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
Foundation Courses
Note: It is recommended that CJS 6470, Criminal Justice Capstone, be taken last.
Operations Courses
Concentrations
Required Courses
Elective
Complete 6 quarter hours from the following:
Required Courses
Complete the following:
Elective
Complete 6 quarter hours from the following:
Required Courses
Complete five of the following:
Elective
Complete 3 quarter hours from the following:
Required Courses
Complete the following:
Complete one of the following:
Elective
Additional optional electives listed below:
Required Courses
Complete the following:
Elective
Complete 9 quarter hours from the following:
Required Courses
Complete five of the following:
Elective
Complete 3 quarter hours from the following:
This program requires successful completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours that meet the degree requirements.