Examination Requirements
Thesis Track Requirements
Students on the Thesis Track must complete a research-based thesis, supervised by a faculty committee (typically a chair and two Graduate Faculty members). The thesis should be an original, 30-page investigation related to criminal justice or criminology, resembling a publishable journal article and addressing a focused research question. Both the prospectus and final manuscript require formal committee approval. Most projects use secondary data, though original data collection is allowed if approved. Acceptable methods include survey studies, qualitative designs, content analysis, and case studies.
Thesis Prospectus
The thesis process consists of three stages: Prospectus, Thesis Writing, and Final Defense. The prospectus (about 10 pages) outlines the research problem, its significance, relevant literature or data, and proposed methods. Students must defend the prospectus—ideally by the end of the second semester—before collecting data; early data may be invalidated. The chair reviews each draft within three weeks, followed by three weeks for committee review. Revisions continue until the document is approved for defense. Timelines apply during the academic year only.
Prospectus Defense Format
The defense is public and includes a 15–30 minute student presentation, a committee Q&A, and optional audience questions (at the chair’s discretion). The final prospectus must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator beforehand, and the department will notify faculty and graduate students. Presentations should be clear, well-organized, and accessible to all attendees.
Thesis Final Defense
After a successful prospectus defense, students must complete a literature review, finalize methods, collect and analyze data, and write the thesis. They must regularly update their chair and provide at least one progress report per semester to the full committee, following established draft review procedures. Once the chair approves the final draft, it must be submitted to the committee by the third week of the fourth semester for review and scheduling the defense. The defense can only be scheduled once the thesis meets Graduate School submission standards.
Oral Defense
- Must take place by the final deadline of the fourth semester and includes the following:
- Attendance by all committee members is mandatory.
- Other faculty and graduate students may attend; Graduate Faculty may participate in the ballot per policy.
- The defense consists of a 30–45 minute presentation, followed by committee and audience questions.
- Total duration: minimum one hour, maximum two and a half hours.
- Students are advised to consult with their chair on the structure and expectations of the defense.
In the rare event of an unsuccessful defense, a second and final attempt may be scheduled after a minimum three-month interval, per Graduate School policy.
Non-Thesis Track Requirements
M.A. students in the non-thesis track are required to complete a professional-quality oral poster presentation based on a topic previously explored in their graduate coursework within the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Committee Formation
Students must form a faculty committee by the program of study deadline, following the Graduate Handbook guidelines. The instructor of record for the selected paper must serve on the committee unless unavailable, in which case written documentation must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator.
Project Stages
The non-thesis project follows a three-stage process:
- Topic Selection: Must be approved by the student’s M.A. committee and drawn from a prior graduate paper.
- Paper Revision: The student substantially revises the selected paper based on prior feedback, working closely with the committee chair. The document is refined through multiple rounds of committee review, with each reviewer allotted three weeks per round.
- Poster Preparation & Presentation: After final paper approval, students prepare a poster for a public department-wide M.A. poster symposium.
Presentation & Evaluation
Students deliver a 3–5 minute presentation followed by a Q&A with the committee and attending faculty. The oral presentation is assessed to ensure program learning outcomes are met. Graduate faculty may participate in evaluation, per policy.
If the presentation is deemed deficient, the committee will outline specific improvements. The student must submit a written response and revised poster to the chair for review. If necessary corrections are not made, the student may register for CRMJ 702 the following semester and repeat the process.