At every level of the criminal justice system, professionals face new challenges that didn’t exist even a decade ago. Threats to public safety never stop evolving. To meet the demands of the modern-day criminal justice field, education in criminal justice can’t stop evolving either.
And neither can we.
At our King Graduate School, we designed the Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice to grow along with the field itself. We also designed it as a hybrid program — 2/3 on campus and 1/3 online — to stand out among graduate criminal justice programs. Our hybrid learning format combines hands-on, face-to-face training with the innovation of what U.S. News and World Report consistently names one of the best criminal justice online master’s programs in the country.
From organized crime to cybercrime, and from community violence to national security threats, you’ll learn it all from criminal justice professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the field.
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
Even if you’ve already begun your criminal justice career, you know that education is the key to career advancement. The best criminal justice master’s programs prepare you to do more than work in the field — they prepare you to lead.
As you pursue your Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, you’ll deepen your understanding of the psychology and sociology of criminal behavior, but you’ll do more than merely identify problems. You’ll identify solutions with the guidance of faculty who’ve devoted their lives to doing the same.
After all, what is the study of criminal justice? It’s not just about punishment or the use of force. It’s about improving the conditions that lead individuals to commit crime. It’s about advancing society — and advancing your career at the same time. To do that, you need the tools that only advanced study can provide.
Curriculum
All criminal justice master’s degree programs cover the principles and practices of law enforcement, but our Criminal Justice program goes beyond that. You’ll gain insight into the root causes of crime so that you can create proactive solutions that benefit everyone in our society.
As an MS in Criminal Justice candidate, you’ll learn from experienced professionals who are leaders in the field. They’ll teach you the latest trends in forensics and community-based crime prevention initiatives, as well as:
Crime Scene Investigation
Child Development, Trauma, and the Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency
The Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Crisis Management and Disaster Preparedness
Urban Poverty and the Family
Advanced Counterterrorism
Cybercrime, Intelligence Systems and National Security
In addition to the general Criminal Justice track, you’ll have the option to focus on one of three (3) concentrations:
Human services
Urban crime policy
Homeland security
Our students also put everything they learn into practice via required internships and valuable professional work experience.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice?
You can earn your Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice in just four (4) semesters. If completed in consecutive semesters on our accelerated three (3)-semester academic calendar, you could finish your degree in less than a year and a half.
Master’s in Criminal Justice Requirements:
36 total credits*
24 credits of required core courses, including a capstone course
12 concentration credits, including the option to complete a master’s thesis
Students are required to complete one of three concentrations: homeland security, human services, or urban crime policy.
Based on admissions committee review, some candidates might be required to add professional work experience and enroll in the professional experience track. Students in this track must complete at least two (2) additional single-credit internships.
*Depending on their undergraduate experience, some students may be required to take a foundation course in statistics before beginning the Master's Degree in Criminal Justice program.
Cyber Crime, Intelligence Systems, and National Security
The US intelligence community is vital to both national security and foreign policy. As borders, alliances, and technologies change and evolve, so must the methods used to gather and interpret intelligence. In this course, students will explore both domestic and foreign intelligence gathering, analysis, and dissemination techniques, including both human and technical sources. They will also gain proficiency in the defined roles, jurisdictions, and inner workings of key intelligence agencies, as well as the legal mechanisms in place to control and oversee these agencies. Additionally, this course will examine different types of key intelligence missions, including counterproliferation, counterinsurgency, and counterterrorism.
There’s a good reason U.S. News & World Report ranks Monroe as one of theBest Value Schools in Regional Universities North. Our financial aidoffice is dedicated to securing you every possible grant, scholarship, and loan for which you qualify and that’s on top of our already affordable tuition and fees. And if you’re an employee of one of our 400-plus partner companies and organizations, you may even be eligible to receive a Corporate Partnership Grant that covers 20% of your tuition.
Your Future Criminal Justice Career
From your local police department to the Department of Homeland Security, there’s always a demand for well-trained, well-educated criminal justice professionals. With a Master’s in Criminal Justice, jobs and postgraduate opportunities become open to you in new, exciting ways.
Here are just a few of the Master’s In Criminal Justice careers waiting for Monroe graduates:
Police detective supervisor
Correctional officer supervisor
Victim advocacy
Homeland security agent
Counterterrorism
Emergency planning and management
DEA agent
FBI agent
Criminal investigator
Forensic accountant
Forensic science technician
Secret service agent
Cybersecurity investigator
Correctional counselor
Juvenile counselor
That list will only grow longer as the criminal justice field evolves, and the projected job growth for many of these careers is well above the average.**
Practical experience is a cornerstone of our Criminal Justice graduate program. In addition to a capstone course that allows students to advance public policy solutions to real-world problems, every student must complete a concentration in the criminal justice field — and through it all, you’ll have our dedicated support teamlooking out for you, providing mentorship and support throughout your journey.
Discover What You Can Achieve
With a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from our King Graduate School, you won’t just be ready to face the future. You’ll be ready to shape it. What can a master’s in criminal justice get you? More than you know.
Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Certificate
Get the skills needed to help people with addictions to alcohol and other drugs. The CASAC Addiction Counseling Program provides you with a solid foundation that can lead to career advancement in the human services and health care fields, and prepare you for the New York State certification exam.
