Overview
Founded in 1920, the University of New Haven is accredited as a general-purpose institution by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Most graduate classes are held in the early evening to accommodate both part-time and full-time students. An ELS Center that provides English language preparation for international students is located on the campus.

The graduate programs within the Department of Criminal Justice are large and active, with approximately 200 enrolled graduate students who actively participate in a range of professional and social organizations. Students are drawn from across the United States and from other countries, with the largest proportion coming from New England and the northeastern region of the United States. The graduate student body of about 1,900 ranges from recent college graduates to professionals with several years' experience in their fields. More than 50 percent of the graduate students are women. Approximately 12 percent receive institutional financial support, although many more qualify for federal loans and other forms of aid. About 14 percent are international students, and about 12 percent are members of minority groups.

The Community
The main campus is located in West Haven, less than 3 miles from downtown New Haven, with all its cultural opportunities available to students. New Haven has rail, bus, and air service, and its location at the junction of two major interstate highways places the school within easy driving distance of New York, Boston, and Providence.

Programs of study and degree requirements
The Department of Criminal Justice offers the Master of Science degree in both criminal justice and forensic science. The criminal justice program is interdisciplinary in nature and offers a general program as well as concentrations in forensic computer investigation, victimology, correctional counseling, and criminal justice management. Forensic science is an interdisciplinary, science-based program with concentrations in criminalistics and advanced investigation. Students in the programs frequently utilize electives within their programs to complete additional graduate certificates in areas such as advanced investigation, fire/arson investigation, information protection and security, or forensic computer investigation. Full-time students normally complete the program of study in one to two years. Most graduates go directly into career employment within the justice field; however, a substantial proportion go on to further their education at professional schools or as doctoral students in criminal justice, forensic science, or one of the basic science disciplines.

The University of New Haven satellite campus in Sacramento, California, offers the graduate degree in forensic science and two certificates: forensic computer investigation and information protection and security.

Facilities & Resources
The Department of Criminal Justice maintains a state-of-the-art lab with all of the necessary equipment to teach all aspects of forensic science. The department also has its own dedicated computer labs that are equipped with the latest hardware and software in the areas of crime mapping and analysis and computer forensic applications and tools, as well as standard software packages. Students also have access to high-quality labs and specialized research in the fire science and occupational safety and health programs, as well as access to the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science and its faculty, collection of papers, and Forensic Science Museum. The University supports access to LEXIS-NEXIS on its network, and a wide range of electronic data systems and research databases are available through the Peterson Library on the campus network.

Expenses and Aid
Tuition for master's degree students for the 2004-–05 academic year is $545 per graduate credit, or $1535 for most graduate courses. Engineering courses are subject to a $75-per-credit tuition differential. Graduate Student Council fees are $10 per term, and laboratory fees range up to $100, depending on course content. All charges and fees are subject to change.

Financial Aid: Financial aid is available for graduate students through a wide variety of sources, including assistantships, fellowships, and loans. The University participates in the Federal Stafford Student Loan programs.

Housing/Living Expenses: Campus housing for graduate students is extremely limited; however, the Resident Services Office maintains a partial listing of apartments in the local area at a variety of costs.

How to Apply
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. All applicants must submit the following: a formal application; a nonrefundable $50 application fee; two letters of recommendation; final official transcripts, in English, of all previous college work; a TOEFL score (for students whose native language is not English); and certified financial support forms (for all international students). Applicants to the criminalistics concentration in forensic science are required to submit GRE scores. Late applicants may register as nonmatriculated students. All correspondence and requests for materials should be directed to the Graduate School Admissions Office. Program descriptions and procedure information are available in the Graduate Catalog and on the University of New Haven's Web sites, listed below.

David A. Maxwell, Professor Emeritus, Criminal Justice; J.D., Miami (Florida).

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