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Why Pursue a Criminology and Criminal Justice Master's Degree

The Master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice offers opportunities to network with like-minded students and develop skills in writing, research, critical thinking, and problem solving. Smaller class sizes allow for more individualized attention from UTSA faculty. This program also prepares graduate students to pursue a PhD if interested in teaching or research.

See What Our Students Say

When you choose UTSA, you join a community of talented scholars and professionals being taught by award-winning faculty. Are you curious about the multitude of facets to Criminology and Criminal Justice? UTSA alumna Destyne Simmons talks about her graduate school experience.

Admission & Application Requirements

Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.

Criminology and Criminal Justice (MS)
Admission is only available for the Fall semester
  Required Degree Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
  Minimum GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours
  Coursework 18 credit hours in an area related to this graduate degree and at least 12 hours must be at the upper-division level.
  Transcripts* Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English
  Credential Evaluation Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) directly from the graduate admission application platform
  TOEFL/IELTS Score 550 TOEFL Paper / 79 TOEFL Internet / 6.5 IELTS scores for International applicants (exempt countries).
  Purpose Statement Required
  Resume Required
  Letters of Recommendation 2 demonstrating your academic and personal attributes for success in this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time)
*Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University.
Apply using 2022-23 Graduate Application

Admission Deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.

Criminology and Criminal Justice (MS)
Completed applications will be reviewed for admission on a rolling basis. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the application.
  Fall Spring Summer
Priority April 15 Not Available Not Available
International June 1 Not Available Not Available
Domestic July 1 Not Available Not Available

Funding Opportunities

Career Options

UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.


All graduate courses for the Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice are offered in the evening at the UTSA Downtown Campus.

Faculty research areas include:

  • Courts and sentencing
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Life course criminology
  • Community corrections
  • Legal issues Restorative and community justice
  • School bullying
  • Criminological theory

Graduate Advisor of Record

Byongook Moon, PhD

byongook.moon@utsa.edu