Oct 06, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] See drop-down menu above to access other catalogs.

Criminal Justice, Trauma and Victim Studies Concentration, MS


This concentration in trauma and victim studies is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of crime victimization and trauma along with the essential skills to work with victims in many aspects of criminal justice agencies, non-profits and social services agencies.

Admission Requirements


  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 based upon four years of course work
  • GRE scores required for applicants with a GPA below 3.5
  • Three appropriate letters of recommendation, with preference given to academic letters of reference
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
  • Statement of Purpose – a 750-word statement of purpose that describes the experiences that have influenced your decision to study or work within the discipline of criminal justice or criminology. Also, include academic topics of interest, your commitment to social justice and how you see these issues reflected in the areas of criminal justice.

Early Admissions Program Requirements


The Early Admissions Program is for academically advanced juniors and seniors majoring in criminal justice at Bridgewater State University who wish to take up to two graduate courses for undergraduate credit, and thereby accelerate the completion of their MS in Criminal Justice. The Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Criminal Justice provides academically advanced students an opportunity to challenge themselves by beginning graduate work while finishing the BS degree. It is possible, through this program, for exceptional students to complete both degrees in five years. Additional benefits include a waiver of the application fee and reduced tuition costs (equivalent to saving six to nine credits at the graduate rate). Students interested in this opportunity should contact the DGCE Graduate Criminal Justice Coordinator early in their junior year.

If accepted, students will be granted special status to enroll in two graduate criminal justice courses for undergraduate credit. One of those courses will be CRJU 500 - Foundations of Scholarship and the other will be determined with advising from the DGCE Graduate Criminal Justice Coordinator. Tuition for these courses will be at the undergraduate rate.

The following are required to be accepted into the Early Admissions program:

  • Online Application – A completed online application for which the application fee will be waived
  • Resumé – A resumé which demonstrates the applicant’s potential for leadership and academic achievement as evidenced by activities during his or her professional career or undergraduate studies
  • GPA – Students must have achieved an overall minimum Bridgewater State University GPA of 3.3 at the time their application is accepted
  • Letters of Recommendation – Three appropriate letters of recommendation, two of which must come from full-time BSU criminal justice faculty. (Applicants who do not believe they have worked with or taken classes from a full-time faculty member, should contact the Program Coordinator for guidance on this requirement)
  • Statement of Purpose – a 750-word statement of purpose that describes the experiences that have influenced your decision to study or work within the discipline of criminal justice or criminology. Also, include academic topics of interest, your commitment to social justice and how you see these issues reflected in the areas of criminal justice.

Program of Study


Concentration courses (9 credits)


Exit requirement (3-8 credits)


Students may select either a thesis or non-thesis option.

Thesis option


Non-thesis options


Option 1 – Project

  • CRJU 597 - Research Seminar in Criminal Justice  (4-8 credits); oral defense required
    • to include the completion of a project brief and project presentation (for oral defense)
  • Plus an additional 500-level CRJU elective course, if only four credits of CRJU 597 were taken.

Option 2 – Comprehensive Exam

  • A comprehensive examination, which should be attempted in the last semester of the student’s program. Please see the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures  section of this catalog for additional information.
  • Plus three credits, selected from any 500-level CRJU course that is not a core course.

Total minimum credits: 33