MA in Criminology
GW’s Master of Arts in Criminology program has a strong emphasis on research methods, incorporates required and elective courses from the GW Department of Forensic Sciences and underscores the way crime and criminal justice need to be understood in social context. The program is housed in the Sociology Department and therefore draws on criminology’s roots in sociology. Racism and police abuse of force are as much the subject matter of our program as are classes in punishment, criminal law and traditional criminological theories of crime.
Through research and coursework, students develop an understanding of how societies define, facilitate or reduce crime and the social conditions that contribute to crime and its control.
We offer financial aid to select academically competitive students and/or salary-only graduate teaching assistantships to many of our students.
Program Highlights
Flexible Curriculum
The foundation of the degree lies in three research methods classes, two criminological theory and policy classes and one sociology theory class. Students can specialize in particular areas within criminology, criminal justice or forensics by taking classes and conducting research in areas including policing, criminal law, punishment, victimology, race, gender and crime scene investigation, among other subjects. Students may take up to four elective courses in the Forensic Sciences Department, four in Sociology/Criminology and, with permission, pertinent classes throughout the university or Consortium.
Diverse Student Body
The faculty and their research areas are decidedly international in origin and study although, like most U.S. universities, most of the substantive materials in our classes focus on the United States. Likewise, our master’s students are diverse in their national origins, racial and sexual identities and academic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Most of our students are full time, but some complete their degree on a part-time basis. We are a proudly small program that gives our graduate cohorts strong support and a sense of community.
Thesis Option
Criminology MA students have the option of writing a thesis or taking a comprehensive examination (and enrolling in two additional courses). Most criminology students select the thesis option, consistent with our emphasis on students’ research skills.
Prestigious Career Paths
The MA in Criminology prepares students for policy, advocacy, academic and professional careers in and beyond criminology and criminal justice. Some of our alumni subsequently work in law enforcement, while others are engaged in criminal justice reform, policy research and other fields. For some students, the MA is a prelude to a Ph.D. or J.D., but most continue to full-time work.
Sample Schedules
Thesis Option
First Year Fall
- SOC 6230: Sociological Research Methods
- SOC 6258: Deviance and Control
- SOC 6238: Sociological Theory OR Elective
First Year Spring
- SOC 6231: Data Analysis
- SOC 6259: Criminology
- Elective
Second Year Fall
- SOC 6998: Thesis Research
- SOC 6232: Qualitative Methodology: Doing Field Research
- FORS 6224: Criminal Law for Forensic Scientists OR SOC 6257: Criminal Law
Second Year Spring
- SOC 6999: Thesis Research
- SOC 6239: Sociological Theory OR Elective
- Elective
Comprehensive Exam Option
First Year Fall
- SOC 6230: Sociological Research Methods
- SOC 6258: Deviance and Control
- SOC 6238: Sociological Theory OR Elective
First Year Spring
- SOC 6231: Data Analysis
- SOC 6259: Criminology
- Elective
Second Year Fall
- Elective
- SOC 6232: Qualitative Methodology: Doing Field Research
- FORS 6224: Criminal Law for Forensic Scientists OR SOC 6257: Criminal Law
Second Year Spring
- Elective
- Elective
- SOC 6239: Sociological Theory OR Elective
Course Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
Thesis option—36 credits, including 21 credits in required courses, 9 credits in elective courses, and 6 credits in thesis. Non-thesis option—36 credits, including 21 credits in required courses, 15 credits in elective courses, and successful completion of a master’s comprehensive examination.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| SOC 6230 | Foundations of Research Methods | |
| SOC 6231 | Quantitative Methods | |
| SOC 6232 | Qualitative Methods | |
| SOC 6238 | Development of Sociological Theory | |
| or SOC 6239 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | |
| SOC 6257 | Criminal Law | |
| SOC 6258 | Deviance and Control | |
| SOC 6259 | Criminology | |
| Electives | ||
| Thesis students take 9 credits in three graduate-level elective courses. Non-thesis students take 15 credits in five graduate-level elective courses. Electives must be relevant to the student's program of study. Such courses might be in Sociology (SOC) (see preapproved elective options, below), in other departments (e.g., Forensic Science) and schools (e.g., Elliott School of International Affairs), or through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Students must have the permission of their advisor or the director of graduate studies to take courses outside of the department. | ||
| SOC 6260 | Special Topics in Criminology | |
| SOC 6261 | Sociology of Law | |
| SOC 6262 | Punishment, Prison, and Power | |
| SOC 6263 | Race and Crime | |
| SOC 6264 | Organized Crime | |
| SOC 6266 | Gender and Criminal Justice | |
| SOC 6295 | Research (May be taken once for 3 credits toward degree requirements with the permission of their advisor or the director of graduate studies.) | |
| Required for thesis students: | ||
| SOC 6999 | Thesis Research (Taken for 3 credits in each of the final two semesters for a total of 6 credits. The permission of the advisor or the director of graduate studies is required.) | |
| Required for non-thesis students: | ||
| Successful completion of a master's comprehensive examination. | ||