1.1 Academic Advising
The Graduate Program Director is available to meet with MSCJ students
who have questions about program requirements, courses, and/or their
individual program of study. For
assistance with academic advising, please email the Graduate Program Director
to schedule an appointment. 1.2 Registration
A full-time graduate course load is nine hours; a part-time
graduate course load is fewer than nine hours. A fully admitted MSCJ graduate
student is able to register for any course for which special permission is not
required. Graduate courses are those at or above the 5000 level, and the
Graduate Catalog provides individual course descriptions. Prior to each term,
the class schedule is posted online.
Occasionally, a student may receive a registration error
when they attempt to enroll and will be unable to complete the registration
process. When this occurs, students should e-mail the MSCJ Director with their
N number, the name and number of the course for which they are attempting to
register, and the specific error message they are receiving. The MSCJ Director
will ascertain the nature of the problem and take steps to ensure successful
registration.
In addition to seminar-style courses, there are several
electives that engage a graduate student in one-on-one work with a faculty
member for which special permission is required. In order to participate, the
student must consult with the MSCJ Program Director the semester prior to the
one in which he/she hopes to enroll in the course. These courses require the
completion of a form and the signatures of the student, collaborating faculty
member, MSCJ Director and/or Department Chair. Forms can be acquired from the
MSCJ Director or the CCJ Department Office Manager.
Special permission MSCJ
courses include the following:
- CCJ 6906 - Directed Independent Study: Requires signature of
collaborating faculty member and Department Chair along with a written
proposal. This course is an independent study of a narrow issue in criminal
justice directed by a faculty member specializing in that area or topic.
- CCJ 5743 – Supervised Research in Criminal Justice: Requires
signature of MSCJ Director and collaborating faculty member. Under the
direction of a faculty member the graduate student will explore major elements
of criminology and criminal justice research, including initial planning and
preparation, literature review, data collection and analysis, interpretation of
findings, and report writing. The student will also learn the procedures for
developing scholarly research for publication.
- CCJ 6944 - Supervised Teaching Experience in Criminal
Justice: Requires signature of MSCJ Director and collaborating faculty member.
This course provides graduate students with a structured exposure to all the
elements of college teaching within the parameters of assisting with a
criminology and criminal justice undergraduate course being taught by a
full-time faculty member. The intent is to prepare qualified persons for
college teaching in criminal justice. Under the direction of faculty, the
student participates in the planning, research, preparation, presentation, and
examination aspects of the course. This includes attendance at all class
meetings and at least three stand-alone presentations/lectures of the course
material.
- CCJ6946: Graduate Practicum in Criminal
Justice: A planned program of experience
in a criminal justice agency. The student functions under the direction of
agency personnel in a role analogous to that of an agency employee. Periodic
meetings with supervising faculty facilitate preparation of a written report
demonstrating the student's synthesis of theory and practice. May be repeated
twice for a maximum of 6 credits under different topics.
1.3 Graduate Student Responsibilities
- Complete the MSCJ Program requirements
- Maintain good academic standing in the
MSCJ Program
- Abide by the policies outlined in the
MSCJ Program Handbook, UNF Graduate School Handbook, UNF Graduate Catalog, UNF
Student Handbook, and UNF Student Code
1.4 Program Director Responsibilities
The Graduate Program Director is the
first point of contact for MSCJ students who have questions about the
curriculum, courses, and/or their individual program of study. Additionally, the Graduate Program Director
is responsible for overseeing the Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate
Research Assistants. Finally, the
Graduate Program Director is responsible for monitoring student progress in
the program and enforcing departmental and university policies. 1.5 Rules and Regulations
All Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ)
graduate students are responsible for the information included in the MSCJ
Graduate Student Handbook and the UNF Graduate Catalog. Although the MSCJ
Graduate Student Handbook elaborates on some aspects of your graduate school
experience, the UNF Graduate Catalog is the official policy manual which
governs your life as a UNF graduate student.
1.6 Class Size and Format
Graduate classes are typically smaller than undergraduate
classes, which facilitates increased interaction between individual students
and the faculty member teaching the course. Classes are often conducted on a
seminar basis. This means that class sessions are devoted almost entirely to
discussion of assigned readings or other materials, and it is expected that all
students will come to class completely prepared and willing to participate in
class discussion.
1.7 Graduate Workload
The workload in graduate courses is heavier than that of
undergraduate courses. Required readings, class assignments, and written
research projects are extensive and time consuming. Graduate students are
expected to submit all assignments on time.
1.8 Quality of Work
A high level of performance in all written assignments for
graduate students is expected. The work should demonstrate sophisticated
critical thinking with an emphasis on depth and breadth of knowledge.
Assignments must be written in Standard English with proper grammar, correct
spelling, appropriate in-text citations, and academic references.
1.9 Self-Direction/Self-Motivation
Graduate students should be self-directed and motivated in
their studies. Some class assignments are specific while others will require
you to develop and pursue individual research interests. Particularly in
Supervised Research, Supervised Teaching, Directed Independent Study (DIS) and
Exit Options, graduate students must be pro-active and self-directed in
preparation and implementation.
1.10 Graduate Faculty in Criminal Justice
 |
Dr. Jeremy Carter
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice (Ph.D., Michigan State University) |
Policing, Homeland Security, terrorism |
 |
Dr. Michele Covington
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice (Ph.D., University of Central Florida)
|
Policing, violence and homicide, crime analysis, females in the CJ system |
 |
Dr.Michael Hallett Chair; Professor of Criminal Justice; Director,
Center for Criminal Justice Policy Research (Ph.D., Arizona State University) |
Critical criminology, program evaluation, race
and punishment, privatized penal systems, comparative Criminal Justice systems |
 |
Dr.
Daniel Pontzer Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice (Ph.D.,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania) |
Criminological theory, criminal law and
procedure, crime prevention
|
 |
Dr.
Alicia Sitren Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice (Ph.D.,
University of Central Florida) |
Punishment philosophies, deterrence theory,
rural and urban jails, jail visitation polices, elite crime
|
 |
Dr. Brenda
Vose Graduate Program Director; Assistant Professor
of Criminal Justice (Ph.D., University of Cincinnati) |
Research methods, community corrections: parole,
probation, effective intervention, criminal justice policy, media influences |
 |
Dr.
Jennifer Wesely Associate Professor of Criminal Justice (Ph.D.,
Arizona State University) |
Domestic violence, gender, inequality and
justice, women’s experiences of violence and homelessness |
