Criminal Justice, MS

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program has been designed for working professionals or practitioners who desire to improve their current level of proficiency or develop enhanced capabilities to enhance marketable in today’s criminal justice workforce.

The Concentration in Public Administration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective and efficient administration and management of public sector organizations and agencies with a public safety, homeland security, or social service focus. The Concentration focuses the student’s education to help prepare them for leadership positions in public sector and public safety agencies, with a particular emphasis on the development of core knowledge areas and administrative skills, such as budgeting, grant writing, and strategic planning and assessment.

The Concentration in Computer Forensic Investigation provides students an opportunity to focus their graduate studies on the cutting-edge skills, technology, and investigative methods necessary for conducting lawful and ethical digital investigations. In addition to their criminal justice foundation courses, students explore cybercrime, including hacking, online identity theft, cyberstalking, and cyberterrorism. Students gain the technological understanding and investigative skills necessary to conduct a 21^st century investigation.

To combat the widespread growth of white-collar crime, fraud and other financial crimes, employers are looking to fraud examiners to prevent and detect fraud within their businesses. The Concentration in Fraud Examination provides students an opportunity to focus their graduate studies on the interdisciplinary skills necessary to investigate, detect, and deter fraud and other financial crimes.  Students combine the foundational accounting and financial management courses with the investigation, deterrence, and law courses necessary to make a direct, positive impact for their future employers. Through their coursework, students examine the effect of fraud and financial crimes on corporate organizations, government entities, organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and the financing of terrorist activities.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates completing the program will accomplish the following outcomes:

1. Demonstrate effective written skills in written assignments and online interaction with peers and faculty.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of various criminal justice technological implications for effective collaborations and use in contemporary criminal justice agencies.
3. Identify and discuss the essential theoretical and practical concepts used in the criminal justice system.
4. Interpret and analyze scholarly research related to the criminal justice field and apply it to real world issues and contemporary practice.
5. Understand and articulate the role of critical stakeholders in the criminal justice system and how these roles and interactions influence desired outcomes in criminal justice systems.
6. Discuss and describe the role and function of criminal justice managers in contemporary criminal justice agencies.
7. Demonstrate and articulate understanding of a range of special topics related to existing criminal justice systems and how they influence the effective administration of justice.
8. Discuss the importance of community collaboration and partnerships in achieving positive criminal justice system outcomes.
9. Demonstrate cognitive skills and capabilities when analyzing historical or current problems related to the criminal justice field.

Program Design

This curriculum is tailored to provide a balance of theoretical, practical, and analytical instruction and experience which is intended to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities that confront leaders and decision makers in contemporary criminal justice organizations. The program is structured so that students will complete three four-credit hours courses each quarter for four consecutive quarters which would allow students to satisfy degree requirements in one year. Local criminal justice professionals provided input and constructive feedback on program curriculum which helped to shape the design, focus, and sequencing of courses.

The program requires successful completion of 48 quarter credit hours and is designed to be delivered on a full-time or part-time basis. A full-time student may attempt as many as 3 courses per quarter for 4 consecutive quarters over a period of 1 year (12 months). For each quarter credit hour assigned to a course, students should expect 10 hours of classroom or direct faculty instruction, which may occur face-to-face or in an electronic environment, and a minimum of 20 hours of out-of-class student work. Classroom or direct faculty instruction may include, but is not limited to, lectures, discussions, forums, chat sessions, blogs, presentations, projects, group interaction, and other activities. Out-of-class work may include, but is not limited to, study and reflection, completion of assignments, reading and review of assigned materials, completion of necessary research, group meetings for study or project completion, and completion of tutorials or simulations.

In order to provide flexibility and to accommodate the schedules of working professionals, the coursework is completed in an asynchronous online format using a learning management system. Course materials and assignments will emphasize collaboration, critical thinking, and student accountability.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program is offered Online.