The bedrock principles of our criminal justice system may remain unchanged, but the criminal justice field is always evolving. New challenges to public safety arise with every passing year… and new challenges demand new solutions.
When you pursue your Criminal Justice Master’s Degree online at ourKing Graduate School, you’ll learn from the people devising those solutions now so that you can be ready to meet the challenges of the future.
The way you learn will be as forward-thinking as what you learn. Year after year, U.S. News and World Report ranks us as one of the country’s best criminal justice master’s programs online. Using state-of-the-art learning technology, we give you the flexibility to build your future in a way that works with your life now.
The professors are amazing. They call you. They reach out to you. They remember your name.
David Barton
MS Criminal Justice, 2020, BS Criminal Justice, 2013, Director of Security/Safety/Buildings and Grounds/Transportation and Emergency Management, Saint Joseph’s Hospital
There are hundreds of criminal justice careers out there. To rise through the ranks — to really make an impact — you need two things: experience and education. Earning your Master of Science in Criminal Justice won’t just pave the way for your career advancement. It will give you the tools to advance the criminal justice field itself.
Our fully accredited online MS in Criminal Justice is designed for students at all levels, from recent college graduates to mid-career professionals. You’ll do more than gain an advanced understanding of the theory behind public policy. You’ll learn how those policies play out in the real world from instructors who’ve seen it with their own eyes. Their experience becomes your education.
Online Curriculum
Your Criminal Justice online classes will cover all the same material as our on-campus program. You’ll learn about law enforcement principles and practices, community-based crime prevention, the psychology of criminal behavior, and much more:
Criminological Theory
Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
Terrorism & Counterterrorism
Research Methods and Data Analysis
In addition to the general Criminal Justice track, MS in Criminal Justice candidates choose to focus on one of three (3) concentrations:
Human services
Urban crime policy
Homeland security
Each concentration offers specialized online electives, including:
Child Development, Trauma, and the Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency
The Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Crisis Management and Disaster Preparedness
Urban Poverty and the Family
Organized Crime & Transnational Crime
Cybercrime, Intelligence Systems and National Security
You’ll also undertake required internships and professional work experience, so the experiences you learn from can be your own.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice?
You can earn your Master’s Degree In Criminal Justice online in just four (4) semesters — less than a year and a half if taken in consecutive semesters at full-time status.
H3: Master’s in Criminal Justice Requirements:
36 total credits*
24 credits of required core courses, including a capstone course
12 elective credits, including the option to complete a master’s thesis
Students are required to complete a three (3)-credit internship in the criminal justice field.
Candidates who wish to add professional work experience to their academic course load can opt to enroll in the Professional Experience Track. Students in this track must complete at least two (2) additional single-credit internships.
Developments in forensic science have revolutionized crime scene investigations in the 21st century. In order for fingerprints, blood samples, DNA, and other forms of physical evidence to hold up in a court of law, it is essential that crime scene investigators, forensic scientists, and others follow strict protocols. This course will examine the principles behind the procedures for the collection, examination, cataloging, and preservation of evidence.
How Much Does an Online Criminal Justice Degree Cost?
U.S. News & World Report ranks Monroe as one of the Best Value Schools in Regional Universities North. In addition to our affordable tuition and fees, our financial aid office works hard to secure every student the maximum possible financial aid package: a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. We also offer select Corporate Partnership Grants to students employed by one of our 400-plus partner companies and organizations.
Your Future Criminal Justice Career
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that in many specialties — for example, forensic science and homeland security — Master’s in Criminal Justice jobs will grow at a pace well above the national average.**
Here are just some of Master’s in Criminal Justice careers you’ll be ready to pursue:
By building practical experience directly into the curriculum, our program stands apart from other online criminal justice master’s degrees. Every student must complete at least one (1) internship in the criminal justice field, and in the best training ground in the world: New York. You’ll also take a rigorous capstone course, in which you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to craft real-world policy proposals. And our dedicated support team will be there to mentor you every step of the way.
Discover What You Can Achieve
Our Criminal Justice Master’s Degree is designed to be rigorous — but thanks to online learning, it’s easier to achieve than ever. Find out what else Monroe can do for you.
