Anna Maria College's online Master of Science in Criminal Justice consists of 36 credit hours and 12 total courses. It is delivered in a flexible online format and can be completed in one year or less.
Required courses are focused on areas most relevant to experienced criminal justice professionals including ethics, research design, statistical analysis and criminology. At the end of your program, you will also complete either a capstone project or a research-based thesis.
Program Options
- You can customize your studies by adding a specialization to your program. Options include Leadership and Administration, Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
- Students who have previously completed a master's degree also have the option to pursue a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies.
- Certified law enforcement professionals with four or more years of field experience can enroll in the Mid-Career Track, where their previous work experience can count for up to six credits toward their degree. These students complete a streamlined curriculum and can finish their degree in 10 months.
Outcomes
When you finish your online master's in criminal justice, you'll be able to:
- Evaluate and analyze contemporary criminal justice issues with advanced knowledge of criminal justice terminology, major topic areas/issues in criminal justice and criminological theory, and ethical issues in crime and justice.
- Design a research proposal and conduct computer-based statistical analysis at a basic (descriptive) level.
- Integrate valid, reliable and ethical research to inform policy and decision-making in the field of criminal justice.
- Communicate in a scholarly, professional manner that is consistent with the expectations for members of the criminal justice profession.
Required Courses
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| CRJ 710 | Research Design and Methodology | 3 |
| CRJ 711 | Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| CRJ 806 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 816 | Criminological Thought | 3 |
Electives
Seven elective criminal justice courses are required. You can choose to use these electives toward a specialization or certificate.
With program director approval, students may choose to take up to three courses (nine credit hours) in elective graduate coursework from related disciplines.
Capstone/Thesis Requirement (Choose one)
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| PSA 891 | Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| PSA 892 | Thesis | 3 |
Specialization Options
Leadership and Administration
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| CRJ 806 | Ethics and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 822 | Criminal Justice and Public Policy | 3 |
| CRJ 798 | Special Topics in Criminal Justice (Seminar in Criminal Justice Leadership) | 3 |
| CRJ 816 | One elective course as approved by the director | 3 |
Homeland Security
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| HLS 701 | Foundations of Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLS 702 | Domestic Threat and Policy Analysis | 3 |
| HLS 703 | International Threat and Policy Analysis | 3 |
| HLS 704 | Partnership for Homeland Security | 3 |
Emergency Management
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| EPR 516 | Emergency Management Operations Framework | 3 |
| EPR 511 | Special Topics in Emergency Management | 3 |
| EPR 609 | Capstone Project | 3 |
| EPR 609 or EPR 611 | Capstone Project or Applied Research | 3 |
Certificate Option
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (12 credits)
To pursue this certificate, applicants must have a master's degree. There are no required classes. Instead, students choose four courses from areas of study such as:
- Leadership in law enforcement
- Criminal justice administration and leadership
- Fraud investigation
- Financial crimes
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault
- Restorative justice
- Juvenile justice
- Corrections and rehabilitation
- Research, statistics and methodology
Transfer Credits
We accept up to six transfer credits into the online master's in criminal justice program. Transferring in your previously earned credits can help you save time and money by finishing your degree faster.
You can learn more by calling us at 877-265-3201 to speak with one of our program managers about a personalized evaluation of your transcripts.
Get Started Today
Take the next step in achieving your personal and professional goals. Click here to learn more or call 877-265-3201 to speak with a program manager.