Prepare to take on leadership roles.
Explore trends. Protect lives. Impact the future of the criminal justice system. Are you looking to transition to a more senior position—or a second career—in the criminal justice field?
Walden’s MS in Criminal Justice program is designed to give you a competitive edge while empowering you to influence positive, meaningful change in your organization and community.
Walden Facts
A degree on your terms
Opt for our course-based format or choose our flexible, competency-based format designed to work around your busy schedule.
Readily Applicable Skills
Gain skills that you can apply immediately on the job through media-rich coursework that focuses on current events, challenges, and opportunities in the criminal justice field.
Distinguished Faculty
Learn from distinguished faculty, including Dr. Jessie Lee, former executive director of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
Eight Specializations
Focus your studies on what interests you most by choosing one of eight highly relevant and in-demand specializations.
Program Details
General Program Specialization
- 48 quarter credits
- Foundation course (3 cr.)
- Core courses (25 cr.)
- Specialization (15 cr.)
- Capstone course (5 cr.)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.
Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.
Admission Requirements
Program Admission Considerations: A bachelor's degree or higher.
General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts. Please note that the materials you are required to submit may vary depending on the academic program to which you apply. More information for international applicants.
Two Ways To Learn
In the Public Management and Leadership specialization you can choose from two degree completion options that are both designed for working professionals.
The course-based format may be a good option for you if you prefer an instructor-led approach and learning on a predetermined schedule.
Tempo Learning® is an alternative way to earn your Walden degree. It’s different from our standard course-based learning because you can work at a pace that makes sense for you, and progress once you’ve shown you understand a subject. With Tempo Learning®, you have the flexibility of online learning, plus the ability to personalize and control the length, cost, and pacing of your program.
With Tempo Learning, you may be able to complete your MS in Criminal Justice degree in as few as 5 months for as low as $7,000.*
*Represents Tempo Learning® format, Believe & Achieve Scholarship, and the fastest pace of our top 25% transfer students in this program in the Tempo Learning® format. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
The progress you make now pays you back. You’ll receive your final courses tuition-free, depending on your program.
We believe you can achieve your goals—and we’re here to support you along your journey.
Request information to learn more about scholarships and financial aid.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 48 total quarter credit hours | $535 per quarter hour | $25,680 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $850 |
| $26,530** | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$5,350 $21,180* |
||
*Represents course-based learning format, minimum time to completion, and Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
**Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 24 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7858.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,000 and $1,400.
Program Outcomes
What's the Career Impact of Earning Criminal Justice Master's Degree?
Graduates of the MS in Criminal Justice program will be well-prepared to seek leadership roles across an array of areas, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and probation. Possible job titles include:
- Police or detective administrator
- First-line supervisor of police or detectives
- Transit or railroad police officer
- Corrections officer or jailer
- Detective or criminal investigator
- Probation officer/correctional treatment specialist
- Private detective or investigator
Career positions may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Learning Outcomes
The online Master’s in Criminal Justice program helps prepare its graduates to:
- Utilize theory and research to analyze historical trends and current perspectives in criminal justice.
- Use research to evaluate factors related to crime and the impact of crime on criminal justice policies, practices, and procedures.
- Evaluate the impact of U.S. constitutional policy and procedures on the criminal justice system.
- Analyze the impact of the criminal justice process on victims and perpetrators.
- Synthesize principles from criminal justice theories, processes, and practices to promote social justice and positive social change.
- Compare the structural functions and interactions of law enforcement, courts, and corrections within the criminal justice system at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Discuss how criminal justice laws and policies are adopted, implemented, and evaluated.
Testimonials
Walden’s online platform worked well for my life, and the program was specific to my personal and professional interests.
Matthew TomlinMS in Criminal Justice Graduate
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FAQ About Walden’s Online MS in Criminal Justice
What are some MS in Criminal Justice specializations?
The MS in Criminal Justice program at Walden University offers a number of specializations to help you better define your career. No matter what line of work you are interested in, there is probably a specialization to match your interests in the field. These specializations include:
- Law and Public Policy – In this specialization, you will examine court cases, discover how public policy practitioners conduct legal research, and be introduced to fundamentals as well as trends in public policy.
- Emergency Management – It is critical that professionals with the right education and training be involved when disaster strikes. This specialization can help you learn how to build a team of emergency responders who are well versed in helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
- Terrorism, Mediation, and Peace – In this specialization you will focus on the causes of terrorism, including what drives someone to commit terrorist acts. You will also look at ways to prevent terrorism and how to respond to it.
What will you learn in an MS in Criminal Justice program?
At Walden University, you can customize your online master’s in criminal justice program by focusing your studies on the issues that matter most to you. Walden offers a General Program and eight specializations. However, regardless of which specialization you choose, the program’s core courses will introduce you to:
- Contemporary views and theories of maladaptive and criminal behavior.
- Events that have significantly changed how the legal system interprets the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Code, and the U.S. Patriot Act.
- Research methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative methods, that professionals use to collect data and analyze trends in criminal justice.
- An in-depth analysis of the treatment of women and people of color as professionals, litigants, victims, and offenders in the criminal justice system.
- The relationship between victims and those who commit crimes against them.
What are the advantages of earning my master’s in criminal justice online?
Walden University offers an MS in Criminal Justice program for those who wish to further their education without changing their entire professional or social situation. The program is designed to help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to start or advance your career while completing the majority of coursework from home, on a schedule that works for you. Additionally, students who choose to earn their MS in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Public Management and Leadership at Walden can choose from a course-based or competency-based education format. Different from a standard course-based format, the competency-based format allows students to progress at their own pace and demonstrate their skills through competency assessments.
What issues do criminal justice professionals address in the field?
Criminal justice professionals confront tough challenges each day as they work to reduce crime, improve public safety, and protect and serve society. Whether it’s a job in law enforcement or criminology, working as a criminal investigator or forensic scientist, a career in criminal justice is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Criminal justice professionals regularly combat a variety of issues, including:
- Mental illness – Tackling mental health in the U.S. criminal justice system is a big job, and one law enforcement officers, criminologists, mental health providers, policymakers, and other professionals with careers in criminal justice are all working together to address.
- Drug crime – With the growing opioid epidemic, drug-related arrests are putting an even bigger strain on the American criminal justice system. Many professionals in criminal justice have dedicated their careers to fighting the war on drugs through better law enforcement, more effective policy, and new laws.
- Cybercrime – Data breaches. Extortion. Cyberstalking. Identity theft. With internet-related crimes on the rise in the U.S., cybercrime has become one of the fastest-growing areas of focus in the criminal justice system.
What should you look for in an MS in Criminal Justice program?
Reputation is key, and Walden University has been leading adult learning for the past 50 years. Convenience also matters, especially for working professionals, and Walden’s master’s program is delivered through a flexible online learning platform that allows you to complete coursework on your schedule. In addition, class sizes are small and students have access to a number of support services throughout their program. Diversity can play a big role in your education, too. Walden’s online learning community is made up of a diverse group of students from across the U.S. and beyond who share their unique perspectives and insights about criminal justice.
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