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Prepare for a Career in Public Safety
A degree in criminal justice touches on many different elements, all involving the study of people through concepts of sociology, psychology, and how legal decisions are made. The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) is designed to prepare you to go into the field of criminal justice, either on the academic side or the practice-based side, such as law enforcement or corrections.
This criminal justice online program develops your knowledge and skills in the areas of criminal law, forensics and crime scene investigations, cybercrime and technology, ethics, and much more.
Upon completion of your master’s in criminal justice, you will be able to:
- Analyze the major systems of criminal justice and how the functions of police, prosecution, courts, and corrections are interrelated
- Evaluate the issues and management of personnel administration in criminal justice
- Analyze the judicial processes of the U.S. Constitution
- Explain ethical issues within the criminal justice system
- Evaluate research regarding criminal justice and public policy and its effect on society, victims, and rehabilitation
- Assess research and methods used to investigate a key empirical or theoretical issue relating to criminal justice
Military Students $250.00/credit
Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Courses $740.00/credit
Technology Fee** $115.00/course
Books and Other Class Materials** $125.00/average per course
Graduation Fee $150.00
Total Program Cost See UAGC Catalog¹
¹Keep in mind that this figure doesn’t factor in any potential discounts, partner benefits, or impact of accepted transfer credits, if eligible.
UAGC offers enrolled students access to ScholarshipUniverse, a platform that tailors external scholarship opportunities to your unique situation, making it easier to find and apply for scholarships.
UAGC is proud to provide reduced tuition rates for our academic and corporate partners, helping community college transfer students and corporate employees earn their degrees at a lower cost.
Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Curriculum Overview
Serve the greater good – earn your master’s in criminal justice online from the University of Arizona Global Campus. Your online courses cover advanced topics in law, ethics, forensics, and corrections.
To be awarded the Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree, all students must complete 39 credits with a 3.0 minimum grade point average. Students who have earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice or have successfully completed undergraduate coursework in criminal justice, criminal law, and constitutional law with a grade of “C” or higher will be exempt from the requirement to take CRJ 501 Criminal Justice, Criminal Law & the Constitution. Students who waive CRJ 501 are required to take 36 total program credits in order to meet graduation requirements.
This program is not designed to meet the state education requirements for a specific professional license or certification in any state nor is it designed to meet the state educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification in any state. Students seeking licensure or certification in a particular profession shall carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment and regularly review the requirements as they are subject to change. Requirements vary by state. The University of Arizona Global Campus does not guarantee that any professional organization will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any exam for the purpose of professional certification. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in their field of study.
This program is not designed to qualify a student for employment with a federal, state or local law enforcement agency. State and local police agencies may require training and certification specified by the individual state’s law enforcement board and may be provided post-hire at a police academy. Other federal, state, and local agencies as well as private entities may have individualized requirements. Students shall contact individual agencies and states’ law enforcement boards for additional information relating to these requirements.
Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.
The Online Teaching Support Certification recognizes programs that require all online faculty to undergo training in best practices for online course delivery, provide faculty with ongoing pedagogical support, encourage faculty professional development to increase their knowledge and skill in online teaching, emphasize instructor availability and feedback to learners, and collect and use feedback from learners to improve online teaching. Learn More
What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice?
As a graduate with an MS in Criminal Justice, you may wish to pursue the following careers:
- Police Captain
- Shift Supervisor
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer
- Deputy
- Deputy Sheriff
- Patrol Officer
Apply the knowledge you've gained with your criminal justice degree toward a career in the criminal and social justice field. The U.S. criminal justice system faces unique and unprecedented challenges in the 21st century.
Gain insights into the criminal justice job market by reviewing the Bureau of Labor Statistics market outlook report.
I loved learning at my own pace, and the curriculum challenged me intellectually.
MS in Criminal Justice FAQs
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Criminal justice is a multidisciplinary field that examines the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. It explores the causes of crime, the responses to crime, and the impact of criminal justice policies on society.
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Yes, a degree in criminal justice is an excellent choice for individuals who want to make a difference in their community and contribute to public safety.
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In the master’s in criminal justice online at UAGC, your online courses cover advanced topics in law, ethics, forensics, corrections, management, constitutional processes, victimology, and other current and related topics.
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The online MS in Criminal Justice program at UAGC is designed to fit your busy schedule. Each class is six weeks long, and you only take one class at a time, so you can focus on one subject and get an in-depth understanding of each topic you’re learning. The classes are fast paced, but you will have 24/7 support and resources available to you.
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Yes, you’ll have opportunities to connect and collaborate with students, alumni, and faculty through our online learning platform. For example, in our CHAMPS Peer Mentoring program, new students are matched with high-achieving, upper-division students for mentorship that promotes student success. UAGC also has student-run clubs and organizations online, so you can connect with peers outside of class.
See What Else UAGC Has to Offer
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To access this rate using the Liberty Grant, only eligible undergraduate active duty service members, members of the National Guard, Reservists, spouses of active duty, members of the National Guard and Reservists, Department of Defense employees using Tuition Assistance (TA), and civilian employees of the United States Coast Guard (only if utilizing Military Tuition Assistance) will qualify.
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The Technology Fee covers access to University systems such as the online classroom, the Student Portal, and other academic resources. The Technology Fee and the Course Digital Materials (CDM) Fee are fully refundable if a student does not attend beyond Day 3 of a course (Week 3 if covered under the University of Arizona Global Campus Promise Refund Schedule). After this time, the fee becomes non-refundable. Students are charged the Technology Fee for repeated coursework. Students are not charged the CDM fee for repeated coursework if previously charged.
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The transferability of credits is subject to the University of Arizona Global Campus transfer credit policies and requires the submission of official transcripts. The official transcripts will be evaluated by the Registrar’s Office to determine the credits that will officially apply toward a UAGC degree program. Credits must be earned at the same degree level in order to be applied. Additional restrictions may apply. See the UAGC Academic Catalog for full undergraduate and graduate transfer policies.