Future students: Admissions
Criminal justice is society's primary formal means of social control. Generally, it is the practice of public and private agencies and groups that deter crime and delinquency, and that prosecute, defend, adjudicate, punish, and correct suspects and convicted offenders
Admissions criteria by degree
- Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice
The department follows the university's undergraduate application guidelines.
- Masters of Science in Criminal Justice
Applicants to the Master of Science program must:
- Complete and submit the application to graduate school
- Deadlines for admission: fall: June 1, winter: October 1
- Submit transcripts from the applicant's undergraduate school/college
- Have two letters of recommendation, at least one of which is strongly encouraged to be written by a former professor/instructor submitted online
- Personal statement
- View all admissions criteria and requirements
Personal statements should address the applicant's qualifications, career goals, and interest in crime and justice-related issues more generally. Your statements should be no longer than two single-spaced pages and must be submitted as part of the online application process.
- Complete and submit the application to graduate school
- Joint Juris Doctor/Master of Science (J.D./M.S.) in Criminal Justice
Applicants must meet requirements for admission to the Law School, be admitted into the Law School, and have successfully completed first-year law school courses.
Admission to the graduate program in criminal justice is based on:
- Evidence of a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- Quality of the applicant's undergraduate record, as evidenced by his/her undergraduate GPA
- Two letters of recommendation (letters from college and/or law school professors acceptable)
- Personal statement (why do you want to pursue a master's degree in criminal justice?)
Why study criminal justice at Wayne State?
The study of criminal justice begins with analysis of the entire justice system as a force for social order. Advanced study inquires into the political, organizational, social and behavioral aspects of its components. Our program prepares students to develop analytical and research skills that enable them to identify and assess the often conflicting objectives of criminal justice and investigate basic issues and practical problems in criminology and criminal justice. Legal courses foster an awareness of the values of due process and the limits of governmental power in a democratic society.