Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 32
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 3.0
Graduate Program Director: Alicia Girgenti-Malone, Ph.D.
Police Academy Program Director: Sgt. Raymond Mooney (Ret.)
The Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree program is an ideal first step for those looking to pursue careers in one of the many paths open to criminal justice practitioners or next step for those looking to advance professionally in their current careers. The curriculum is tailored to meet the increasingly complex demands of the criminal justice workplace and offers students the opportunity to concentrate in areas of study that are in high demand in the criminal justice profession. Through an innovative curriculum focused on theory, research, policy, and practice, students will prepare to take on 21st-century criminal justice issues related to law enforcement, crime analysis, and technology, as well as justice advocacy and reform.
The Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice is a 32 credit program.
Merrimack College Police Academy
The Merrimack College Police Academy is a full-time police academy, approved by the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC). Student officers will complete the academy while concurrently enrolled in the Master of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice program. Participating in the police academy provides a state certification distinct from their M.S. degree at an additional cost and commitment. Certification through an MPTC full time academy is transferable to municipal, University of Massachusetts, and Environmental police departments across the Commonwealth. The Merrimack College Police Academy provides unique advantages over the traditional academy process in Massachusetts. Traditionally, recruits are first hired by a police department, and then sponsored by that department through their academy training. The Merrimack Police Academy instead allows recruits to self-sponsor through the support of the Merrimack College Police Department, receiving their academy certification prior to being employed by a municipality. When Police Academy graduates enter the job market, they will be state certified, able to start work immediately, and hold a Master’s degree, making them profoundly desirable candidates to potential employers. No other programs in Massachusetts provide this opportunity. Although not guaranteed, reciprocity occurs after there is a one-one application process with a waiver to the existing authority which can be granted by the reciprocating state.
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