Study Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies at Western Michigan University in the USA,
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Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies

USA

What will I learn?

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies consists of an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to provide perspective on crime and (in)justice at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. The program provides a well-rounded, theoretical, and practical education necessary for careers in criminal justice and social justice fields. The curriculum consists of a foundational core (18 hours), a choice of one of three tracks - career track with four specializations, social justice track with two specializations, or thesis track (12-14 hours), and a required application experience (4-6 hours). In addition, students may be able to complete a graduate certificate program – the Addiction Specialization or Clinical Addiction Certificate, the Climate Change Policy and Management Certificate, the Cybersecurity: Computer Information Systems Graduate Certificate, or the Geographic Information Sciences Certificate – as part of the M.A. in Criminal Justice Studies.

Study options

Full Time (4 Semesters)

Tuition fees
US$17,482.00 per year
Health Insurance- 1324

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Application deadline

01/12/2026

Start date

May 2027

Venue

Kalamazoo Campus

Kalamazoo, MI,

Kalamazoo,

Michigan,

49008, Midwest, United States

Full Time (4 Semesters)

Tuition fees
US$17,482.00 per year
Health Insurance- 1324

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Application deadline

Expected July 2027

Start date

January 2027

Venue

Kalamazoo Campus

Kalamazoo, MI,

Kalamazoo,

Michigan,

49008, Midwest, United States

Entry requirements

For international students

A resume or curriculum vitae CV is required please submit within the online application systemThe General GRE is not required for this programPlease prepare a statement which covers the following information and attach it within the online applicationSubmit a 750word essay about your qualifications and readiness for graduate study including key experiences that have prepared you for this work and the specific lines of inquiry and modes of study you wish to pursueUse the essay to highlight what sets you apart as a candidate for graduate study and describe specifically what you hope to achieve at WMU including any faculty with whom you wish to workPlease prepare a statement which covers the following information and attach it within the online applicationSubmit a 750word essay about your qualifications and readiness for graduate study including key experiences that have prepared you for this work and the specific lines of inquiry and modes of study you wish to pursueUse the essay to highlight what sets you apart as a candidate for graduate study and describe specifically what you hope to achieve at WMU including any faculty with whom you wish to workAn official transcript from the institution from which you received your bachelor degree is required as well as a transcript from the institutions where any additional graduate level courses or degrees have been taken completed Applicants are not required to submit an official transcript of courses taken completed at WMU Students interested in applying to the Criminal Justice Studies MA program in the Department of Sociology at Western Michigan University must meet the following criteria for admission:Complete 24 semester hours in undergraduate social science, with at least 15 semester hours in sociology, including courses in theory and research methods. If you do not have the requisite hours of undergraduate sociology courses you may be required to make up deficiencies as a condition of matriculation.Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in undergraduate sociology courses.As part of the application, interested students are required to submit the following materials as part of their application:Curriculum Vitae or ResumePersonal Statement-outlining why they are choosing this program, their research interests, and the faculty they see themselves working with.Previous Written Work-students should select an independently written (no coauthors) work they completed prior to their application as part of their previous degree(s).Official Transcripts-transcripts from all previous institutions.Three Letters of Recommendation-letters should be from academic or professional sources.TOEFL or equivalent English language proficiency scores (international applicants only)

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University offers career-focused degree programs which propel students into meaningful careers in their specialty.

  • 9/10 students employed in jobs they like (WMU Outcomes, 2024)
  • Top 100 for graduate programs in five fields (USNWR, 2025)
  • 16:1 student-faculty ratio, (WMU Common Data Set, 2024)
  • 93% of students join Experience-Driven Learning (WMU, 2024)

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