Admission Requirements

The following programs have specific admission requirements. Contact your advisor for specific details.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

  • Completed Application Form
  • Official high school transcript or GED score, and ACT or SAT test results (first-year applicants only)
  • Official transcripts from all previous colleges (transfer student applicants)

Adult Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Criminal Justice, B.A. (sworn officers)

  • Applicants must possess a High School Diploma or GED
  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Credits earned through Prior Learning Assessment cannot be used for satisfying the transfer credit hour requirement for admission into an accelerated degree program
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended (2.0/4.0 GPA)
  • A maximum of 72 community college credit hours will be accepted

Graduate Admission Requirements

Criminal Justice, M.S.

Students must meet the following requirements for full admission:
  1. Possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with
    1. a major in Criminal Justice, OR
    2. with 12 semester hours of credit related to Criminal Justice, OR
    3. be currently serving as a Criminal Justice practitioner, OR
    4. if the bachelor's degree is not Criminal Justice related, and if not currently serving as a criminal justice practitioner, successfully complete two criminal justice courses selected by the program director with a grade of B or better prior to admission as a degree candidate.
  2. Submit two letters of recommendation.
  3. Submit a completed application.
  4. Submit official academic transcripts from each institution attended.
  5. Have earned an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0, calculated on the most recent 60 semester hours.
  6. Obtain acceptance by the Graduate Council.
  7. Submit a personal statement 3-4 pages in length describing academic/professional background and reason for applying to the program.

Provisional Admission

A student who did not achieve an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0 may be granted provisional admission status provided the student achieved an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or greater on a scale of 4.0. Student applicants granted provisional admission status will be expected to take the necessary steps to meet all requirements for full admission during the first two semester of attendance. During the first two semesters, students granted provisional admission status will be allowed to enroll in no more than two courses each semester and will be required to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. Upon meeting all requirements for full admission and satisfactorily completing nine (9) hours of graduate credit with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, the student applicant will be reviewed for full admission and the student will be advised if they will be allowed to continue their matriculation in the program.

Public Safety Administration, M.S.

Students must meet the following requirements for full admission:
  1. Possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with
    1. a major in Criminal Justice, Fire Science, or Private Security. OR
    2. another major with a concentration of 12 semester credit hours related to Criminal Justice, Fire Science, or Private Security. OR
    3. be currently serving as a Criminal Justice or Private Security practitioner with a minimum of five years experience.
  2. Submit a completed application for admission.
  3. Submit 2 letters of recommendation.
  4. Submit official transcripts of all academic work previously attempted or completed. The last 60 hours of undergraduate work must equal a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  5. Receive acceptance by the Graduate Council of the College of Education and Social Sciences
  6. Submit a personal statement 3-4 pages in length describing academic/professional background and reason for applying to the program.

Provisional Admission

A student who did not achieve an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 of higher on a scale of 4.0 may be granted provisional admission status provided the student achieved an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or greater on a scale of 4.0. Student applicants granted provisional admission status will be expected to take the necessary steps to meet all requirements for full admission during the first two semesters of attendance. During the first two semesters, students granted provisional admission status will be allowed to enroll in no more than two courses each semester and will be required to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. Upon meeting all requirements for full admission and satisfactorily completing nine (9) hours of graduate credit with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, the student applicant will be reviewed for full admission and the student will be advised if they will be allowed to continue their matriculation in the program. Invisible line, width of the page