Program Information

The Department of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville offers an Internet-based Master of Science in the Administration of Justice (MS/ADJ) degree. The degree program is designed to be completed 100% online; however, students in the Louisville area are also free to take courses on campus. The program focuses on the administration of justice through various social processes and specifically, the components, processes and procedures that constitute the criminal justice system. Initially our program was developed with assistance of a grant from the United States Army.

Our on-line MS/ADJ program provides students with advanced social and behavioral science skills as well as a detailed and thorough understanding of crime, criminal justice and related processes. Graduates of our program are prepared to continue to advanced studies in criminal justice, law or other social sciences and may assume mid to upper level leadership positions with criminal justice programs and agencies.

• 36 hour curriculum (12 classes)
• courses offered year round 
• degree may be completed in three intensive enrollment semesters
• 100% on-line

The general requirements for the MS/ADJ are the completion of 36 graduate credit hours. Students complete 15 hours of JA core courses, 18 hours of JA electives and a 3 hour professional paper.  The core curriculum includes an overview of the criminal justice system, theories of crime and delinquency, legal issues in criminal justice and advanced statistics and research methods. Elective courses cover specialized topics within criminal justice such as capital punishment, violent crime, domestic violence, criminal justice in the media, international terrorism,  substance abuse and justice policy and issues in policing and ethics in criminal justice practice.

A cumulative 3.0 grade point average must be maintained for all graduate coursework, grades of "D" must be repeated.  Students are advised to complete JA core courses prior to electives. Students are free to select electives specific to their area of interest.