UT Announces Master’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice

The University of Tampa has announced it will begin offering a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice to prepare individuals for both practitioner and management careers in criminal justice and public safety.

Starting in Fall 2017, the M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice will help students launch or advance a career in law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, victim advocacy or criminal justice management. Students can also earn credentials to pursue doctoral studies or to teach at the college level.

The M.S. degree provides a theoretical groundwork along with the research and statistical skills needed for individuals to design and evaluate effective public safety policy and practice. Courses also cover the structure of the criminal justice system and the nature of successful crime prevention programs.

Students may choose between thesis and non-thesis tracks, and can conduct research with faculty members.

The program caters to working professionals, and students may begin the program during the fall, spring or summer terms. Courses can be taken in any sequence, with degree completion within two years.

Chris Capsambelis, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice and director of the master’s program, said the faculty is excited to offer this new program “that we believe is ideal for both our undergraduates who wish to continue their studies and for those criminal justice professionals currently working in the Tampa Bay area.”

Sample courses in the program include:

Criminal Justice Policy and Program Evaluation
Criminological Theory
Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
Statistics for Criminal Justice Research
Policing and Public Policy
Justice, Law and Public Policy
Victimology
White Collar Crime

For UT undergraduates interested in criminology and criminal justice, an integrated B.S./M.S. option is available.

For more information, see www.ut.edu/mscriminology. Questions about the program may be addressed to Capsambelis at ccapsambelis@ut.edu or (813) 257-3348.