25 CHEAPEST ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The Master of Arts program at American Public University includes in its curriculum national and local security issues as well as graduate study in the U.S. criminal justice system. Students are able to draw from the experience of their faculty members, many of whom work in government agencies or criminal justice organizations. The degree requires 36 credit hours of coursework, and students choose from a general concentration or concentrations in Business Administration or Emergency Management and Disaster Management.Some of the courses included in this program include Human Intelligence, Transnational Crime and Narcotics, and Crisis Action Planning. To finish the program, students choose between a project, a comprehensive examination, and a capstone seminar. Many students accelerate the time to complete their degree by bringing in transfer credits. APU also allows students to receive credit for military service or prior learning experiences.

At Fairmont State University, students can earn their Master of Science in Criminal Justice. This program ensures that students have theoretical, legal, and research-based training that can apply across the field to careers in administration and education. Many students go on to work at organizations like the National White Collar Crime Center and the Fusion Center. While in the program, they have the option to choose between the thesis track and the capstone track. Both require a total of 30 credit hours for students to finish their degree.Examples of classes include Comparative Analysis of Criminal Justice Systems, Advanced Penology, and Victimology.To apply, students can fill out the application online. They also need to send a copy of all undergraduate and graduate coursework, if applicable. The MS in Criminal Justice also requires a writing sample and a personal statement detailing their interests in the program as well as three letters of recommendation.

The University of Colorado at Denver's Master of Criminal Justice degree is 47 years old, and it offers an interdisciplinary take on criminology and the criminal justice system. It is pertinent for both those who already have a bachelor's in the field and those who not. Many students go on to work in law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations that deal with domestic violence, youth justice, and hate crimes. Concentrations are available in the following areas: Crime Analyst, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Gender-Based Violence, and Nonprofit Organizations.This program was ranked as No. 19 on the Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs list by U.S. News & World Report. CU Denver's programs have proven a success, and the faculty teaching the online courses are the same faculty who teach the on-campus alternatives. The university is committed to student success and works to connect students with academic and career services.

Students can complete their online Master of Science in Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida.UCF's program was ranked as No. 26 on U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice programs list. It was also ranked as No. 10 on the Most Innovative Schools list, and the reason why is evident in the flexibility offered to students. Classes can be accessed at any time and anywhere.

The MSCJ at UCF requires 36 credit hours of coursework, including classes like The Nature of Crime, The Administration of Justice, Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice, and Law and Social Control. Students also have the option to write a thesis during their time in the program if they so choose.Students are not required to submit test scores for consideration, and the course of study can be finished in as little as two years.UCF has three start dates for enrollment, and students can do so at either full- or part-time status.

The University of Central Missouri has a Master of Science in Criminal Justice that works to build students' research, management, and leadership skills. This degree requires 36 credit hours of coursework for completion and includes both a thesis and non-thesis option. Courses include Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System, Causes of Crime, Criminal Justice Philosophy and Police, and Methods of Criminal Justice Research.

Students in this program have presented at conferences sponsored by the American Society of Criminology or the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Additionally, students benefit from the expertise of their professors by working on a thesis project. UCM also provides scholarships for qualified graduate students in the criminal justice program.

California State University at San Bernardino works to give students already working in the criminal justice system access to a flexible graduate degree through its Master of Arts in Criminal Justice. Students can choose between a thesis option or a comprehensive examination as a culminating experience. The thesis is particularly helpful for those wishing to pursue additional graduate studies while the comprehensive exam is perfect for those with hopes for advancement in management and administration.

In this program, students must complete 45 units of graduate courses. Options for these classes include Crime in Public Spaces, Advanced Social Network Analysis, Minorities in the Criminal Justice System, and Terrorism. This program has been ranked as No. 30 on U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs list.

The University of Houston's Master of Science in Criminal Justice is designed toward offering flexible graduate work for those who need a nontraditional path to their degree. However, it is designed to help students prepare for leadership in their field in places like the police department, the courts, corrections, among others. Thirty-six semester hours are required for graduation, including a project-based course. Other classes include Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation, Administration in Criminal Justice, and Advanced Criminology.

Students can start the program in either the fall or the spring, and it can take a year and a half for students to complete the program.The University of Houston also ensures that students have flexible scheduling and still maintains engaged learning through its online courses. Additionally, students also still have access to the same on-campus and online student services as any other student. Finally, U.S. News & World Report has ranked this program as No. 23 on its list of Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice programs.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville draws from its network of experts in the criminal justice field to help students succeed in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. There are also three concentrations available to students, which are Criminal Justice Theory, Criminal Justice Management, and Victim and Offender Services.

