Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, and sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts. The criminal justice system is categorized into three parts: policing, courts and corrections. Since 9/11, Criminal Justice has rapidly progressed to become one of the fastest growing career sectors in the United States. The current state of affairs in the US and abroad has raised new issues pertaining to law enforcement, immigration, public safety, and security. As a result, there are an abundance of opportunities for employment in this field such as police officers, defense attorneys, court reporters, crime scene investigators and parole officers. Social and legal changes have increased both the importance and complexity of ethical leadership in the law enforcement profession. Thus, great educated leaders are in demand in the criminal justice field and you could be that perfect fit!
Having a Bachelor’s degree is great but having a Master’s degree ensures potential employers that you are 100% dedicated to the field and have a more detailed knowledge of the criminal justice system. Many professionals with a Master's in criminal justice are promoted into management and administrative positions and can make anywhere from $35,000 to $100,000 a year. Opportunities for a master's level criminal justice professional include advanced administrative and research positions. A Master's degree is also pursued by those who have a number of years working in the field of criminal justice and want to learn more, to advance in their careers. A solid working history, paired with a Master's degree, can propel someone into a managerial position within many different types of criminal justice departments. You can choose to work in a local chapter of criminal justice, or move into higher levels such as state or federal departments. If this is your desired career path, a Master's degree is definitely an option to consider.
General coursework for a Master’s in Criminal Justice includes theory in criminology, research, law and statistics. Graduate students are also required to participate in an internship (you can learn more about internships here). Also, a Master’s thesis may or may not be required. A Master’s thesis is a paper that can range anywhere from 100-1000 pages on original research done by the student. Most Master's programs in criminal justice take about two years to complete and can be done through an online graduate school or traditional campus based school.
See below to find career schools that offer a Master’s in Criminal Justice and click on each one for more information:
| 
