http://www.utdallas.edu/epps/

Faculty

Professors: Bruce A. Jacobs, James W. Marquart, Robert W. Taylor, John Worrall
Associate Professors: R. Paul Battaglio, Doug Goodman, Jeremy L. Hall, Tomislav Kovandzic, Denise Paquette-Boots, Lynne Vieraitis
Assistant Professors: Young-joo Lee, Robert Morris, Meghna Sabharwal, Nadine Connell
Clinical Assistant Professors: Donald Arbuckle, Teodoro Benavides, Timothy Bray, Robert Hicks, Sarah Maxwell, Elmer Polk

Mission

The Mission of the Executive Master of Science in Justice Administration and Leadership program at the University of Texas at Dallas is to:

1. Deliver high-quality education to working professionals who in turn will examine the role of leadership within justice agencies and organizations.

2. Prepare students to evaluate and apply relevant research findings on leadership and administration to lead, influence and manage others in an increasingly diverse workforce and work environment.

3. Advance the understanding of the consequences of change within justice organizations, and lead and manage personnel in periods of organizational change.

4. Prepare students to apply relevant techniques of leadership, management, conflict resolution and negotiation when confronted with change and subsequent conflict in justice and related organizations.  

Objectives

The Executive Master of Science in Justice Administration and Leadership (MS-JAL) provides students with a coherent and intellectually challenging degree that prepares a new generation of leaders to manage and administer justice and other social service organizations.  The program will deliver an innovative and integrated curriculum that connects such key components of leadership and administrations as organizational behavior, organizational change, policy analysis, decision-making, and conflict resolution to prepare students for supervisory and executive positions.  

Facilities

Students have access to the computing facilities in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (or EPPS), the University’s Computing Center, and computing facilities in the School of Management (or SOM).  EPPS has two computing laboratories which have over 50 computers that are network linked and equipped with major social science software packages, including E-Views, R, Rats, SPSS and STATA. A computerized geographic information system, the Lexis Nexis Database, and WestLaw are also available for student use. The University’s Computing Center provides personal computers and UNIX Workstations. Many important data and reference materials are also available online via the library’s and School’s memberships in numerous organizations.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate teaching and research assistantships will not be available.  

Admissions Requirement  

The University’s general admission requirements are discussed here.

The Executive Master of Science in Justice Administration and Leadership seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college. Although applications will be reviewed holistically, in general, entering students have earned a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).  Students should also submit all transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a one-page essay outlining the applicant’s background, education, and professional objectives. Applications are reviewed by the Executive MS in Justice Administration and Leadership Program Director and appropriate faculty in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.

Prerequisites

For the Executive Master of Science in Justice Administration and Leadership, students with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Public Administration, and general business will have the necessary foundation for the executive master’s degree.  Students who lack this foundation should complete the following undergraduate courses at U.T. Dallas or their equivalents at another institution: CRIM 3302 Advanced Criminology, CRIM 3303 Advanced Criminal Justice, and CRIM 3304 Research Methods in Crime and Justice Studies.  Prospective students with concerns about their preparation for the Executive Master of Science Degree in Justice Administration and Leadership program are encouraged to consult with the program director.

Degree Requirements

The University’s general degree requirements are discussed here.

Students seeking an Executive Master of Science in Justice Administration and Leadership degree must complete 30 semester credit hours of coursework in the program.  The Core curriculum includes 15 hours in public administration and practice courses, 6 hours in organizational dynamics and dispute resolution, 6 hours in criminal justice policy and criminology and 3 hours of independent research acting as a capstone course to satisfy a writing requirement.  Students must achieve at least an overall grade point average of 3.0 to graduate.

Core Courses

CRIM 6311: Crime and Justice Policy

CRIM xxxx:  Elective

PA 6316:  Leadership in Public and Non-Profit Management

PA 6345:  Human Resource Management

PA 6371:  Strategies for Homeland Security

PA 6390:  Administration and Leadership in Justice Agencies

PA 6395:  Contemporary Issues in Justice Administration

PA 6399:  Capstone Course

OB 6332:  Negotiations and Dispute Resolutions

OB 6301:  Organizational Behavior

or OB 6337 Coaching as a Leadership Style: The Science and Practice of Influencing Behavior or PA 6320: Organizational Theory

Capstone Course Requirement (3 credit hours)

PA 6399:  Capstone Course (this course will involve research problem specification, literature review, research design, analysis and presentation)

Other courses may substitute for those listed with the approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education or the Executive MS-JAL Director.