Enhance your knowledge of criminal behavior, critical thinking skills, and oral and writing competencies with a master's in criminal justice. Ranked as #24 in US News and World Report's 2020 Best National Online Master’s Criminal Justice program, online students and those on our New York campuses gain a broad global perspective of terrorism and other forms of transnational crime. Focus your criminal justice master's program on your area of interest: human services, urban crime policy, or homeland security.
Finish in four semesters
Three areas of concentration
Flexible scheduling & online programs
Professional Experience Track option
The Curriculum
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree is a 36-credit program that you can complete in four semesters, if desired. Four tracks are available within our criminal justice graduate programs, tailored to your particular interest:
Cyber Crime, Intelligence Systems, and National Security
Intelligence is vital to national security and U.S. foreign policy. This course covers both domestic and foreign intelligence gathering, analysis, and dissemination techniques, including both human and technical sources. It also explores the structure of the U.S. intelligence community, looking at particular agencies, the interactions of these agencies with national security policymakers, key issues about their inner workings, their specific jurisdiction, and the challenges that the intelligence community faces. It additionally examines the legal mechanisms that governments use to control and oversee intelligence agencies. Furthermore, this course considers key intelligence missions such as counter proliferation, counterinsurgency, and counterterrorism.
Depending on your undergraduate experience, you may be required to take a foundation course in statistics before beginning the online master's degree in criminal justice program. The objective of this course is to strengthen skills in abstract thinking, critical analysis, and forecasting. The statistics foundation course is offered on campus and online.
Professional Experience Track
The Professional Experience Track is for students who need additional professional work experience to supplement their academic program.
Students in the Professional Experience Track must complete at least two, one-credit internship courses. These must be approved as an appropriate match for your academic program.
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
The need for advanced criminal justice professionals in public safety, human services, community development, and urban crime policy continues to be strong both at home and abroad.
CERTIFICATION
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.