Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Drawing on the strengths of the School of Law as well as the Roger Williams University School of Justice Studies, Roger Williams University offers a concentrated joint degree program for students interested in criminal justice.

The dual degree program allows matriculated students to complete the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) in an accelerated period of study.

To earn the degree students must complete 78 credits at the School of Law and 24 credits in the School of Justice Studies. The School of Law and the School of Justice Studies will each accept 12 transfer credits from the other.

The effect of these credit transfers between the School of Law and the School of Justice Studies would be to reduce the overall time needed to complete both degrees from four and a half years to three and a half years, assuming full-time study.

Required School of Justice Studies courses that are transferable to the Law School:

CJS 503 Survey of Research Methods (3 credits)
CJS 509 Crime and Public Policy (3 credits)
CJS 511 Criminological Theory (3 credits)
CJS 513 Analysis of Criminal Justice Data (3 credits)

Remaining required School of Justice Studies courses to earn MS:

CJS 501 Criminal Justice System Overview (3 credits)
CJS 505 Legal Issues in the U.S. Justice System (3 credits)
CJS Elective or Thesis (2 courses, 6 credits total)

Up to a total of 12 credits of the below Law School courses listed below are transferable to the School of Justice Studies:

LAW 623 Criminal Law (3 credits)
LAW 627 Criminal Procedure - Investigation (3 credits)
LAW 682 Criminal Procedure - Adjudication (3 credits)
One Elective from the following: LAW 631 Administrative Law (3 credits), LAW 860 Criminal Defense Clinic (8 credits), or LSM 890 Seminar in Domestic Violence (2 credits)    

For a full listing of juris doctor courses, visit the RWU School of Law site.

Applicants applying for the Joint J.D./M.S. Criminal Justice degree must be in good standing at the end of their first year of study in the RWU School of Law. Prior to starting the application through the RWU Office of Graduate Admissions, students should meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Colleen A. Brown. Applications should be submitted sufficiently in advance of the application deadline to assure adequate processing time at both Schools. Student transcripts will be obtained from the School of Law. Applicants must apply to and earn acceptance into both programs separately. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis and using a portfolio approach, wherein all aspects of the application are considered by the admission committee in the Gabelli School of Business.

Apply to the J.D./M.S. Criminal Justice Online

Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.