Master of Science in Criminal Justice

The master of science in criminal justice is designed for those who want to advance or pursue careers in criminal justice as well as those who plan to secure a doctoral degree in the field. A robust combination of theory and research, our program is Quinn Bill approved and adheres to the standards of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for graduate programs.

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Program Requirements
Student and Alumni Spotlights

  • Kender DesRosiers '21G

    Kender D.

    Kender DesRosiers '21G

    MS, Criminal Justice, Criminology

    "The conversations in my classes have always been dynamic, engaging, fruitful, and often challenging. Students have expressed anticipation of taking courses together again a number of times. It is a spirit of diverse perspectives that complement us to one another."

    Read his story

  • James Bacigalupo '18G

    James B.

    James Bacigalupo '18G

    MS, Criminal Justice, Criminology

    "I definitely learned a lot in the program, which allowed me to pursue a PhD in criminology. For me, deciding to do the thesis option was very helpful because I learned a lot about research methods. Hopefully, it will someday turn into a career in academia."

    Read his story
Title

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Program Overview

The master of science in criminal justice emphasizes both theory and research. Students will have the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge of current and developing criminological theory, data analysis, and criminal justice policy and practice. The curriculum consists of five core course courses and concentrations in one of two areas: administration and criminology.

The administration concentration focuses on the organizational structure and functions of criminal justice agencies. The criminology concentration is interdisciplinary in nature drawing from psychology, sociology, biology, and economics and focuses on understanding the cause of crime and ways to assist criminal justice professionals and officials in implementing the most effective ways to prevent and reduce crime.

Our individualized curriculum helps students develop the competence to conduct sophisticated crime analysis, policy development and problem-solving while preparing students for leadership roles in their chosen fields. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available.

Program highlights

  • Individualized 36 credit curriculum geared toward developing competencies in sophisticated crime analysis, policy development, and problem-solving
  • Quinn Bill certified program
  • Flexible evening course schedule
  • Complete your degree on a full and part-time basis

Hybrid and Online Offerings

Pursue your master of science in criminal justice on either a full or part-time basis. Courses are available through a combination of hybrid and online classes. The five core courses are offered in a hybrid format which includes a face-to-face component as well as online work. The hybrid format affords students the opportunity to interact in person with faculty and their classmates. Students come to campus once a week throughout the semester and are able to take two core courses simultaneously as they run alternating weeks. Upon completing the five core courses, students take their electives online.

Careers

The MS in criminal justice prepares students for leadership roles in their chosen fields. Many of our students are already employed in the field and are seeking to advance their careers. Professional opportunities in criminal justice are diverse and include areas such as law enforcement, homeland security, security management, corrections, probation, and criminal investigation.

Highlights

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