Why Criminal Justice?
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice online program provides a path to excellence for leaders in law enforcement, courts, private security, and corrections organizations.
Criminal justice and security agencies are under increased scrutiny—challenged to provide efficient and effective services, be transparent in their interactions with the public, and respond to changing local, national, and world conditions. To be successful, justice system leaders need to think strategically, communicate locally, and act ethically while developing comprehensive (and often multi-jurisdictional) solutions to crime and terrorism problems.
In response, Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies offers the Master of Science in Criminal Justice. This innovative master’s degree program prepares students for successful careers in law enforcement, courts, private security, and corrections organizations. Academically distinctive graduate courses in this program emphasize leadership, communication, and ethics—themes that are designed to enhance your leadership capacity and improve your career prospects.
More Details
Unique Features
- Elective option for integrative experiential learning
- Choose from six concentrations to specialize your focus
- Online program designed to give flexibility and advancement opportunity to already working professionals
Program Objectives
- Gain a better understanding of the increasingly complex criminal justice environment
- Understand the short- and long-term benefits of ethical decision making
- Identify and apply leadership theories and practices that contribute to the commitment of an effective, efficient, and equitable administration of public safety
- Build a personal model of leadership that can be put into action in the workplace
- Evaluate major substantive topics and criminal behavior trends, including street violence, gangs, guns, drugs, human trafficking, terrorism, and cyber crime
- Examine current and emerging anticrime strategies such as community policing, intelligence-led policing, and multijurisdictional intelligence fusion operations
- Discover how technology can be utilized to prevent and respond to criminal activity
What you'll study
General Requirements
Master of Science in Criminal Justice General Requirements
45 total quarter hours required.
Foundation Courses
Note: It is recommended that CJS 6470, Criminal Justice Capstone, be taken last.
CJS 6020 - Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice Policy
3.00
CJS 6400 - Administration of Justice
3.00
CJS 6405 - Criminological Theory for Criminal Justice Leaders
3.00
CJS 6415 - Legal Decision Making and Leadership
3.00
CJS 6470 - Criminal Justice Capstone
3.00
Operations Courses
CJS 6425 - Research Methods
3.00
CJS 6435 - Program Evaluations
3.00
CJS 6440 - GIS, Evidence-Based Learning, and Policy
3.00
CMN 6050 - Crisis Communication
3.00
Concentration Options
18 q.h. required
Option 1: Choose one concentration and 3 q.h. of free elective courses.
Option 2: Choose a combination of 6 elective courses from any concentration below
Concentrations
Concentration in Community and Family Justice
18 q.h. required
Community and Family Justice Courses
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6330 - Youth Justice and Crime
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
CJS 6305 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
3.00
CJS 6135 - Intimate Partner Violence
3.00
Elective
Complete 3 quarter hours from the following:
CJS 6005 - Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management
3.00
CJS 6010 - Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment
3.00
CJS 6025 - Genocide and War Crimes
3.00
CJS 6030 - Organized Crime
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6040 - Human Trafficking and Exploitation
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6050 - Models of Intelligence-Led Policing
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
CJS 6135 - Intimate Partner Violence
3.00
CJS 6145 - Correctional Rehabilitation
3.00
CJS 6205 - Law Enforcement Management and Planning
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6305 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
3.00
CJS 6315 - Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correction Systems
3.00
CJS 6320 - Community Corrections
3.00
CJS 6325 - Probation and Parole
3.00
CJS 6330 - Youth Justice and Crime
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
CJS 6420 - U.S. Policing in the 21st Century
