Western Illinois University - Quad Cities - School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

Graduate Degree Programs

Established in 1976, the graduate program has grown to include not only student from across the State of Illinois, but also students from as far away as Africa, Europe and Asia. The master's program has certified more than 80 criminal justice executives and graduated more than 450 students. As of Spring 2007, 172 students are actively pursuing their master's degrees.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required with at least 18 semester hours in criminal justice, law enforcement, or closely related areas. All students must meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and have a cumulative grade point average for all undergraduate work of at least 3.0 or have a 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years of undergraduate work.

Additional Requirements Include:

  • Official GRE or MAT Scores (5 years old or less)
  • 3 Letters of Reference
  • Current Curriculum Vitae
  • Writing Sample
  • Official Transcripts

Graduate Degree Requirements

The program offers two options for fulfilling graduation requirements and meeting your specific needs.

  • The Non-Thesis Option - a classroom-oriented course of studythat requires the completion of 39 semester hours.
  • The Thesis Option - a traditional research-based course of study that requires the completion of 33 semester hours including a thesis

In either plan, students will take courses that stress the importance of research methodology used.

Thesis Option

To complete the Thesis Option, students must complete the following courses:

  • LEJA 500 Advanced Quantitative Techniques in Criminal Justice - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 501 Theory in Criminal Justice - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 502 Management Issues in Law Enforcement Administration - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 503 Research Methodology in Criminal Justice - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 504 Civil and Criminal Liability - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 600 Thesis Research - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 601 Thesis - 3 s.h.

Students must also take 12 semester hours of elective courses. Electivescan be taken in one of the following departments: educational administration, law enforcement and justice administration, management sciences, political science, psychology, or sociology; or in any other department with approval of the LEJA Graduate Committee. Course selection should be geared toward career objectives.

LEJA 600 and 601 required anl oral proposal and defense of the thesis. Thesis proposal must be approved before research is undertaken.

Total Program: 33 s.h.

Non-Thesis Option

  • LEJA 500 Advanced Quantitative Techniques in Criminal Justice 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 501 Theory in Criminal Justice 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 502 Management Issues in Law Enforcement Administration 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 503 Research Methodology in Criminal Liability 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 504 Civil and Criminal Liability 3 s.h.
  • LEJA Electives 21 s.h.
    • Electives (same as electives above)
  • LEJA 518 Comprehensive Seminar in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration 3 s.h.

Total Program: 39 s.h.
(In either option, no more than 12 semester hours of 400G level courses will be counted toward fulfillment of the degree requirements without permission of the LEJA Graduate Committee.)

Additional Graduate Options

Police Certificate Program

The Police Executive Certificate Program is a post-graduate experience designed to help prepare future law enforcement executives and current executives for the future. The program requires admission into the master's degree program in law enforcement and justice administration and the completion of 18 semester hours of graduate courses.

The following courses comprise the Police Executive Certificate Program:

  • LEJA 501 Theory in Criminal Justice - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 502 Management Issues in Law Enforcement Administration - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 504 Civil and Criminal Liability - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 506 Police Theory and Practice - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 511 Diversity and the Police OR LEJA 512 Ethics in Criminal Justice - 3 s.h.
  • LEJA 514 Executive Management Seminar - 3 s.h.

Total Program: 18 s.h.

Certificate Academic Requirements

  1. Student must occupy a supervisory position at the time of initial enrollment.
  2. Students may not earn more than three semester hours of C, D, or F grades in required courses and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above to complete the certificate program.
  3. All coursework must be completed within three calender years.
  4. Students must apply for certificate completion eight weeks prior to the end of the final semester.

For further information, interested students should contact the graduate coordinator.

LEJA Extension Centers

Graduate courses may be taken on either a full- or part-time basis in four different geographical areas of the state. Courses are taught on a continuing basis at the main campus, and at the adjunct centers in the Quad Cities, Springfield and Chicago suburban area. More than one-half of all students in the LEJA graduate program earn their degrees by attending these classes while working in criminal justice or related agencies.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are academic merit-based award programs which provide students with work opportunities in a job related to their academic field of study. Students with graduate assistantships will receive a monthly stipend of $880 and a tuition waiver. In return, the graduate student will be required to work for the LEJA School for an average of 15 hours per week. Working under the guidance of faculty members, the duties vary, but most often include classroom assistance. Graduate assistants must be full-time students (at least nine semester hours) without other employment, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA. For more information about the position or how to apply, contact the LEJA graduate coordinator.