Master of Science in Applied Criminology

at Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff Campus USA

The Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy (MS ES&P) is an interdisciplinary degree program that combines natural and social science core courses with a breadth of specialized classes from across the University. Lasting solutions to most environmental problems are likely to be found at the nexus of the natural and social sciences. The MS ES&P program provides applied, cross-disciplinary training to prepare students to solve environmental problems using the scientific method combined with an in-depth knowledge of relevant socio-political systems. Students gain this knowledge through their individual thesis research and coursework in quantitative research methods, natural sciences and social sciences.

Science & Policy Emphasis Learning Outcomes

• Develop an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental systems through coursework and thesis research.
• Students will work closely with their research advisor to develop a personal plan of study and research, in which the student applies a core body of methodological and theoretical knowledge to a thesis in the student’s individual area of research interest.
• In the Science & Policy Emphasis, students’ core body of methodological and theoretical knowledge revolves around a scientific examination of natural resources (physical and biological) and integration of this natural science knowledge with an examination of the human dimensions of environmental problems through the study of social sciences, policy, and management.

The Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages provides students with a socio-cultural and historical background as well as linguistic abilities to engage with French, German, Japanese, and Spanish speaking populations from around the world in a variety of social and cultural contexts. Through linguistic, literary and cultural approaches to the study of the French, German, Japanese, and Spanish language, our students develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills that allow them to understand and interact effectively with diverse cultures. Throughout this process the students develop cognitive skills in critical thinking and analysis and recognize the importance of being able to function in a global society. With their linguistic abilities in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, they are better able to compete for career opportunities in the domestic and global job markets and are prepared to become productive, responsible members of the local, national and international communities in which they live and work.

The opportunity for graduate students to develop independent research and projects, to conduct original research toward the development of a final anthropological master's thesis or project provides graduate students a strong foundation in the discipline. Research and applied projects are encouraged in the fields of archaeology and sociocultural anthropology with research.

The Sociocultural concentration trains students in ethnographic methods and collaborative research approaches, providing opportunities to work with communities at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Opportunities exist in the areas of medical, development, environmental, and educational anthropology.

The Archaeology concentration trains students in theory, methods, advanced archaeological computing applications, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), lithic, ceramic, rock art, and a number of other materials specialties, as well as cultural resource management.

The Master of Public Health prepares students for public health professions emphasizing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health programs and policies. We aim to prepare public health professionals to address the health needs of diverse and underserved communities in northern Arizona and beyond. Students gain knowledge and skills in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health research, program planning and evaluation, health policy and management, and environmental health. We support student development through offering high quality instruction, which includes opportunities for professional growth and community engagement in public health and nutrition.

The Nutrition concentration emphasizes public health nutrition, culinary arts, foodservice management, and clinical nutrition. The Nutrition concentration is designed for students who are interested in careers as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. With the training, research, and internship experiences offered, graduates are well prepared to address the health needs within their communities.

The Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government follows the Liberal Arts tradition, designed to appeal to students who are interested in many different aspects of politics and international affairs, and want to gain strong training across the different sub-fields of political science.

With this degree, students will be prepared to move into a number of careers that require a breadth and depth of knowledge of politics and government.  

They will be able to write clearly, understand and work within a variety of different political areas, and apply their knowledge in the education, professional, and governmental realms. Graduates of this program will benefit from these critical thinking and writing skills as both citizens and members of the workforce regardless of their eventual career path.

Our goal is to train students to be active, engaged, and informed participants in the global system who cannot only understand the world around them but also shape and influence it.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Psychological Sciences provides students with opportunities for focused study that builds critical thinking skills necessary for evaluating scientific research within this discipline. The ability to engage in critical analyses of psychological ideas and scientific evidence constitutes a valuable personal asset and is a key to success in many professions.

Completion of this degree helps students understand human behavior from several perspectives in psychological science, develop their ability to apply and synthesize that knowledge in specific psychological domains (e.g., developmental, social, personality, cognitive, behavioral neuroscience, clinical), and learn the fundamentals of psychological research methods in order to be a critical evaluator of scientific knowledge of human behavior.  You will learn important skills such as problem identification and application of research findings, critical thinking skills, and communication skills (writing, visual, verbal).

