Master Degree in Criminal Justice Online Programs

Criminal Justice Masters Degrees by Distance Learning

An online master degree in criminal justice can open the door to pursue careers in the legal industry, corrections, law enforcement, higher education or in the government. If you feel strongly about social issues, law enforcement or the correction system, earning a criminal justice master's degree online may be the stepping stone to the career you've always wanted.

Accredited Online Criminal Justice & Legal Master Degree Colleges

Kaplan University

Online Master Degree in Criminal Justice Programs

MS in Criminal Justice
MS in Criminal Justice - Policing
Master of Public Administration - Criminal Justice
MS in Criminal Justice - Corrections
MS in Criminal Justice - Global Issues in Criminal Justice
MS in Criminal Justice - Law
MS in Criminal Justice - Leadership/Executive Management

Grand Canyon University

Online Criminal Justice Master Degree Programs

M.S. in Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement
M.S. in Criminal Justice: Legal Studies

University of Phoenix

Online Master Degree in Criminal Justice Program

MS in Administration of Justice and Security

Capella University

Master Degree in Criminal Justice Online Program

Masters in Criminal Justice

Virginia College

Online Criminal Justice Master Degree Program

Master in Criminal Justice

Everest University

Master Degree in Criminal Justice Program Online

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Northcentral University

Online Criminal Justice Masters Degree Program

Criminal Justice - MBA

University of the Rockies

Online Criminal Justice Master Degree Program

MA in Psychology, Criminology and Justice Studies

Colorado Technical University

Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Programs - Graduate Degrees Online

Master of Science in Management - Criminal Justice
Master of Business Administration - Mediation and Dispute Resolution

University of Cincinnati

Master Degrees in Criminal Justice Programs - Graduate Degrees Online

Master's of Science in Criminal Justice - 1 year program
Master's of Science in Criminal Justice - 2 year program

Find universities that offer masters in criminal justice by distance learning>>>

Master Degree in Criminal Justice Program - Education and Training

Most online criminal justice master degree programs teach a variety of skills and courses, from computer applications in criminal justice to research methods in criminology. You can expect to learn about the history, philosophy, politics and social consequences of the American criminal justice system. These accredited graduate masters degrees online are typically completed within two years or less.

The criminal justice masters degree online coursework includes studies about the correction system, criminal justice theory, criminal law, individual rights and police and society including the prevention and treatment of crime and penology, which covers the approaches to corrections.

Criminal justice theory includes courses such as the physiological, genetic, psychiatric and psychological theories of criminal behavior. Most programs include studies in specific areas, such as white collar crime, youth crime and terrorism.

Coursework for a criminal justice masters degree online includes both a broad and narrow focus. You may learn about overarching societal themes and concerns, constitutional theory and practical application. A criminal justice program also covers details about the minutiae of law enforcement, like criminal procedure and criminal rights.

In addition to the specifics of criminal justice, you'll also learn about policies, research methods, professional writing, analyzing criminal behavior and application of the principles you study. Owing to the broad curriculum, some professionals who earn a criminal justice masters degree online go on to work in non-traditional fields.

Career Options and Salaries with a Masters in Criminal Justice

A master degree in criminal justice prepares you for potential careers and work as a probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, police detective or private investigators. Alternately you can also work within the legal system, higher education or even the government.

Law enforcement professionals who earn a master degree in criminal justice go on to leadership roles within their organizations. You may become a police detective upon earning an online criminal justice degree, but you'll have the skill set to work your way up in the organization to become a police detective supervisor, or even go work with the FBI. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a typical law enforcement professional may start as a police corporal earning $49,421, but may work up through police sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and eventually police chief, earning up to $113,930 annually.

If you prefer to work within the private sector, you may choose to become a security guard or gaming surveillance officer. You could also use a master degree in criminal justice to become a fish and game warden, a loss prevention specialist, a private consultant for security firms, or similar non-traditional roles. Within the public sector, you can work in law enforcement, the military, higher education, government, corrections or go into social work with an emphasis on criminal behavior.

The underlying skills in a criminal justice degree program apply to fields and professions beyond the traditional criminal justice careers. You may move on to become a professor yourself teaching criminal justice, or you may go to work as a case manager, a forensic interviewer, a social work assistant or a juvenile justice advocate.

Because graduates can work in such a diverse range of professions, incomes vary widely. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median incomes in these fields between 2008 and 2010 ranged from $35,000 and $62,750. Top earners in the highest of these fields; police and detective supervisors; earned more than $114,300 annually.