Criminology and Criminal Justice Fellowships

Graduate fellowships in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program are highly competitive opportunities that build and enhance your professional skills and defray tuition costs.

Fellowship Types

The Winston School of Education and Social Policy offers a wide range of graduate fellowship opportunities, including internal (on-campus) positions of the following types:

  • Presidential Fellowships provide 100% of your graduate tuition and include a 9-month, unpaid fellowship placement of 25 hours per week.
  • Provost Fellowships provide 50% of your graduate tuition and include a 9-month, unpaid fellowship placement of 15 hours per week.

Featured Fellowship Opportunities

Please note: This list does not include all of our M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice fellowships. Apply to discover additional opportunities!

CCJ Program Specialist and Academic Advisor (Presidential)

Position Description

The CCJ Advising Graduate Fellow provides a holistic approach to advising by considering the whole student while recognizing that the wants and needs of each student will be very different. The advising model is NOT “one size fits all”.

Responsibilities Include

  • Meet with incoming first-year and transfer CCJ students on a reoccurring basis (average 70 students)
  • Educate, Inform, and Assist students with the applications in MyMack
  • Discuss with students their graduation requirements
  • Teach Students how to register for classes
  • Students may register for classes with the graduate fellow(s) on their day/time if preferred
  • Explain to student show their CCJ student check sheet works
  • Help students with any issue they may have by helping them navigate through the proper departments

Jail Education Project Fellow (Presidential)

Position Description

The Fellow will work closely with project co-directors, Brittnie Aiello and Emma Duffy- Comparone to help facilitate the program, which provides Merrimack College courses in local jails. In addition to a regular weekly meeting and class attendance and support, we will be in continuous communication to plan and troubleshoot. A significant portion of the fellowship will be direct class support. Courses may be in a variety of disciplines, so fellows must commit to learning and working with unfamiliar material when necessary. Through this position, the Fellow will gain valuable experience in both the correctional environment and the teaching of college level courses.

Position Responsibilities

  • Attend classes at Middlesex House of Correction and/or Essex County Correctional
  • Facility, grade assignments, and keep class records
  • Help manage undergraduate Teaching Assistants
  • Schedule and support study sessions in the facilities outside of regular class time
  • Continuous communication and negotiation with jail administrators to create a best-case learning environment inside the jail; regular reporting back to faculty about goings-on in study sessions and incarcerated students’ progress
  • Assisting with FAFSA applications
  • Grant research and applications to support the program
  • Evaluation of the program
  • Choosing, training, and coordinating/developing orientation for Teaching Assistants each semester
  • Coordinating, planning, and attending graduation ceremonies in the jail
  • Managing communications and publicity
  • Managing student registration for courses and Associate’s Degree
  • Other responsibilities as assigned

Criminology and Criminal Justice Fellowship Process

To be considered for a graduate fellowship, apply to the Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice program and indicate your fellowship interest within your online application.

Important Information for 2024-2025 fellowships:

Application Deadline: February 15, 2024 

Interviews with Potential Supervisors: February 27 – February 29, 2024

Fellowship Decisions Released: March 15, 2024

First Day of Fellowship Training: August 12, 2024

Courses Begin: Late August 2024 (Fall I)

Duration of Fellowship Placement: August 26, 2024 to late June 2025

We strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible for your best chance at a preferred placement. Applications will be accepted until all fellowship positions have been filled.

The process is as follows:

  1. Submit your online application. Be sure to indicate your fellowship interest within your application.
  2. Submit your initial ranking form. Students who are accepted for admission and invited to interview for a fellowship will be eligible to review and rank their preferred positions. If you are invited, your invitation will include a deadline for submitting your selections. Please note: we do not guarantee that you will be invited to interview for your top selections.
  3. Complete your site interviews. First round of interviews will take place.
  4. Submit your post-interview rankings. After the interviews, both students and sites must complete and submit their post-interview ranking forms, ranking their preferences for final placement.
  5. Receive your match notification. Match letters will be sent to all students and supervisors.

Please note:

  • Participation in the fellowship placement process is NOT a guarantee of a fellowship.
  • Recruits in the Merrimack College Police Academy are not eligible for a fellowship position, due to the time commitment required for police academy training.
  • If you are offered and accept a fellowship position, you will not be eligible for any other discounts or scholarships, including a merit-based Dean scholarship or the Double Warrior alumni scholarship.
  • When you apply for the fellowship, you are also automatically considered for the traditional degree program.
    If you are admitted into the traditional program but not offered a fellowship, you will automatically be considered for a Dean scholarship.
  • If you are originally awarded a scholarship and then are given a fellowship placement, you will no longer receive the merit scholarship. The fellowship will replace any other discounts.

Questions? All interested students should email Sarah Perry in Graduate Admissions for further information.

Dean and Alumni Scholarships

Dean and Alumni Scholarships are available to students who are not receiving a fellowship. No additional application is needed.

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