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
LDR 6110 - Leading Teams
3.00
LDR 6120 - Organizational Leadership
3.00
LDR 6140 - Strategic Leadership
3.00
LDR 6100 - Developing Your Leadership Capability
3.00
LDR 6150 - Transforming Organizations
3.00
LDR 6135 - Ethical Leadership
3.00
INT 6943 - Integrative Experiential Learning
3.00
Concentration in Corrections
18 q.h. required
Corrections Courses
Complete five of the following:
CJS 6145 - Correctional Rehabilitation
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6315 - Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correction Systems
3.00
CJS 6325 - Probation and Parole
3.00
CJS 6320 - Community Corrections
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
Electives
Complete 3 quarter hours from the following:
CJS 6005 - Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management
3.00
CJS 6010 - Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment
3.00
CJS 6025 - Genocide and War Crimes
3.00
CJS 6030 - Organized Crime
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6040 - Human Trafficking and Exploitation
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6050 - Models of Intelligence-Led Policing
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
CJS 6135 - Intimate Partner Violence
3.00
CJS 6145 - Correctional Rehabilitation
3.00
CJS 6205 - Law Enforcement Management and Planning
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6305 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
3.00
CJS 6315 - Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correction Systems
3.00
CJS 6320 - Community Corrections
3.00
CJS 6325 - Probation and Parole
3.00
CJS 6330 - Youth Justice and Crime
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
CJS 6420 - U.S. Policing in the 21st Century
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
LDR 6110 - Leading Teams
3.00
LDR 6120 - Organizational Leadership
3.00
LDR 6140 - Strategic Leadership
3.00
INT 6943 - Integrative Experiential Learning
3.00
LDR 6100 - Developing Your Leadership Capability
3.00
LDR 6150 - Transforming Organizations
3.00
LDR 6135 - Ethical Leadership
3.00
Concentration in Global Criminal Justice
18 q.h. required
Global Criminal Justice Courses
Complete five of the following:
CJS 6025 - Genocide and War Crimes
3.00
CJS 6030 - Organized Crime
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6040 - Human Trafficking and Exploitation
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
Elective
Complete 3 quarter hours from the following:
CJS 6005 - Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management
3.00
CJS 6010 - Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment
3.00
CJS 6025 - Genocide and War Crimes
3.00
CJS 6030 - Organized Crime
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6040 - Human Trafficking and Exploitation
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6050 - Models of Intelligence-Led Policing
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
CJS 6135 - Intimate Partner Violence
3.00
CJS 6145 - Correctional Rehabilitation
3.00
CJS 6205 - Law Enforcement Management and Planning
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6305 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
3.00
CJS 6315 - Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correction Systems
3.00
CJS 6320 - Community Corrections
3.00
CJS 6325 - Probation and Parole
3.00
CJS 6330 - Youth Justice and Crime
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
CJS 6420 - U.S. Policing in the 21st Century
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
LDR 6110 - Leading Teams
3.00
LDR 6120 - Organizational Leadership
3.00
LDR 6140 - Strategic Leadership
3.00
CJS 6110 - Management of Service Industries Security Department
3.00
INT 6943 - Integrative Experiential Learning
3.00
LDR 6100 - Developing Your Leadership Capability
3.00
LDR 6150 - Transforming Organizations
3.00
LDR 6135 - Ethical Leadership
3.00
Concentration in Leadership
18 q.h. required
Leadership Courses
LDR 6100 - Developing Your Leadership Capability
3.00
LDR 6110 - Leading Teams
3.00
LDR 6120 - Organizational Leadership
3.00
LDR 6150 - Transforming Organizations
3.00
Complete one of the following:
LDR 6135 - Ethical Leadership
3.00
LDR 6140 - Strategic Leadership
3.00
Elective
Complete 3 quarter hours from the following:
CJS 6005 - Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management
3.00
CJS 6010 - Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment
3.00
CJS 6025 - Genocide and War Crimes
3.00
