Online Master's in Criminal Justice
Additional academy training and education not provided by Purdue Global may be required for law enforcement positions.
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Master’s in Criminal Justice Overview
It’s time to move your criminal justice career forward. Earn your master’s degree and gain the knowledge and credentials to move into supervisory and administrative positions in the field.
- Take courses 100% online while balancing the demands of your career.
- Become a leader and change agent who can serve and protect our communities in the dynamic and fast-evolving criminal justice landscape.
- Apply critical-thinking skills to real-world scenarios through an applied research project.
- Learn from professors who are experienced criminal justice leaders who know what it takes to make it in this field.
- Strengthen your leadership skills and prepare to take on new challenges in a rapidly changing field.
- Study criminological theory and ethics and morality at one of the largest providers of public safety programs in the U.S.
Build the Expertise That Employers — and Communities — Need
- Learn about organizational behavior, management, leadership of human resources, and the design and structural processes in criminal justice organizations.
- Master the research methods and the skills needed to design and conduct applied research and evaluate data.
- Understand the causes of criminal behavior in various cultures around the world.
- Examine recent legislation and case law at the state and federal levels.
Practical, Hands-On Learning
Put your classroom knowledge to work by analyzing real, current criminal justice issues and challenges in a final applied research project.
Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Professional Development, Networking, and Connections
Join a community of support. Engage with criminal justice professionals from around the country and learn from their diverse experiences. You can also take advantage of the graduate resource center, as well as professional memberships and clubs, career services, leadership opportunities, and more.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
Calculate Your Time and Cost
Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.
What Courses Will I Take?
Curriculum in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice focuses on criminological and management theories, organizational behavior, and research methods related to the field.
Sample Courses
- Criminological Theory
- Organizational Behavior
- Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
- Socially Responsible Leadership in Public Safety
Program Requirements
1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours
Upcoming Start Dates
We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.
Ways to Save on Time and Tuition
Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.
Transfer Credits
Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.
Financial Aid
Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.
Grants and Loans
Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.
Corporate Partner Benefits
Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.
Military Tuition Reduction
Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.
Prior Military Experience
Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.
View the total cost of attendance for your program.
Possible Behavioral Interview Questions for This Field of Study
- Can you describe a time when you had to mediate a conflict between two individuals? What specific steps did you take to resolve the situation, and what was the outcome?
- Describe a time when your attention to detail helped prevent a major error, or when you caught a mistake in a report or investigation. How did you handle the situation, and what was the result?
- Tell me about a time you successfully collaborated with individuals from different agencies, departments, or even different levels of government on a security-related project or incident. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- Describe a time you had to analyze a large amount of complex or ambiguous information to identify a potential threat or security vulnerability. What was your process, and what did you conclude?
- Tell me about a time you took initiative to improve a process, system, or capability related to security or preparedness without being asked. What was the result?
Sample Skills Developed and Used in This Field
- Investigation
- Juvenile Justice
- Crime Prevention
- Rehabilitation
- Coordinating
- Writing
- Problem Solving
- Presentations
- Communication
- Management
- Leadership
- Project Management
- Digital Literacy
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Standards and Conduct
Earn an Executive Juris Doctor Degree 1 Year Sooner
Upon graduating, you can apply some of your courses toward an Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) degree at Purdue Global Law School. Save up to $10,464 in tuition and graduate a year sooner. You could earn both a master’s and EJD degree in as few as 3.5 years. See which courses transfer.
Unlike the JD, which prepares you to sit for the bar exam and practice law, the online EJD is designed to help you build legal expertise to use in your career.
Download the Program Brochure
Download our brochure to learn more about the Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global. Prepare yourself for success with a master’s degree in criminal justice.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
Get to Know Our Faculty
Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.
Faculty members who have advanced degrees
Faculty members who hold a doctorate
Faculty publications in 2022–2023
Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023
Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.