 Math, 250 Writing, and 250 Reading, OR
    • 570/24 Math SAT/ACT, and 520/20 Reading /Writing SAT/ACT

For students who do not submit SAT/ACT scores, they will be conditionally accepted to CRIM Dual Degree based on their high school GPA. They will be officially accepted into the dual degree program once their Accuplacer scores are in and they meet the above criteria. Once enrolled at Stockton, students will have to maintain a GPA of 3.3 each semester and remain in good standing in order to maintain their eligibility in the dual degree program. Criminal Justice students who are already enrolled at Stockton but were not admitted to dual degree as incoming first year students may apply to dual degree immediately following the completion of first year if they have maintained at least a 3.3 GPA each semester.

The second group is transfer students. These students may apply for early, conditional admission if they have a GPA of at least 3.3 from their sending institution. Students will be expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3 each semester in order to maintain eligibility in the dual degree program. The program will accept a maximum of 64 undergraduate transfer credits, but students with that many transfer credits will likely have to take either summer classes or an extra semester to graduate on time. (Students entering Stockton with an Associate's Degree will have 64 credits by the end of their sophomore year, but dual degree candidates will have completed or need to complete at least 68 credits by that time.) All students must complete their General Studies and non-social and behavioral science electives by the end of their junior year. By the time students begin to take graduate courses in their senior year, they should have, at most, six credits of cognates (social and behavioral science courses) remaining.

To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must meet prerequisite requirements and submit the specified application materials prior to application deadlines.  Application reviews are rolling.  

Priority Deadlines:

Fall: August 1
Spring: December 1

Prerequisite Requirements for Traditional Admission

The following are prerequisite requirements for admission into the program through traditional entry:

1. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher;
2. Completion of the following courses, with minimum grade requirements met:
   • CRIM 1100 with a C or better;
   • CRIM 2141 or equivalent research class with a C or better;
   • CRIM 2145 or equivalent statistics class with a C or better;
   • A social science theories class with a C or better.
   • Forensic Psychology Track students must also have completed PSYC 1100 with a C or better.
   • Victimology and Victim Services Track students must also have completed CRIM 2327 Introduction to Victimology with a grade of C or better

Traditional Entry is most appropriate for (1) Candidates with BA/BS degrees from other colleges, (2) Candidates who graduated from Stockton over a year prior to their application to the graduate program, and (3) Candidates who graduated from Stockton, but do not qualify for direct entry.

Application Materials for Traditional Entry Admission

To be considered for traditional entry admission into the MACJ program, applicants must submit the following materials prior to the deadline:

1. Click here to start your application.
   
   • If you are a recent Stockton graduate, check to see if you qualify for the Direct Entry Option
2. A non-refundable application fee of $50, paid through the  Online Application
3. A graduate application essay submitted through the  Online Application 
4. Three current letters of recommendation submitted electronically via the  Online Application 
   • At least two of three application letters from faculty are recommended
   • Strong application letters reference student motivation and competencies relevant to success in graduate school (e.g., writing, reading, speaking, critical thinking, etc.).  Recommenders are encouraged to provide specific details or examples to highlight graduate-level competencies.
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE): School Code 2889
   • Testing requirements are waived for students with a master's degree or GPA of 3.5 or higher
6. Resume
7. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically, by mail, or in-person. The Office of Graduate Admissions will retrieve Stockton transcripts on your behalf.
   