Students are also able to personalize their coursework, and alumni have focused their studies on criminal law, criminology research, statistical methods, organizational management, and child advocacy. The MS requires 30 credit hours of coursework. There is also an option to complete a Child Advocacy Certificate, which is nine credit hours. Students can also receive credit for an internship in criminal justice.

Columbia College's Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration zeroes in on four foundational areas. The four areas include Criminal Justice, Policy Development and Analysis, Research Design, and Ethics In Criminal Justice. Students can also choose from two management tracks, which are Law Enforcement Administration and Corrections Administration. Regardless, students are prepared to continue on to doctoral or law studies. Some of the courses in this program are Development of Standard Operating Procedure, Comparative Criminal Justice Systems, Emergent Issues in Criminal Justice Leadership, and Community Corrections. The program is also geared toward those working in a criminal justice-oriented setting.

U.S. News & World Report ranked this program at No. 43 on its list of Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice programs. Additionally, students still have access to career services and an academic advisor in this program. However, coursework can be completed on their schedule, making it a flexible course of study. The average completion time for an online master's degree at Columbia is twelve months.

Liberty University's Master's in Criminal Justice typically takes students a little over a year to complete. It requires 36 credit hours of coursework. Courses are offered on an 8-week rotation with several start dates throughout the year. Students who have completed prior relevant graduate courses can transfer in up to half of their master's into Liberty. There are also specializations available in Forensic Psychology, Homeland Security, and Public Administration. Lastly, students have the option to complete a thesis during their time in the program.

Something that is also important to note is that tuition at Liberty has not increased in four years, current and former military service members can also receive a discount. Liberty is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This program was ranked No. 46 by U.S. News & World Report on its list ofBest Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs.

Bowling Green State University offers a Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. There are 11 courses in this program, totaling 33 credit hours. The degree can be completed in under two years on a part-time basis. Students can start their coursework at six different times throughout the year, and the courses are seven weeks in length. Some examples of classes include Data Analysis and Interpretation in Criminal Justice, Crime Analysis, and the Nature of Crime. Students are able to transfer up to nine credit hours into the program. They also have access to BGSU's Learning Commons, which offers online writing consultations and a variety of other services for distance learners.

Bowling Green State University has been ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs. Additionally, for admission, students are not required to submit GRE scores, through BGSU is typically looking for a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume are also required.

Saint Leo University has a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. There are also specializations available in Behavioral Studies, Corrections, Criminal Investigations, Critical Incident Management, Forensic Science, and Legal Studies. In total, 30 credit hours are required for completion of this program, and they are geared toward criminal justice administrators, first responders, and government officials.

Available courses include Criminal Sexual Behaviors, Public Policy Making in Criminal Justice, and Causes and Controls of Juvenile Delinquency.The program draws from the expertise of its instructors, including in particular its director, Dr. Robert Diemer, who has worked with a variety of local, state, and federal agencies. Dr. Diemer has also been the Chief Investigator for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and as a Deputy Sheriff.

Concordia University offers a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership. This degree necessitates 36 credit hours of coursework. The program is completely online, and each course is 7 weeks in length. Approximately 95% of graduates from Concordia University, St. Paul have a job offer within one year of graduation. Additionally, alumni from Concordia earn 44% more than the national average, according to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. With the flexibility of this program, students are able to come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including law enforcement, military, social services, and corrections.

Concordia's online programs have students from all over the United States and the world in them. The most popular home states tend to be Minnesota, Texas, California, and Wisconsin, and students have also come from Trinidad and Tobago. This program has also been ranked in the top 100 on U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice programs.

Students of Youngstown State University can earn their Master of Science through the 30-credit Criminal Justice Management and Program Planning degree. Courses in this program give students experience working in a variety of nonprofit and/or government organization. Students are able to take classes like Research Methods in Health and Human Services, Applied Police and Corrections Management, and Grant Writing. They also finish a thesis during the course of the program, which can be used to help students to prepare for doctoral work. YSU also gives students the opportunity to receive a scholarship. There are also graduate assistantships available.

Starting off our list is Florida International University's Master of Science in Criminal Justice. This program is geared toward preparing students for doctoral study. It requires 36 credit hours of classwork, broken up between core requirements, four criminal justice electives, and three general electives. The core courses are Criminological Theory, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, and Criminal Justice Policy Analysis. There are also options to ready students to teach and to allow them to intern.

Prospective students are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores for admission, but FIU is typically looking for a 3.2 GPA or higher. FIU also ensures that students still have access to student services just like on-campus students, starting off with an online orientation that walks them through life as an online student at the university. It also pays special attention to making sure that students have global awareness, even from the comfort of their home as they complete their degree.