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Criminology and Criminal Justice M.A.

Investigate New Insights in Criminal Justice

Deepen your understanding of crime with a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice at University of Houston-Clear Lake. You'll examine many layers of contemporary crime, including why it occurs, how it's measured and how it's controlled. Guided by the active scholars and writers on our faculty, you'll delve into topics such as homeland security, criminology, computer crime, juvenile delinquency, correctional institutions and more. Study under nationally recognized experts in serial murder, white-collar crime, race and crime and juvenile delinquency and participate in field trips and special topics classes such as Homeland Security.

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Make the World a Safer Place

As part of your Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, you'll personalize your curriculum to complete a thesis, internship or additional coursework to best suit your interests and goals. Pursue internships with local, state and federal agencies, as well as teaching internships. You will prepare for careers in the criminal justice system, but professionals in many other fields have also benefited from the knowledge and skills of the graduate study of criminology. Possible future jobs include as a community college instructor, juvenile counselor, litigation manager and victim services specialist.

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Admission Requirements

University of Houston-Clear Lake's College of Human Science and Humanities wants to help you reach your educational goals. Discover the admissions requirements that will let you become the next UHCL Hawk.

  • Criminology M.A.
  • Application

    A standard university application is required.

    Documents for admission must be submitted with your admissions application or by using your E-services account for admission to the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a graduate student. All E-services account(s) are generated after an application is submitted and processed. All required documents are due by the Graduate and International Admissions application deadlines.

  • Requirements
    • GRE Requirements: The GRE may be waived with a 3.0 GPA obtained in the last 60 credit hours or completed a prior advanced degree. See below if GRE is required.
      • General GRE Exam, www.gre.org.
      • GRE scores expire after 5 years of the testing date.
      • Submit official GRE scores to UHCL through the ETS system. It may take ETS two weeks from the date the test is taken to send the official score report.
      • UHCL GRE Code: 6916 – UNIV HOUSTON CLEAR LAKE – Grad 
    • Official Transcripts: Students should submit official transcripts from every college or university attended to the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Office of Admissions or International Admissions.
      • Please review New Student Admissions in the Graduate Catalog under Transcripts and Records Information to learn how to submit an official college transcript to UHCL. 
  • Admission Review Process 

    Applicants with a last 60-hour GPA of 3.0 or higher or for those who have completed advanced degrees will be automatically admitted. Those with a last 60-hour GPA below 3.0 and without an advanced degree will be required to take the GRE.

    • If below a 3.0 GPA, use the Admission Formula: (Last 60 GPA X 24) + Verbal GRE Score + Quantitative GRE Score = 350 or above we admit.


Degree Requirements

Interested in discovering the classes you'll need to take to earn your degree from the College of Human Science and Humanities at University of Houston-Clear Lake? Find out now.

Criminology and Criminal Justice, M.A.


Cost Information

Investigate the direction of your future with this look into the prospective costs of a degree from UHCL.


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Deadlines for Applying

  • Graduate Deadlines
  • Fall
    New Degree-Seeking Students - August 1
    Returning UHCL Students - August 15
  • Spring
    New Degree-Seeking Students - January 5
    Returning UHCL Students - January 15
  • Summer
    New Degree-Seeking Students - May 1
    Returning UHCL Students - May 25

Please note, some graduate programs have special deadlines and requirements. For more information, go to How to Apply as a Graduate Student. The online application is scheduled to close for Graduate students after the Formal UHCL Student deadline of each semester.

Applying After the Priority Deadline

New, non-degree seeking, and returning UHCL students applying after the deadlines above may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the appropriate graduate enrollment counselor for more information. A $50.00 Late Registration Fee or $50.00 Late Payment may apply.

Review the UHCL Academic Calendar for registration and payment dates and deadlines.


  • International Deadlines
  • Fall

    Priority Deadline - May 1
    Extended Deadline - June 1

  • Spring

    Deadline - October 1

  • Summer*

    Deadline - April 1

For more information regarding deferring your application, please visit Deferring International Admission.

Students interested in qualifying for scholarships &/or applying for visas outside the U.S. should apply and submit the application documents/test scores by the priority deadline

*International freshmen applicants will not be accepted for Summer semester.


Locations

University of Houston-Clear Lake

University of Houston-Clear Lake

2700 Bay Area Blvd
Houston, TX 77058
Phone: (281) 283-7600

About UHCL

UHCL Online

UHCL Online

Bayou Building, Room 1406
2700 Bay Area Blvd
Houston, TX 77058
Phone: 281-212-1611

Make the most of a hectic schedule and study from home or the office through UHCL Online, offering the same level of excellence for more than 20 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.

About UHCL Online

UH-Clear Lake at Pearland

UH-Clear Lake at Pearland

1200 Pearland Pkwy
Pearland, Texas 77581
Phone: 281-212-1700

Since 2010, University of Houston-Clear Lake at Pearland has proudly served as an upper-level institution serving juniors, seniors, and graduate students in fields like business and behavioral science.

About UHCL at Pearland


Criminology and Criminal Justice M.A. Faculty

Kimberly Dodson
Kimberly Dodson

Kimberly Dodson

Professor, Criminology Program Director,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3492
Email: dodsonk@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 2617.02

Kimberly Dodson Faculty Bio

Henda Hsu
Henda Hsu

Henda Hsu

Program Director of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3475
Email: hsuh@uhcl.edu
Office: Arbor Central 1307.10

Henda Hsu Faculty Bio

Hae Rim (Helen) Jin
Hae Rim (Helen) Jin

Hae Rim (Helen) Jin

Associate Professor of Criminology,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3459
Email: jin@uhcl.edu
Office: Arbor Central 1307.19

Hae Rim (Helen) Jin Faculty Bio

Samantha Luna
Samantha Luna

Samantha Luna

Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3487
Email: lunas@uhcl.edu
Office: B2121

Samantha Luna Faculty Bio

Everette Penn
Everette Penn

Everette B. Penn

Professor of Criminology,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3383
Email: PennEv@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 1508.21

Everette B. Penn Faculty Bio