MS in Criminal Justice

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.