   By mail:
   Office of Graduate Admissions, N-Wing 007a
   101 Vera King Farris Drive
   Galloway, NJ 08205-9441
   
   Electronically:
   gradschool@stockton.edu
   
   
8. Submission of Prerequisite Coursework Chart through the Online Application.

9. To review international applicant deadlines and admission criteria, please click here.

Prerequisite Requirements for Direct Entry Admission

The following are the prerequisite admission requirements for direct entry admission into the MACJ program:

1. Current student or very recent graduate (within one year of application to the graduate program) who majored in Criminal Justice or Psychology at Stockton;
   • Other Stockton majors may be eligible with permission of the graduate program Coordinator.
2. A cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher;
3. Completion of the following prerequisites with minimum grade requirements met:
   • CRIM 1100 with a C or better on the first attempt;
   • CRIM 2141, PSYC 3242 OR equivalent research class with a B or better on the first attempt of the class;
   • CRIM 2145, PSYC 2241, OR equivalent statistics class with a B or better on the first attempt of the class;
   • A social science theories course with a grade of B or better on the first attempt of the class;
   • CRIM 36xx capstone course OR PSYC 36xx senior seminar with a B or better on the first attempt of the class
   • Forensic Psychology Track students must also have completed PSYC 1100 with a C or better on the first attempt of the class.
   • Victimology and Victim Services Track students must also have completed CRIM 2327 Introduction to Victimology with a grade of C or better on the first attempt of the class.

Students who have withdrawn from the Criminal Justice dual-degree program are not eligible for direct entry if they withdrew from a graduate course or earned a grade of B- or below in a graduate course. 

Application Materials for Direct Entry Admission

To be considered for direct entry admission into the MACJ program, applicants must submit the following materials prior to the deadline:

1. Click here to start your application. 
2. Resume

A Certificate in Criminal Justice is offered at Stockton through the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ) Program in Forensic Psychology.

The certificate program is ideal for individuals who want to further their education beyond their current degree, but are not necessarily interested in the full master's degree. Students who show great academic promise in the certificate program have the option to seamlessly transition into the full MA program if they decide to continue their education. Students who decide to continue on to the MA degree will be able to apply all of their certificate credits to the MA. 

Prerequisite Requirements for Admission into a Certificate Program

1. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher;
2. Completion of CRIM 1100 or at least two years of relevant Criminal Justice professional experience;
3. Forensic Psychology Certificate students must also have completed PSYC 1100 with a C or better.

Application Materials for Admission into a Certificate Program

To be considered for admission into a MACJ Certificate Program, applicants must submit the following materials prior to the deadline:

1. Click here to start your application.  
   
   • If you are a recent Stockton graduate, check to see if you qualify for the Direct Entry Option
2. A non-refundable application fee of $50, paid through the Online Application
3. A graduate application essay submitted through the Online Application 
4. Three current letters of recommendation submitted electronically via the Online Application 
   • At least two of three application letters from faculty are recommended
   • Strong application letters reference student motivation and competencies relevant to success in graduate school (e.g., writing, reading, speaking, critical thinking, etc.).  Recommenders are encouraged to provide specific details or examples to highlight graduate-level competencies.
5. Resume
6. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically, by mail, or in-person. The Office of Graduate Admissions will retrieve Stockton transcripts on your behalf.
7. Submission of Prerequisite Coursework Chart through the Online Application.

No. Holders of any undergraduate degree from an accredited institution can apply for this program. The only undergraduate courses that applicants must have prior to starting the program are Introduction to Criminal Justice, Research Methods, Statistics, and a social science theories course. 

You may attempt up to three courses as a non-matriculated student. To register for a course as a non-matriculated student, please complete the Non-Matriculated Student Application Form.

Yes, you have three options:

• Pursue an additional Master's Degree.
• Apply to our certificate program in Forensic Psychology or Homeland Security. The certificate programs are 15-credit programs.
• You may take up to 9 credits as a non-matriculated student.

Criminal justice is a growing field in New Jersey and throughout the country. According to researchers from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics the outlook for several criminal justice occupations through 2026 is positive. The aggregate need nationwide is great, generated by the demand for employment in state and local government. The need for police and detectives is expected to rise by over 50,000 jobs by 2026.  Employment opportunities for probation officers, correctional treatment specialists, private detectives and investigators, and judges and hearing officers are also expected to increase steadily for the next ten years.