Criminal Justice BS/MS Combined Undergraduate + Graduate Degree

Eligibility

1. Candidates must have completed at least 72 credit hours at Salem State University and have a minimum of 30 credit hours of undergraduate study remaining.
2. All candidates must have a GPA of at least 3.25.
3. Transfer students can apply to the accelerated program if they transfer 45 or fewer credits to Salem State. They must complete two semesters of undergraduate study at Salem State University and have a minimum of 30 credit hours of undergraduate study remaining before applying.
4. Criminal justice majors with a 3.75 GPA or better may be considered for streamlined admission to the accelerated BS/MS. Upon submission of a petition to the Graduate Admissions Committee of the criminal justice program, students who demonstrate an extremely strong potential for success based on the body of undergraduate coursework and their letter of petition may, in some instances, have the following admission requirements waived.

Admissions Requirements

1. Applications for the accelerated program will be reviewed in October and February. Students may apply only once to the program.
2. Submit undergraduate transcript.
3. Submit three letters of reference, including at least two from Salem State University's full-time faculty (one being a full-time member of the criminal justice program).
4. Submit a personal statement of interest (500-1,000 words) providing reasons for wanting to pursue a graduate degree and career plans.
5. Provide the best example of your writing, such as a research paper, using appropriate references. It should be approximately five typed pages in length.
6. The GRE requirement is waived for applicants to the accelerated bachelor of science/master of science in criminal justice program.

Optional: Submit a resume highlighting relevant employment and life experiences.

Students admitted to the accelerated BS/MS program must meet the following requirements.

1. Take 12 credit hours of graduate coursework that will count toward both the bachelor of science and master of science.
   1. Students take a total of four graduate courses in their senior year of undergraduate study, two in the fall semester and two in the spring semester.
   2. Students earn their master of science degree after completing an additional 24 graduate credit hours.
2. They must maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA in their undergraduate courses.
3. Be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate courses.
4. The undergraduate degree will be awarded when the completion of all undergraduate requirements are met, and the master’s degree will be awarded when the completion of the remaining 24 credits, as well as all other program requirements.

^{*Based upon completion of the recommended number of credits per semester.}