Criminal Justice, M.S.
Progress in your career with an advanced degree centered on the theory and practice of criminology and strategic leadership.
Deepen your knowledge of criminal justice and criminology through Immaculata’s 30-credit online master’s degree, focused on developing leaders and scholars in the field. As cybercrime grows and forensic science becomes more complicated, professionals will benefit from developing their skills through graduate studies.
Expand your leadership and research competencies as well as your critical thinking and reasoning skills to meet the demands of the increasingly complex fields of criminology, law enforcement, forensic science and cybercrime. Understand the moral and practical foundations of the American criminal justice system, and become a more effective, ethical member of the justice system. Coursework covers:
- Behavioral analytics
- Cybercrime
- Forensics
- Strategic leadership
- Policing
- Community relations
- Legal system
In addition, interdisciplinary study provides a crucial framework for the practice of investigation, leadership and strategic negotiation.
At A Glance
Program: Master of Science
Audience: Graduate students
Format: Online; 7-week sessions
Next Start Date: May 19, 2025
Cost: $710/credit
Time to Completion Five semesters or two years
“Immaculata’s new master’s in criminal justice fills a void by providing an enhanced career progression for police officers and other professionals in the criminal justice fields and by educating future professionals in the ever-increasingly complicated fields of criminology, emergency management, forensic science and cybercrime.”
Joseph Sorgini, D.P.A.
Program Director
The growing criminal justice field provides professional opportunities for those with the right mix of education, passion and experience. According to the National Policing Institute, officers with a graduate degree are promoted faster than their counterparts, and criminal justice professionals can make $20,000 to $30,000 more per year with a master's degree.
Potential careers and average salaries for people with an M.S. in Criminal Justice include:
- Pennsylvania municipal police officer: $76,880 (up to $90-100K in southeast PA, depending on experience)
- Pennsylvania police detective: $83,640
- Pennsylvania police chief: $102,880
- Criminal justice professor: $64,600
- Forensic science technician: $63,740
- FBI agent: $93,970
- FBI specialist: $100,000
- CIA agent: $87,091
- United States postal inspector: $64,964
- Computer forensics investigator: $75,525
- Fire investigator: $63,080
- Intelligence analyst: $75,298
- Take a combination of online, asynchronous and synchronous courses that fit with varied work schedules while providing opportunity for live instruction and peer networking.
- Complete one class at a time in seven-week sessions to finish your degree in five semesters, as little as two and a half years.
- Participate in a final capstone with a practicum experience or a thesis research project in the field that aligns with your career goals.
- Learn from experienced field experts and faculty, both well-rounded and well-researched scholars and practitioners in relevant and diverse fields.
- Earn your Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership along the way as you pursue your master’s degree.
Required Courses:
- LDR 600: Foundations of Leadership
- LDR 604: Theories of Change
- LDR 605: Politics of Leading
- LDR 621: Strategic and Critical Problem-Solving
- CRJ 600: Criminological Theory
- CRJ 601: Ethics in the Criminal Justice System
- CRJ 602: Research Design and Data Analysis
- CRJ 603: Criminal Law and Procedure
- CRJ 604: Pro-Seminar in Criminal Justice
- CRJ 609: Cybersecurity
- Apply the integration of knowledge and skills learned in social theory, research methods and data analysis in criminology.
- Employ the basic conceptual tools, methods, and theories necessary to address social behavior (including criminal behavior), social groups and society.
- Demonstrate a deepening awareness of society’s needs and exercise a commitment to criminal justice.
- Provide evidence of proficiency for working with diverse populations in the public or private sector.
- Display skills in working with and helping people in the criminal justice professions.
- Develop the understanding that leadership is the ethical and respectful application of power within a specific cultural context.
- Learn to exercise various practices for negotiation and consensus building in the strategic mitigation of conflict.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Provide official undergraduate transcripts demonstrating a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Submit a current resume
- Provide two professional letters of recommendation
Related News
M.S. in Criminal Justice: The Growing Role of Advanced Degrees in Law Enforcement
Immaculata’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice equips law enforcement with leadership skills, preparing them for advanced roles and real-world challenges.
Immaculata Partners with Chester County FOP to Offer Tuition Discounts
The new partnership with the Chester County Fraternal Order of Police offers active and retired law enforcement officers and first responders significant tuition discounts on both undergraduate and graduate programs.
From Classroom to Patrol Car: How Immaculata’s Criminology Degree Shaped Alumna’s Journey to Policing
Jasmine Hess loved her time at IU and appreciates how her criminology classes and a forensic science course helped her develop crucial skills for her job as a police officer.
Just The Facts
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SemestersComplete the degree in a little over two years
$0K
Additional SalaryFor criminal justice workers with M.S.
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Credits, 2 CredentialsRequired for graduation