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MSCJ Admissions

Application Deadlines

  • Fall semester: July 1 for completed application
  • Spring semester: November 1 deadline for completed application

Application Information

Code of Alabama2Students are accepted into the program during the Fall or Spring of each year. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their completed application materials to the Graduate School no later than July 1 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission. A completed application includes the following:

  • application for admission
  • payment of application fee
  • transcripts from all post-secondary institutions the
    student attended
  • three letters of recommendation
  • a statement of purpose

All applications for admission to the MSCJ Program are made through the UAB Graduate School and not to the Department. Application for admission can be made through the online Graduate School Application. Contact the Graduate School by calling (205) 934-8227 for more information about the application process.

The Graduate School requires that an official transcript from every institution attended. The mailing address to send official transcripts is:

UAB Graduate School
LHL G03
1720 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-0013

Application Fees

Application fees are $50 for domestic students and $60 for international students.

Admission Requirements

The UAB Graduate School has established minimum standards for admission into the MSCJ program "in good standing." Minimum requirements for admission include:

  • evidence of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States
  • 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) computed either overall or for the last 60 hours of undergraduate credits earned
  • Completion of an introductory-level social science statistics course and research methods course, with minimum grades of B
  • three letters of recommendation--letters from faculty are prioritized over those from employers
  • a statement of purpose that discusses your academic objectives and experiences, qualifications, and career and/or research goals

International Students

International students have additional requirements and are strongly urged to consult the UAB Graduate School before seeking admission to the MS Program. TOEFL and TWE are required for international applicants whose native language is not English. Minimum scores:

  • TOEFL: 80
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • PTEA: 53

Electronic transfer code for submission of TOEFL scores is 1856.

Graduate Catalog

Read about the MSCJ program and course descriptions in the Graduate Catalog.

Admission FAQs

  • Are there additional admissions requirements?

    In addition to the established Graduate School minimum requirements, the Department of Justice Sciences requires students seeking admission to the MS Program to have completed an introductory-level undergraduate statistics course and an introductory-level undergraduate research methods course in which a grade of B or better was earned in each class.

  • What if I meet the minimum GPA and test score requirements but do not meet the additional requirements concerning prerequisite coursework?

    A student who meets the minimum standards for admission but either has not taken the additional courses or has not earned a grade of B or better in each class may be admitted to the program on a contingency. However, before the student will be allowed to take any courses in the MS Program, he or she will be required to take the necessary statistics and/or methods course and earn a grade of B or better in each class.

  • What if I meet the minimum admission requirements but do not have a substantive background in Criminology/Criminal Justice?

    A student seeking admission to the program who meets all of the admission requirements listed above, but who lacks a substantive background in criminology or criminal justice may be admitted to the program on a contingency. These students will be required to take remedial coursework before they will be allowed to enroll in any graduate-level courses. Typically, students will be required to take Introduction to Criminal Justice (JS100), Crime and Criminality (JS101) or their equivalents and the aforementioned research methods and statistics courses.

Questions?

Contact MSCJ program director Tara D. Warner for more information.