Accelerated BS in Criminal Justice to MS in Criminal Justice Program Policy

xPlease see the Graduate College’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program webpage and official Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program Policy for information pertaining to all Accelerated Programs.

Admissions Requirements

Students interested in pursuing the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) to Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Program must complete the following application requirements:  

1.      By the start of the student’s Accelerated status, they must have either:

- 75 credit hours earned and an overall BGSU GPA of at least 3.2[1], or

- 90 credit hours earned and an overall BGSU GPA of at least 3.0;

2.      A completed Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program Application;

3.      Official transcripts from all universities attended;

4.      One letter of recommendation from a full-time BGSU faculty member, preferably in criminal justice;

5.      A personal statement (250 to 750 words) describing how the MSCJ degree will help the student reach his or her career goals; 

6.      A current resume outlining educational background, work or internship experience, community services, leadership activities, and any awards or honors.

Accelerated BSCJ to MSCJ Program Plan  

Students enrolled in the Accelerated BSCJ to MSCJ Program should follow the guidelines below for planning graduate work that begins while enrolled as an undergraduate (pre-master’s) student, followed by the courses taken after fully enrolled as a graduate student in the MSCJ program. In order to complete this plan in an accelerated format, students typically complete the Plan II (non-thesis) option involving a comprehensive exam or portfolio project. 

Undergraduate Accelerated (Pre-Master’s) Status (9 credit hours maximum)

Undergraduate students with accelerated (pre-master’s) status may take a maximum of 9 credit hours of CRJU/FORI prefix courses at the 5000 or 6000 level (e.g., CRJU 6010). However, pre-master’s students must consult with the Graduate Coordinator in order to register for any graduate course or to have any graduate course satisfy an undergraduate degree requirement (e.g., core course or core elective course).

Outlined below (numbered 1 to 3) is guidance on how graduate courses completed as a pre-master’s student may satisfy certain undergraduate course requirements in criminal justice.   

1. The following graduate courses may substitute for a core course requirement under the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice:

CRJU 6020 for DHS 3000

CRJU 6050 for SOC 4410

CRJU 6100 for CRJU 2200

CRJU 6150 for CRJU 3300

CRJU 6200 for CRJU 2500

CRJU/FORI 5000 or 6000 level course for CRJU: Elective

2. Any CRJU/FORI 5000 or 6000 level course may substitute for a core elective under the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

3. Any FORI 5000 or 6000 level course may substitute for a specialization elective under the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Forensic Investigations specialization.

Grades earned in graduate courses that count toward the bachelor’s degree are used in calculating the undergraduate GPA. In addition, pre-master’s students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in their graduate courses to fully enroll as a graduate student in the MSCJ program.