Students in the Master of Science Degree program in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management will demonstrate knowledge of the application of organization theory premises and principles in the context of criminal justice agency administration.
The College of Criminal Justice has offered a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management degree for over 30 years in an intensive weekend format. Enrollment is limited to persons employed in criminal justice positions for at least two years. Conceptually, the program is designed to prepare practitioners for managerial roles. A cohort of 20 students is admitted each autumn. Courses meet during five weekends a semester - a Saturday course and a Sunday course. The program is regarded as one of the College's hallmark efforts to concurrently maintain the highest academic standards while being responsive to needs of the field.

Effective in September 2009 a parallel on-line format is being launched. Like the weekend format, student enrollment is limited to two courses per semester, thus requiring two years to completion. Courses completed in a distance learning format are taken one at a time,each course lasting 7 weeks. Students may choose to mix and match the online and intensive weekend formats that best fit their learning style or calendar completing the entire program on-line, or some semesters in the distance learning mode, but others in the intensive weekend format.

It is important to note that the developmental effort dedicated to the newly implemented distance learning format is being back-filled to the 30 year old weekend format.

Students will be able to articulate linkage of the principles and issues from the generic literature on organization theory to application in public administration in general, and criminal justice management in particular.

A consistent scoring methodology will be applied to research papers submitted for CJ 530 - Critical Analysis of Criminal Justice Administration. The research paper will demonstrate application of organizational theory principles taught in CJ 633 - Seminar in Organization and Administration, CJ 696 - Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice Management, CJ 632 - Resource Development in the Organizational Context, and CJ 665 - Community Theory and the Administration of Justice. Student guidelines were developed by College faculty assigned to the program. This faculty committee met weekly during the academic year to develop a truly integrated degree program describing necessary linkage. Documentation of such linkage is now a part of the syllabus for CJ 530.

Review Criteria For Grading Research Papers. With the course sequence change for 09-10, students will be assessed according to course syllabus guidelines that include linkage to organizational theory context. At least 70% of students will be assessed as "satisfactory" or better.

83% of students in CJ 530 received a satisfactory grade on research paper.  The remaining 17% of students who did not receive a satisfactory grade showed weaknesses in integrating the source with assigned reading material and organization of material.  The source did not focus on the judicial system from a scholarly perspective.

With the change in curriculum for CJ 530, more students will be successful in applying organizational theory principles.  85% of students will be assessed as satisfactory or better.  More emphasis will be given to integrating organizational theory principles.

Requisites for research design will be more closely integrated between CJ 634 -Research Methods and Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice, CJ 636 - Computer/Technology Applications in Criminal Justice, and CJ 692 - Program Evaluation for Criminal Justice Management. This will result in a more successful outcome on research design.

With the integration between CJ 634, CJ 636, and CJ 692, students will be asked to complete a satisfactory research design. The outcome of this design will demonstrate the relationship between all three courses. The documentation of this assessment will be required of the assigned instructor.

Students will be asked to develop a research paper outlining a design to test a program actually practiced by the student's employing agency. These research papers will demonstrate the requisites put in place by the embedded assessment.

96% of students received a satisfactory or better on research paper.

With the increased integration between these courses, students will continue to be successful in developing a research paper.

Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge, skills, and abilities from the totality of the degree coursework.

Satisfactory completion of a research and publication portfolio in the program's capstone course, CJ 688 Emergent Issues in Criminal Justice Leadership will be reviewed by faculty committee.

At least 80% of the students enrolled in CJ 688 will complete a Portfolio judged acceptable by a committee of instructors teaching in the degree program.

100% of students enrolled in CJ 688 completed a portfolio that was acceptable.

Successful portfolios will be developed in the programs' capstone course with 100% of students completing this requirement.