Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Colorado
The field of criminal justice is extremely expansive, covering many disciplines, areas of study, and diverse career paths. If you are exploring the next step in your career, you may find that you have the critical thinking and reasoning skills needed to create a positive change in criminal justice in Colorado.
What Can I Do With My Master’s in Criminal Justice in Colorado?
Find out how you can make a difference in the state of Colorado by contacting criminal justice graduate programs in Colorado today.
As the state’s focus on criminal justice continues to grow, you may find that this is the right time to further your education. U.S. Attorney for Colorado John Walsh has many exciting goals for the criminal justice system in Colorado (9News, 2015). During his term, he hopes to change the industry from one that focuses on incarceration to one that focuses on prevention and rehabilitation. Movements like this can impact the entire country.
Advanced education may also give you specialized insight into how social media and technology are changing criminal justice. Evolving technology has led to a proposed Colorado bill that would enforce consequences for underage sexting and cyberbullying attacks (Daily Local, 2015).
Regardless of which aspect of the criminal justice industry you want to work in, you can likely find a career path that can utilize your graduate-level education. Probation officers in Colorado earn an average of $65,170 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022), and they may enjoy a 3% increase in job openings through the year 2030 nationwide (CareerOneStop, 2022). In law enforcement, you may consider becoming a police supervisor. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an average salary of $108,520 per year in this role (2022), with an anticipated 14% increase in demand through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Colorado contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.
What Will It Take to Earn My Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Colorado?
As you start looking into different graduate programs in this field, you may need to decide what your educational goals are. A master’s degree in criminal justice is excellent for a number of career paths, but you may find that a specialized curriculum is more suited to your goals.
Specialized program options in Colorado include:
- Forensic psychology
- Homeland security
- Cybersecurity
- Public administration
- Criminology
- Justice and security
While earning a master’s degree, you may pay tuition for each credit you take. Tuition rates in Colorado generally range from $600 per credit to $850 per credit. However, you may be able to minimize your expenses with financial aid. Your options may include loans, grants, and scholarships. The Colorado Correctional Employees Scholarship Fund may be a resource for you if you have experience working in corrections.
Quite a few schools require you to complete an internship. Even schools that do not require an internship for a degree may heavily recommend it. In a typical internship, you may spend over 100 hours working at the criminal justice agency that you are placed in.
While earning a Master of Science in criminal justice in Colorado, plan on taking classes like:
- Criminal Justice Systems
- Policy and Practice
- Criminological Theory
- Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class
- Crime and Violence Prevention and Intervention
Your education may conclude with a thesis or capstone project. Some programs require this in lieu of an internship, but others require both. This is an opportunity to get research experience in a topic that fits in with your career goals.
For any part of the criminal justice field to grow and improve, it needs the experience and knowledge of highly educated professionals. Contact schools near you to learn about earning a master’s in criminal justice in Colorado.
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