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Columbia, SC 29208 | 803.777.7000

Overview

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers programs leading to the M.A. degree with a major in Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Faculty research and teaching interests span a wide variety of crime- and criminal justice-related topics, including policing, courts, corrections, law and policy, macro- and microlevel criminological theory, sentencing, victimization, and program evaluation. Graduates from these programs are well-prepared to enter teaching, research, or policy-making positions in the criminal justice system.

Master of Arts degree in criminology and criminal justice

Admission to the M.A. program

Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. An undergraduate major in criminology, criminal justice, or a related social science is desirable. In addition to meeting all admission requirements of the University’s Graduate School, applicants to the M.A. program must submit a university application through the Graduate School, including a written statement describing prior education, relevant work experiences, and purpose in pursuing a masters degree. Applicants must also submit scores obtained within the last five years on the Miller Analogies test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE), two letters of academic reference, and official grade transcripts from all previous institutions.

Doctor of Philosophy degree in criminology and criminal justice

Admission to the Ph.D. program

Applicants must possess a baccalaureate or masters degree from an accredited college or university. An undergraduate or graduate degree in criminology, criminal justice, or a related social science is desirable. In addition to meeting all admission requirements of the University’s Graduate School, applicants to the Ph.D. program must submit a university application through the Graduate School, including a written statement describing prior education, relevant work experiences, criminal justice interests, and purpose in pursuing a doctoral degree in criminology and criminal justice. Applicant must also submit scores obtained within the last five years on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), three letters of academic reference, official grade transcripts from all previous institutions, and a recent sole-authored writing sample or thesis chapter written during previous degree program..

Financial Assistance

The department offers financial support in the form of graduate assistantships and fellowships. Both are awarded on a competitive basis to incoming graduate students and are dependent on available resources. There is no separate application for an assistantship or fellowship. All full-time students who have a completed application, express a desire for funding, and have been accepted into a graduate program will be considered. Applicants requesting all other types of financial assistance should apply to the director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208.

M.A. / J.D. Dual Degree Program

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, in cooperation with the University of South Carolina School of Law, offers a combined degree program which permits a student to obtain both the Juris Doctor and the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degrees in approximately four years. For more information about the program visit Criminology and Criminal Justice / Law, M.A. / J.D.

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Criminology and Criminal Justice