The CJLS department received approval to start a fast track Bachelors to Masters degree in criminal justice effective fall 2008. We are among an elite group of about five departments across campus with a fast track undergrad to graduate program!
Here's how it works:
If, before the start of fall 2008 (or any semester), you will have earned 111 semester hours and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in your major (CJ or LS), you can start the Masters of Science in Administration of Criminal Justice without having to finish your bachelors degree!!! For more information on the MSA-CJ program please click here.
That's right. Imagine. Whenever you complete 111 semester hours (including all General Studies program courses with an overall minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00), all of the criminal justice or legal studies core courses (depending on which major you are) with an overall minimum GPA of 3.5, six (6) hours of the major electives and nine (9) hours of upper division coursework, and you earn about 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination, you can move immediately into the masters program.
When you complete the 33 hours for the masters, you will graduate with both degrees!!!!
If for some reason you start the masters and decide not to finish it, then as long as you completed nine semester hours of graduate coursework with a "B" or better in each class, you will then earn your bachelor's degree.
This is a tremendous opportunity to get started in graduate school without waiting to finish your bachelor's degree.
If you do not have the 3.5 GPA in your major (CJ or LS) and the 3.0 overall in all gen ed courses BUT you have an OVERALL GPA of 3.0 or better you are eligible for "expedited admission." Expedited admission requires you to first finish your bachelor's degree but with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and about 1000 on the Graduate Record Exam, you are automatically admitted into the masters degree. That means you don't have to apply, pay the application fee, obtain references, or do the rest of the things that others have to do. To schedule an appt to take the GRE, which is given 6 days a week on UWF Pensacola campus, contact the UWF Testing Center.
We know there are many of you who have worked very hard to excel. We are working equally hard to find ways for you to continue your education in graduate school. You will earn considerably more income with a masters degree than a bachelor's degree across your lifetime, and you will find yourself in positions of leadership.
Please feel free to stop by the office and talk with Rosa Jones, Laurie Cihota , John Smykla, or any of the CJ faculty. We will be happy to answer any questions you have.
