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Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Programs
(found programs from 283 schools)

Welcome to the most complete directory on the Web of Masters Degree in Criminal Justice programs. It contains all the nationally accredited programs, from 283 schools across the country.

★ Popular Masters Degree In Criminal Justice Programs

Below are some schools that offer popular Masters Degree programs in Criminal Justice:

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Keiser University

Keiser University has been helping people reach their career goals for more than 25 years. Now, t...

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Lamar University

Home to more than 14000 students, Lamar Universityis one of the fastest growing universities in T...

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Texas A&M University

Join the Texas A&M University-Commerce tradition of developing leaders in the region, the nation,...

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The field of criminal justice is growing, not just in number of jobs, but in the variety of positions and in possible salary levels. At the same time, competition is fierce. Highly qualified military veterans and highly educated graduates with field experience are first in line for the jobs that have better pay and more responsibility. Earning your master's degree in criminal justice - particularly if you have field experience-can put you first in line for the best positions.

Shaping your career

If you are thinking about your master's degree, you probably already know what specialization in the criminal justice field interests you most. While you can earn a general master's degree in the field, you have a dizzying choice of specializations-and your particular specialization will determine what universities give you the best options. You can earn either a Master of Science in criminal justice or a Master of Arts in criminal justice. The Master of Science option will include more science in the curriculum and fewer liberal arts courses. Specializations such as forensic science, criminology, cyber-crime and behavior analysis and forensic psychology are usually offered as part of a Master of Science degree. Law enforcement administration, organizational security, legal studies, homeland security, terrorism and mediation and public policy usually are offered as a Master of Arts degree. If you haven't figured out your area of specialization, do a little homework in advance in order to ensure you pick the right school and the right degree.

Many of your career choices with this degree involve some sort of management, whether it is emergency management, crime scene or critical incident management, or the administration of organizations and functions. Management jobs are associated with the highest pay. A high ranking position in corporate security comes with a salary that can top $150,000 a year, according to SalaryExpert.com. A critical incident manager can expect to earn between $92,000 and $98,000, according to Indeed.com. An FBI agent with some experience and a master's earns over $91,000, according to the US Office of Personnel Management. A captain or sergeant on a police force earns between $85,000 and $106,000 per year, according to Salary.com. Non-managers like crime scene investigators can earn about $75,000 per year, according to the International Crime Scene Investigator Association. Many people with an entrepreneurial bent can open their own expert operation and earn double that. A specialist in criminal behavior analysis can earn between $57,000 and $62,000, according to Payscale.com. A typical career path includes time with a government organization after earning the degree with a move to the higher paying jobs in the private sector later on.

Building connections

As with many fields, networking within the criminal justice community can pay off with better jobs and higher salaries. Getting involved at the national, regional or local level of key professional associations is a proven door opener. The largest organization is the National Criminal Justice Association (http://www.ncja.org/), which works on the formulation of national and state policies. It offers a full calendar of networking opportunities. The American Criminal Justice Association (http://www.acjalae.org/) has a student focus. It offers networking opportunities, skill development programs and even grants and scholarships. You should definitely join associations in your area of specialization such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (http://www.aafs.org/) or the American Correctional Association (www.aca.org/). You would be amazed at the variety of organizations out there, and every one offers the chance of worthwhile connections, career enhancing programs or scholarships and grants.

Earning a master's degree in criminal justice can cost a bundle ($21,000 per year and up), but there are ways to manage or reduce the financial burden. Some schools allow you to transfer undergraduate credits and credits from certificate programs, cutting the number of credit hours you must pay for. Some schools also offer credit via exam programs, which can allow you to test out of classes, again saving the cost of paying for those credit hours. Many employers have tuition reimbursement and assistance programs. And lastly, don't forget to look into grants and scholarships. The university you choose may also have scholarship programs available. Government agencies and even private employers also offer scholarships to some degree candidates. You would be surprised at what might be available to you when you look.