ATTENTION APPLICANTS! To ensure the completion of the admission process before the next online registration period, submit your completed application and supporting materials by the following dates. Questions?
Contact the Distance Learning Center.Spring: December 1
Summer: April 15
Fall: July 15
Admission Information
Although the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program requires no entrance exam, such as the GRE or GMAT, the admissions requirements for the program are challenging. To be considered for full admission, you must
- Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution that meets UW-System standards and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). International degrees are evaluated on an individual basis.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or above, or 2.90 for the last 60 credits taken at your degree-granting institution. If you do not qualify for admission in full standing, you may be admitted on a trial enrollment if recommended by the admitting department and approved by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
- Provide a copy of your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL® Test) scoring report if English is not your native language. Program admission requires a minimum score of 500 for the paper-based exam, 173 for the computer-based exam, or 61 for the Internet-based exam. If you prefer, you may also submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) you must have a band-level score of 6 or higher.
Admission Procedures for Pursuing the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Degree
- Complete the online University of Wisconsin System Application for Graduate Admission.
- Pay the $56.00 application fee at the secure website when you apply online, or you may mail a check payable to University of Wisconsin-Platteville to:
Distance Learning Center
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
1 University Plaza
Platteville WI 53818-3099
- Request an official transcript be sent directly from the undergraduate degree-granting institution to the Distance Learning Center at the address above, using theTranscript Request Form. We cannot accept or evaluate unofficial transcripts.Official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution(s) where the coursework was completed. Your application is not complete until we receive your transcript(s). All transcripts become the property of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
- Provide official transcripts for any previously earned graduate credits to be considered for transfer.
- Applicants may be contacted on an individual basis for additional information to support their admission.
In addition, applicants must submit the following materials to the Criminal Justice Program Director:
- A detailed résumé
- Two letters of support from professional sources who can comment on the applicant’s ability to be successful in graduate coursework
- A personal statement of purpose and goals
- A portfolio containing evidence of the applicant’s writing skills consisting of research papers or projects undertaken as part of undergraduate or graduate coursework, or as part of employment. Submit materials to:
Cheryl Banachowski-Fuller, PhD
Director, Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program
Department of Criminal Justice
1 University Plaza
Platteville, WI 53818
E-mail: banachoc@uwplatt.edu
Phone: 608.342.1652
Fax: 608.342.1835
You may be contacted for additional information to support your admission.
Single Course Enrollment
Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) may register as a Special Student. You will receive academic credit for courses taken while on this status. You can be considered for admission into a degree program if you maintain a 3.00 grade point average in all graduate-level work and all other admission requirements are met. With the program area advisor’s approval, you may transfer up to 12 credits earned at UW-Platteville into a degree program. All graduate-level work will be included in computing your academic average.
You may go directly to
registration to register for online graduate courses.
International Students
If you earned your bachelor’s degree outside the United States, you must request that your academic records (called transcripts in the U.S.) be sent directly to the Distance Learning Center from the issuing institution, along with a translated copy if they are not in English. Any records received become a part of your permanent student record at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and cannot be released. International transcripts are subject to a course-by-course evaluation. UW-Platteville has approved
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) to complete this evaluation. ECE requires official transcripts/academic records to complete the evaluation.
If you attended a school outside the United States, follow these procedures:
- Request official transcript(s) from the institution(s) where you earned your degree(s), including a translated copy if your transcript is not in English.*
- Go to the ECE website and click “Apply Now.” Use “Catalog Match” for your report option.
- Pay all fees associated with setting up an account.
* Neither UW-Platteville nor ECE provide translation services. You are responsible for providing a translated copy of your transcript.
In addition to filing the standard application for admission with official transcript(s) translated in English, you must provide a copy of your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL® Test) score to the Distance Learning Center. A minimum score of 500 for the paper-based exam, 173 for the computer-based exam, or 61 for the internet-based TOEFL is required of all international students whose native language is not English.
International students may request a waiver of the TOEFL requirement by submitting acceptable justification. The waiver request should include your name, daytime phone number, and desired program of study. Send requests directly to the Dean of Graduate Studies:
David Van Buren
Dean, School of Graduate Studies
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
1 University Plaza
Platteville, WI 53818-3099
USA
vanburen@uwplatt.eduPhone: 608.342.1262