Top 10 Best Online Criminal Justice Master’s Programs in the US
An online criminal justice master's degree can provide you with the educational edge you need to achieve your professional objectives, whether you want to work ... read more...in law enforcement, security, or public policy. However, not every school will be a suitable fit for you. The following list is a collection of the best criminal justice master's degree programs from throughout the country to assist you in finding the proper institution.
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The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program at Florida International University focuses on criminal justice research and is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in academics or applied research analysis or continuing their academic studies to achieve a Ph.D.
Its program is distinguished by the fact that it is taught by teachers who possess doctoral degrees and are experts in their professions. With international classes on transnational crime, terrorism, human trafficking, international courts, and comparative criminal justice, the curriculum concentrates on criminal justice and criminology. FIU also offers a Master of Arts in Global Affairs with an International Crime and Justice track, which combines coursework in international crime and justice with courses in international relations and economics to prepare students for careers in international and domestic justice and law enforcement. Both of these degrees are non-thesis, involve 36 credit hours of instruction, and may be completed entirely online. All of the online graduate-level criminal justice programs at Florida International University are recorded and preserved so that students may access lecture content whenever they choose.
Website: https://online.fiu.edu/
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The Master of Criminal Justice degree program at the University of Colorado Denver offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that covers criminology and justice issues in law enforcement, prisons, the court, juvenile justice, and the formulation of relevant laws and codes.
Students can customize their studies by concentrating in one of four areas: crime analyst, emergency management and homeland security, gender-based violence, or nonprofit organizations. The 36-credit-hour program includes obligatory theory, practice, and research methods coursework, as well as concentration and elective courses, and concludes with a thesis or an applied research capstone project. All degree requirements for students with prior professional experience in the criminal justice sector can be completed fully online. Students who have never participated in the criminal justice system must complete an in-person internship with an approved local, state, or federal justice organization.
Website: https://www.ucdenver.edu/
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The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program at Florida State University is designed to prepare students for a variety of careers, including new roles with law enforcement agencies, leadership positions with current businesses, and teaching positions at Florida community colleges.
This 36-credit hour non-thesis degree program is entirely online, with no need to go to a campus. Courses are provided in an asynchronous format, which means that students can access classes and complete coursework at their leisure. By completing two courses each semester, full-time students can finish the degree program in two years. A previously earned bachelor's degree, a recent CV, and a personal statement outlining the learners' performance for pursuing the degree via distance learning are all required for admission. For applicants with fewer than five years of relevant professional experience, a GRE score is also necessary.
Website: https://www.fsu.edu/
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The University of Houston – Downtown offers a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree that combines practical and theoretical aspects of criminal justice as they relate to both juvenile and adult justice systems.
The totally online degree program is aimed mainly at professionals who want to advance their careers in law enforcement, prisons, the legal system, and other criminology and criminal justice-related fields. The program includes 36 credit hours of compulsory and optional coursework, as well as a capstone project. Students may arrange their education around their busy work schedules thanks to the asynchronous format. A bachelor's degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework are required for admission. Applicants holding a bachelor's degree in a field other than criminal justice may be required to take preparatory courses before being accepted into the program.
Website: https://www.uhd.edu/
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The online Master of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice degree program at California State University – Long Beach provides a balance of theory and practical knowledge and skills to give students a competitive edge in the job market for leadership positions in law enforcement and correctional agencies.
The degree program is delivered in an accelerated format, with all courses completed entirely online and in real-time. In as little as 24 months, students can finish their programs. A previously acquired bachelor's degree, preferably in criminal justice or a closely related major or minor, is required for admission. Students with a bachelor's degree in a field unrelated to the program may still apply with permission from their institution. In addition, a GRE or LSAT score is necessary. Applicants with writing samples that demonstrate the applicant's research potential may be approved without a test score.
Website: https://www.csulb.edu/
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The University of Central Florida's online learning division, UCF Online, offers a 36-credit hour Master of Science in Criminal Justice program aimed at developing future criminal justice leaders.
Criminal justice, management, and administrative theory, as well as statistics and methodological approaches, are all covered in the curriculum. All degree requirements are 100% online and may be accomplished in as little as two years of academic study. However, certain necessary and elective courses may be available only on the UCF campus. There are both thesis and non-thesis alternatives available. Students can get a master's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in public administration by completing 51 credit hours of study.
Website: https://www.ucf.edu/
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Columbia College's online Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree is designed to help students achieve two objectives. The first goal is to improve the administrative and leadership abilities of currently employed criminal justice professionals. The second goal is to prepare students for doctorate study by providing them with a solid foundation in criminal justice theory and analysis.
Columbia College's Master of Science in Criminal Justice program develops administrative skills specific to the criminal justice industry. Graduates are more equipped to take leadership positions. The master's degree in criminal justice gives a solid basis for dealing with the critical issues that today's criminal justice administration must deal with. Policy formulation and analysis, research design, ethics, and criminal justice trends are all covered extensively in the coursework. A management track in Corrections Administration or Law Enforcement Administration is available to students who are particularly interested in developing management skills.
Website: https://www.ccis.edu/ -
To accommodate the busy schedules of currently employed mid-career professionals seeking to advance into management positions in criminal justice, human relations, law enforcement, court administration, and other related fields, West Virginia University offers an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree.
The Master of Legal Studies is designed for people who require a basic understanding of the law but do not want to practice law. This degree will increase your career and advancement possibilities in under 18 months if you deal with lawyers or legal issues, or if you want to learn more about how the law affects your sector. It's for those who work in human relations, criminal and juvenile justice, the court system, media, social work, regulatory agencies, county and municipal government, military, business, and other fields that interact with but aren't necessarily part of the legal. Students can focus on one of three areas: healthcare, homeland security, or justice systems. The student completes the 21-credit hour curriculum in five semesters, however, courses can be modified to take longer or shorter. With academic work concluding in a research capstone, no thesis is required. All of the prerequisites for the degree are done entirely online.
Website: https://online.wvu.edu/ -
Arizona State University's online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice is designed for current criminal justice agency professionals who want to advance their careers.
Criminology, justice system operations, research methodologies and statistics, planning and management, and policy analysis and program assessment are among the topics covered in the courses. You'll get a thorough grasp of crime, its causes, and its social consequences. You'll also get a better understanding of the legal system's intent and how it's applied in a variety of criminal justice scenarios, allowing you to apply it to real-world problems. This 33-credit hour program can be finished in as little as 18 months if studied full-time, although the part-time study is also possible. Students can specialize in fields like administration, prisons, or policing on an individual basis. The degree concludes with a capstone course in criminal justice theory and practice, with no thesis required. There are no compulsory campus visits because all courses and degree requirements are offered fully online. Outside-of-Arizona students pay the same tuition rates as Arizona residents.
Website: https://www.asu.edu/
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The University of Alabama at Birmingham's online Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree is designed to give working professionals a flexible and convenient alternative to acquire their degrees while keeping their current jobs.
The University of Alabama offers a BA in criminal justice to those interested in the field. This is an excellent method to broaden your legal knowledge in preparation for a job in law enforcement, prisons, or a similar profession. The prevention and investigation of criminal behavior are among the topics covered in the coursework, which is presented by professional professors. Students will get training in policy analysis, research methodologies, and program assessment as part of the program's curriculum, which will prepare them for advancement into administrative and other leadership roles in the criminal justice profession. The degree program is designed to allow students to finish their studies in four semesters: spring, summer, fall, and winter. This MSCJ degree requires 100% online coursework, with students completing a Demonstration Project instead of a thesis.
Website: https://www.uab.edu/home/