Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Georgia

Updated October 8, 2026

Federal education data lists 14 Georgia institutions reporting a graduate program in the Criminal Justice and Corrections CIP family, though two of those listings are the same university’s on-campus and online locations. The degree isn’t a hiring requirement for most criminal-justice occupations in Georgia, and it doesn’t substitute for Georgia POST certification if you’re pursuing a sworn law enforcement role. Where it tends to matter is later, as one factor some agencies weigh in promotion or qualification decisions.

Fourteen Georgia institutions report a graduate-level program in the Criminal Justice and Corrections field to the U.S. Department of Education, from Georgia State University in Atlanta to smaller private schools like Reinhardt. Whether that degree gets you anywhere specific depends on the occupation, the agency, and the program you pick, not any one rule that applies statewide.

Featured Programs:

What Can I Do With a Master’s in Criminal Justice in Georgia?

People pursue a CJ master’s in Georgia for different reasons: moving toward research or teaching, building toward a doctorate, or adding a credential on top of years already worked in the field. What it does for you specifically depends on your program, your agency, and the role you’re after. Below is federal wage data for one occupation often discussed alongside the degree, but it isn’t a guarantee of where a CJ master’s leads.

Related Occupations in Georgia

A master’s doesn’t automatically route you into a specific job, and advancement into a supervisory law enforcement role generally requires years of experience plus your own agency’s promotion process, not just a transcript. With that caveat, Georgia’s First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives earn a median of $80,120 a year, with 5.6% projected job growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS, May 2025; ProjectionsCentral). That figure describes the occupation statewide, not CJ master’s holders specifically.

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.

What Will It Take to Earn a Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Georgia?

Credit requirements vary by program. Many Georgia CJ master’s tracks fall somewhere in the 30-to-40-credit range, but confirm the exact number and whether it includes a thesis with the specific school before you apply. Georgia also has state and school-based financial aid options for graduate students. If you’re already working in corrections, the Georgia Prison Wardens Association is a professional association worth knowing about, separate from any school’s own aid programs; confirm current eligibility and offerings directly with the association or your school.

Course names vary by school, but graduate CJ programs commonly include electives covering ground like:

Ethics in Criminal Justice: advanced ethical concepts and a graduate’s role in treating offenders and victims ethically
Prevention and Correctional Strategies for Juvenile Offenders: techniques for rehabilitating juvenile offenders and heading off juvenile crime
Workplace Law for Criminal Justice Managers: human resources law within criminal justice work settings
Law Enforcement Issues: current challenges facing law enforcement graduates and professionals

End-of-program requirements differ by school: some require a thesis defended before a faculty committee, others a capstone project or an internship instead. Which options a given program offers, and what you need to qualify for each, varies; confirm directly with the school you’re considering.

Where to Study a Master’s in Criminal Justice in Georgia

Federal education data lists 14 Georgia institutions reporting a master’s-level program in the Criminal Justice and Corrections CIP family. Two of those listings, South University-Savannah and South University-Savannah Online, are the same university system reported separately for its on-campus and online locations, so from a student’s perspective this may represent 13 distinct schools plus one additional online pathway, not 14 separate options. This reflects CIP-family reporting, not necessarily a program currently titled “Master’s in Criminal Justice” at every school below. Confirm current degree titles, format, and admission requirements directly with each institution before applying.

Institution	City	Control
Albany State University	Albany	Public
Clark Atlanta University	Atlanta	Private nonprofit
Clayton State University	Morrow	Public
Columbus State University	Columbus	Public
Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville	Public
Georgia Southern University	Statesboro	Public
Georgia State University	Atlanta	Public
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw	Public
Mercer University	Macon	Private nonprofit
Reinhardt University	Waleska	Private nonprofit
South University-Savannah	Savannah	Private for-profit
South University-Savannah Online	Savannah (online)	Private for-profit
University of North Georgia	Dahlonega	Public
Valdosta State University	Valdosta	Public

School and program data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, institution file May 2025 and field-of-study file April 2025. Data accessed October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a master’s in criminal justice take in Georgia?

It depends on the program. Credit loads, prerequisites, and thesis or capstone requirements vary from school to school, so timelines that work out to 18 months for one student can take three years or more for another, especially part-time. Check the specific program’s expected timeline before you enroll.

Do I need a bachelor’s in criminal justice to apply?

Admission requirements vary by program. Some Georgia schools accept a bachelor’s in any field; others ask for related coursework, a minimum GPA, or professional experience. Check the admissions page for the specific program you’re considering.

Will a master’s in criminal justice get me hired in Georgia?

Not on its own, and requirements differ by occupation. Sworn law enforcement roles in Georgia go through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (Georgia POST), which sets certification and training requirements for covered peace officers, on top of whatever an individual agency requires. Corrections and court positions, like corrections officer, probation officer, or clerk, follow their own separate requirements, and some of them aren’t sworn law enforcement positions at all. A criminal justice master’s doesn’t substitute for Georgia POST certification or any of these occupation-specific requirements. Where it can matter is later, in some agencies’ promotion or qualification decisions, alongside your experience.

What’s the difference between a thesis and a capstone track?

A thesis is original research you defend before a faculty committee. A capstone is typically an applied project tied to a real agency or problem. Which of these a given Georgia program offers, and how you qualify for each, varies by school; confirm directly with the program you’re considering.

Key Takeaways

14 federal listings, roughly 13 distinct schools – Criminal Justice and Corrections CIP-family data from the U.S. Department of Education; confirm current degree titles and formats with each school
Hiring requirements are occupation-specific – sworn law enforcement roles run through Georgia POST certification plus agency hiring steps; corrections and court positions have their own separate requirements
The degree may factor into promotion, not hiring – for some positions and agencies, not as a universal Georgia rule
How you finish varies by school – thesis, capstone, or internship, confirmed program by program

Not sure a master’s is the right next move yet? The guide linked above breaks down when a criminal justice master’s pays off and when it doesn’t, state by state.

Looking outside Georgia? The state picker below pulls up the same program breakdown for any other state.

Want the bigger picture? Read the full guide to Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.