CJS 6030 - Organized Crime
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6040 - Human Trafficking and Exploitation
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6050 - Models of Intelligence-Led Policing
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
CJS 6135 - Intimate Partner Violence
3.00
CJS 6145 - Correctional Rehabilitation
3.00
CJS 6205 - Law Enforcement Management and Planning
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6305 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
3.00
CJS 6315 - Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correction Systems
3.00
CJS 6320 - Community Corrections
3.00
CJS 6325 - Probation and Parole
3.00
CJS 6330 - Youth Justice and Crime
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
CJS 6420 - U.S. Policing in the 21st Century
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
LDR 6110 - Leading Teams
3.00
LDR 6120 - Organizational Leadership
3.00
INT 6943 - Integrative Experiential Learning
3.00
LDR 6100 - Developing Your Leadership Capability
3.00
LDR 6150 - Transforming Organizations
3.00
LDR 6135 - Ethical Leadership
3.00
Concentration in Policing
18 q.h. required
Policing Courses
Complete five of the following:
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6050 - Models of Intelligence-Led Policing
3.00
CJS 6205 - Law Enforcement Management and Planning
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6420 - U.S. Policing in the 21st Century
3.00
Elective
Complete three quarter hours from the following:
CJS 6005 - Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management
3.00
CJS 6010 - Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment
3.00
CJS 6025 - Genocide and War Crimes
3.00
CJS 6030 - Organized Crime
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6040 - Human Trafficking and Exploitation
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6050 - Models of Intelligence-Led Policing
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
CJS 6135 - Intimate Partner Violence
3.00
CJS 6145 - Correctional Rehabilitation
3.00
CJS 6205 - Law Enforcement Management and Planning
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6305 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
3.00
CJS 6315 - Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correction Systems
3.00
CJS 6320 - Community Corrections
3.00
CJS 6325 - Probation and Parole
3.00
CJS 6330 - Youth Justice and Crime
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
CJS 6420 - U.S. Policing in the 21st Century
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
LDR 6110 - Leading Teams
3.00
LDR 6120 - Organizational Leadership
3.00
LDR 6140 - Strategic Leadership
3.00
INT 6943 - Integrative Experiential Learning
3.00
LDR 6100 - Developing Your Leadership Capability
3.00
LDR 6150 - Transforming Organizations
3.00
LDR 6135 - Ethical Leadership
3.00
Concentration in Security
18 q.h. required
Security Courses
Complete five of the following:
CJS 6010 - Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment
3.00
CJS 6005 - Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
Elective
Complete three quarter hours from the following:
CJS 6005 - Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management
3.00
CJS 6010 - Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment
3.00
CJS 6025 - Genocide and War Crimes
3.00
CJS 6030 - Organized Crime
3.00
CJS 6035 - Corruption, Integrity, and Accountability
3.00
CJS 6040 - Human Trafficking and Exploitation
3.00
CJS 6045 - Policing Issues around the Globe
3.00
CJS 6050 - Models of Intelligence-Led Policing
3.00
CJS 6105 - Domestic and International Terrorism
3.00
CJS 6125 - Issues in National Security
3.00
CJS 6135 - Intimate Partner Violence
3.00
CJS 6145 - Correctional Rehabilitation
3.00
CJS 6205 - Law Enforcement Management and Planning
3.00
CJS 6300 - Communities and Crime
3.00
CJS 6305 - Criminal Behavior and the Family
3.00
CJS 6315 - Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correction Systems
3.00
CJS 6320 - Community Corrections
3.00
CJS 6325 - Probation and Parole
3.00
CJS 6330 - Youth Justice and Crime
3.00
CJS 6340 - Substance Abuse and Addictions
3.00
CJS 6420 - U.S. Policing in the 21st Century
3.00
GST 6300 - Security and Terrorism
4.00
LDR 6110 - Leading Teams
3.00
LDR 6120 - Organizational Leadership
3.00
LDR 6140 - Strategic Leadership
3.00
INT 6943 - Integrative Experiential Learning
3.00
LDR 6100 - Developing Your Leadership Capability
3.00
LDR 6150 - Transforming Organizations
3.00
LDR 6135 - Ethical Leadership
3.00