Careers that are available for students with a Bachelor's degree in Psychological Sciences are varied and include early childhood behavioral specialist, occupational therapy assistant, administrative assistant, science technician, case manager, and many others. The BS in Psychological Sciences degree is also valuable for students interested in pursuing a masters’ degree in applied mental health professions such as clinical mental health counseling or social work, and in other related graduate programs.

The Bachelor of Science in Political Science degrees provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to understand and participate in the political systems of the United States and the world. This degree provides a broad perspective on experiences, international and domestic, from both theory and practice.

These degrees build a strong foundation in the basic knowledge of the political world, including contemporary political thought and public policies, and enables students to be able to use key concepts and analytical approaches from Political Theory, U.S. Government and Politics, Comparative Politics and International relations.

Building upon this fundamental knowledge, our curriculum ensures that students can define, design, and implement effective research projects in political science.  In addition, they will be able to make clear and effective demonstrations of their work in writing and in public presentations.  Students will also leave this program ready to understand, and be able to meet, the expectations of professionalism and citizenship.  Students in the BA degree will also leave with an ability speak, read, and write in a second language.

Our goal is to train students to be active, engaged, and informed participants in the global system who cannot only understand the world around them but also shape and influence it.

Criminal justice in Indian Country is a unique, complex, and specialized field that is presently not taught at any university in the United States. To be proficient, a professional working in this field must know and understand how to analyze essential facets and challenges of the field, such as: 1) the parameters of Indian Country; 2) the process to determine who is an American Indian; 3) the distinction between an American Indian person’s “political status” and “racial status” and within the context of enrolled membership; 4) whether federal law, American Indian nation law, state law, or a combination of the laws of two jurisdictions applies; 5) whether the criminal procedure rights of the U.S. Constitution, the Indian Civil Rights Act, or the American Indian nation’s Bill of Rights apply; and 6) which court – federal, American Indian nation, or state – would have jurisdiction over the matter. Throughout the program, these analyses are undertaken based upon the fundamental principle that American Indian nations are self-governing sovereigns and that current federal Indian policy promotes self-determination, self-government, and nation-building. The major in Indian Country Criminal Justice educates students with accurate, current knowledge about criminal justice and culturally-appropriate justice services on Indigenous lands, and helps students develop the unique skills they need to pursue criminal justice careers on and around Indigenous lands, with Indigenous peoples, in Indigenous communities, and with justice institutions of self-governing Indigenous nations.

The Master of Science in Forestry (MS) degree is intended for students wanting to pursue a research- and thesis-based Master’s degree that provides direct experience with original scientific research aimed at advancing scientific understanding of forest ecosystems and their management.  The intensive research core of the MS prepares students for doctoral programs in Forestry and related disciplines, and for careers that require experience and skills in planning, executing, and interpretation of original research in Forestry.  These careers include positions such as research assistant/technician, forester, wildlife biologist, policy analyst, and forest health specialist.  The MS is appropriate for students with a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or closely related disciplines.

The MS emphasizes training in research methods and statistics; original research development and implementation; quantitative analysis; professional presentations; emerging issues in forestry; electives that provide advanced training in specific skills; and a final thesis that showcases the student’s skills in original research, quantitative analysis and interpretation, and writing.

The Master of Arts in Applied Sociology prepares students for applying sociological theories, methods and skills in researching and analyzing social lives, behaviors and aggregations, for instance, groups, societies, organizations and institutions, for the purpose of understanding social structures, power, and transformations, and building strategies to solve social problems. The Program expands its scope to both the national and global levels, and puts emphasis on NAU three themes of global learning: diversity, environmental sustainability, and global engagement.

The Program includes three optional concentration areas. First, the Sociology of Health concentration area focuses on the impact of social life, including all its dimensions: political, economic, cultural or otherwise, on rates of morbidity and mortality. This concentration area includes medical sociology as well, where students study patients-practitioners relationships within the context of medical organizations. Second, the Women, Gender and Race concentration area focuses on the social construction of gender and racial identities, as well as their relationships with other social identities, and their shifting positions in social structures of power. Third, the Environment, Sustainability and Globalization concentration area keeps pace with the shifting boundaries of sociology to study the interdependencies of the social, economic and ecological dimensions of life, the emergence, structures and dynamics of the global society, and the massive social consequences that result from environmental changes.

Through these concentration areas, students study a variety of social issues, such as, health inequality, sexuality, racial and ethnic conflicts, environmental justice, global social movements, the network society, sustainable communities, etc.