CJS 690 Criminal Justice and Public Safety Capstone
This course serves as the culminating experience for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Leadership. Students integrate theory, research methods, and professional practice to complete a substantial, applied capstone project addressing a real-world public safety problem. Projects may take multiple forms¿such as applied research, curriculum development and teaching, program or policy analysis, strategic planning, or practice-based interventions¿and are developed in consultation with faculty and, where appropriate, external partners. Emphasis is placed on analytical rigor, professional standards, and the translation of evidence into actionable recommendations for criminal justice and public safety leadership.
Prerequisites
3 Graduate credits
Effective May 6, 2026 to present
Learning outcomes
General
- Identify and define a significant criminal justice or public safety problem appropriate for a culminating graduate-level project.
- Integrate relevant theory, research evidence, and professional standards to inform the design and execution of a capstone project.
- Apply appropriate analytical, evaluative, or practice-based methods to address the selected problem.
- Produce a coherent, well-documented capstone product that demonstrates graduate-level rigor and professional relevance.
- Justify project decisions and recommendations using evidence, ethical reasoning, and awareness of real-world constraints in criminal justice and public safety settings.
- Communicate capstone findings and recommendations effectively to academic and practitioner audiences.