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MASTER'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

The Justice Department, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, offers a course of study leading to a Master's Degree. Although the Degree is designed for the in-service mid-level manager in Justice agencies, pre-service students will find the Degree attractive to complement an undergraduate degree in justice or related area. The Degree has a specific goal - to provide the latest information to enhance management skills of current and/or future managers and administrators in Justice Agencies. Our courses are focused narrowly on those areas we have determined are critical for the modern administrator.

    WEB BASED
    Each of the courses in the Degree are provided entirely over the Web. The course instruction will be provided by members of the Justice Department and recognized leaders in the field from throughout the nation. The method of instruction will include discussions on BlackBoard, provided lectures, group problem assignments, text book assignments, and articles. All needed material will be provided over the Web with the exception of the required texts.

    WEEK ON CAMPUS
    One week on the campus is required. This week will occur after the student has completed the required course work and is ready to present their major project. Additionally, the student will participate in intense workshops provided by the Justice Graduate Faculty. Of prime importance is the opportunity to engage in cross-agency interaction on issues which cross agency lines. Each day will be lead by a member of the Faculty. Additionally, students will be provided the opportunity to enjoy the scenic wonders of the Last Frontier.

    DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

    The program will require a minimum of 30 credits, including a 6 credit Master's Project or Thesis. The courses listed above, followed by an asterisk, will be required for the degree. Six credits of electives from the remaining courses are to be selected to meet the 30 credits required for the degree. The program is designed to allow a student to complete the degree in two years. However an accelerated schedule may be adopted depending on course availability. Below is the anticipated cycle of courses for a student:

    RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCE

    Below is the recommended sequence of courses for completing the masters degree in two, and three years. Courses followed with an "*" are the recommended elective courses, but may be replaced with other approved elective courses. The below schedules of courses are to be effective by the fall of 2004.

    Two-year Plan

    Year
    Fall Semester
    Spring Semester
    Summer Semester
    Year 1 JUST 605

    JUST 615

    JUST 620
        JUST 670* JUST 610*
           
    Year 2 JUST 640 JUST 625 JUST 690
      JUST 698/99 JUST 698/99  

    In lieu of taking JUST 610 or JUST 670, either JUST 630 or JUST 650 may be taken as approved electives. Both JUST 630 and JUST 650 are offered as correspondence courses that may be taken in any semester, and may also be taken as year-long courses. For students intending to complete a thesis, rather than a project, it is highly recommended that JUST 650 be selected as an elective.

    A student's first semester of JUST 698/699, must be taken in the fall, with subsequent semesters of JUST 698/699 being taken in the spring and/or fall semesters. Faculty are generally off-contract during the summer and consequently JUST 698/699 cannot be offered during the summer sessions.

    Three-year Plan

    Year Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
    Year 1 JUST 605 JUST 615 JUST 620

     

         
    Year 2 JUST 640 JUST 625 JUST 610*
           
    Year 3 JUST 698/99 JUST 698/99 JUST 690
        JUST 670*  

    In lieu of taking JUST 610 or JUST 670, either JUST 630 or JUST 650 may be taken as approved electives. Both JUST 630 and JUST 650 are offered as correspondence courses that may be taken in any semester, and may also be taken as year-long courses. For students intending to complete a thesis, rather than a project, it is highly recommended that JUST 650 be selected as an elective.

    A student's first semester of JUST 698/699, must be taken in the fall, with subsequent semesters of JUST 698/699 being taken in the spring and/or fall semesters. Faculty are generally off-contract during the summer and consequently JUST 698/699 cannot be offered during the summer sessions.

    Please be aware, that although the above sequences are only recommended sequences, when students skip a course in the recommended sequences their ability to enroll in the skipped course at a later date may be limited. Students enrolling in courses pursuant to the recommended sequences will be given priority over students taking a course out of sequence.

    COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

    JUST 605: Administration and Management of Criminal Justice Organizations
    This course provides a comprehensive overview of management and administration of criminal justice agencies with an emphasis on Organizational Behavior. Included is the study of Management Theories, Leadership Roles, and the Development of Human Resources within the Organizational Context.

    JUST 610: Ethics in Criminal Justice Management

    This course will provide for the opportunity to confront ethical situations that may arise in the management of criminal justice organizations. To assist in making management decisions that are in keeping with the goals of justice, it is necessary that students examine the ethical and moral foundations of our current criminal justice system.

    JUST 615: Justice Program Planning/Evaluation and Grant Writing

    This course provides for advancing a graduate student's knowledge of programming planning and evaluation. Further expertise will be gained in the area of grant writing with emphasis being placed on Federal sources of grant funding. Students will be presented with a variety of topics for which to develop evaluation proposals, evaluation and grant writing projects.

    JUST 620: Personnel Management in Criminal Justice

    This course provides graduate level students with a foundation to effectively manage personnel under their supervision. All areas of personnel will be studied including recruiting, selection, training, on-site supervision, termination and replacement of subordinates.

    JUST 625: Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice Management

    This course provides graduate level students with a basic understanding of legal issues faced by criminal justice managers and administrators. Included is a study of the legal considerations surrounding recruitment and hiring practices, sexual harassment, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The course will be offered over the Internet.

    JUST 630: Media and Community Relations for Criminal Justice Administrators

    In our modern society the First Amendment protection of a free press has resulted in unprecedented levels of media scrutiny of all aspects of American life - especially criminal justice. This course provides graduate level students with a foundation to understand the role of the media in modern society and how to effectively represent their organization to the media. The course will cover the First Amendment constitutional case law, the Freedom of Information Act. Issues of relating positively to various groups will also be explored. Such groups are public schools, business community, and residential areas of a community.

    JUST 640: Community/Restorative Justice

    This course provides graduate level students with the latest developments in using community resources to address public safety concerns. The material will reflect the emerging awareness that public safety solutions are not the prerogative of a single agency but can be achieved most efficiently by a cooperative effort between justice agencies and community resources.

    JUST 650: Analysis Techniques for the Criminal Justice Administrator

    Common techniques used to analyze numerical data commonly found occuring in small to large agencies. Emphasis on issues of data quality such as reliability and validity, methods of graphical presentations, inferential techniques, forecasting models, sampling techniques, and computer analysis programs such as Statistical Programs for the Social Sciences.

    JUST 670: Seminar in the Administration of Juvenile Justice

    Focus on the legal and administrative aspects of the juvenile justice system. Emphasis on developing an applied knowledge regarding the administration of juvenile justice within the legal framework. Includes hypothetical situations to enhance the ability to apply theoretical concepts to real life situations.

    JUST 690: Seminar in Critical Issues and Criminal Justice Policy

    This Seminar will be the only course actually requiring a student to attend on the UAF Campus. The Seminar will last for one week and the student will be required to attend "Sessions" 8 hours a day. Each session will address a topic of current interest. Candidates who are standing for their oral exam will make a presentation during this Seminar.

    JUST 698/699: Master's Project or Thesis

    Each candidate for the Master of Arts in the Administration of Justice will be required to write either a Master's Project paper or a more traditional Master's Thesis. Whichever the candidate chooses will be formally presented during attendance of Justice 690 - Seminar in Critical Issues and Criminal Justice Policy. The candidate will be assigned a Graduate Committee to supervise the Masters Project.

    Click Here For Project Information

    Click Here For Project Requirements

    Click Here For Presentation Requirements

    Click Here For Comprehensive Exam Information

    Click Here For Link to UAF Graduate School

 

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