Online Master's in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Colorado Technical University offers a Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop an in-depth foundation of knowledge essential for policy development, planning and decision-making roles in the criminal justice system.
Choose from a Master of Science in Criminal Justice general track or homeland security concentration. In this program you will have the opportunity to analyze issues of law, policy, and society—and work to develop effective strategies to confront issues facing criminal justice practitioners in the real world. Discuss current trends in criminal justice, explore terrorism and Homeland Security management—and examine issues related to victimology, crime prevention and juvenile justice.
Employment in protective service occupations is projected to grow, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.1
For the ninth consecutive year, CTU’s online Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree programs are ranked among the Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs by U.S. News & World Report.*
CTU strives to make it convenient to manage your education with your smartphone or tablet anytime, anywhere with CTU Mobile. Master's in Criminal Justice online classes start 9 times per year and run 5 weeks long. Learn more about CTU’s Master’s programs and see how you may be able to earn your online Criminal Justice Master’s in as little as 18 months2—with no application fees.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/home.htm; (accessed 1/5/23). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
2 Program length assumes a student will be continuously enrolled, and satisfactorily complete all program requirements for graduation. Additional courses, such as statistics requirements, may be necessary dependent on credits transferred to CTU
* CTU programs are ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Online Programs.
Relevant Institutional/Programmatic Accreditation
CTU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org
CLASSES START
- June 13, 2023
- July 25, 2023
- August 29, 2023
TOTAL CREDITS
PROGRAM AVAILABILITY
- Online
- Colorado Springs
Program Details
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Total tuition for this degree program will vary depending on your educational needs, existing experience, and other factors.
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Program Overview
Effective February 2023, this program is no longer available for future enrollments at the Aurora Campus.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) is a 48-credit-hour program that is offered online and at the Colorado campuses. The program is designed to help criminal justice practitioners explore current trends in the areas of corrections, law enforcement, and criminology in order to advance their policy development, planning, and decision making skills in the criminal justice field.
This program does not lead to additional licensure or certification. As such, CTU has made no determination regarding prerequisites for licensure or certification in any state or jurisdiction.
The mission of the College of Security Studies is to provide engaging instruction and knowledge through public service programs that align with industry relevant standards and cultivate professional competencies, critical-thinking, ethical decision-making, and cultural awareness to promote social justice.
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Degree Requirements
Courses: Core
CreditsCourse Title Course Description Credit Hours INTD670 Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making 4 CJUS600 Advanced Review of Criminal Justice 4 CJUS615 Criminology and Public Policy 4 CJUS625 Issues of Diversity in Criminal Justice 4 CJUS650 Terrorism and Homeland Security Management 4 CJUS675 Special Topics in Criminal Justice 4 PA605 Graduate Research Methods for Public Administration 4 Total Credit Hours: 28 Courses: Concentration
CreditsCourse Title Course Description Credit Hours CJUS620 Court Services Management 4 CJUS630 Law Enforcement Management 4 CJUS640 Corrections Management 4 CJUS685 Graduate Criminal Justice Capstone 4 HRMT645 Operational Human Resource Management 4 Total Credit Hours: 20 Total Credit Hours: 48
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Program details are provided lower on the page.
Classes start June 13, 2023 *
*Start dates may vary by program and location.
FAQs
CTU’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Degree Program is designed to provide knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant for pursuing potential opportunities in the workforce. This master’s degree program may help students prepare to be able to effectively develop policy, and plan and make decisions in the criminal justice field. Students may analyze issues of law, policy, and society, explore effective strategies to confront issues facing criminal justice practitioners in the real world, review organizational and policy challenges and critical infrastructure protection, and may work to develop insight into the structural, conceptual, and intellectual underpinnings and implications of the homeland security project.
As you work to complete your MSCJ, you will be immersed in courses where you will study these topics and much more: case management and process analysis in the judicial system; intergovernmental system relationships in homeland security; and how issues of diversity influence all aspects of the criminal justice system.
Courses for the MSCJ degree program start online and on our Colorado Springs and Denver South campuses approximately every five weeks. Completion of the CTU admissions process will depend on how quickly you complete the steps in the CTU online application process. You may complete the application process over the phone with an advisor or you may go online. Once you’ve completed the online application, you may hear from an advisor within the following 24 hours to discuss the next steps toward starting your degree program.
The MSCJ degree program consists of 48 credits. You may be eligible for transfer credit, which is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer.
Through innovative industry-relevant curricula and technology-enabled student-centered teaching, you will study through classroom learning and hands-on experience that aligns to industry standards and helps you work to develop skills that are applicable to the needs of law enforcement roles and opportunities.