Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Utah
Residents of Utah enjoy the benefits of a safe community and a law enforcement system that works across counties, municipalities, and metropolitan areas. The ability of criminal justice professionals to work together, use evidence to make smart legal decisions, and keep the rights of residents in mind is the key to success in this field.
What Can I Do With My Master’s in Criminal Justice in Utah?
Since this field is so diverse, it benefits from the input and knowledge of people from different backgrounds. Find out how you fit in this field by contacting criminal justice graduate programs in Utah.
A big part of studying criminal justice at the graduate level is considering the morality of laws and their implications, rather than simply taking them at face value. For example, a new Utah law significantly changed existing laws regarding sex offenders (KUTV, 2015). These changes were made to ensure that people on the sex offender registry are there because they pose a threat to society.
Ongoing reform in Utah is meant to help offenders return to a normal life, rather than putting them in a cycle that leads to reincarceration. This includes a plan to make it easier for released felons to find rental properties in Utah (Corrections One, 2015).
Earning a Master of Science in criminal justice in Utah can pay off during the job search. Between 2012 and 2022, job openings for police supervisors are expected to increase 18% and jobs for probation officers are expected to increase 4% (O*Net, 2015). In Utah, police supervisors claim an average salary of $67,000 per year and probation officers bring in an average of $47,700 per year (O*Net, 2015).
What Will It Take to Earn My Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Utah?
Graduate-level study is a challenge that is completely different from undergraduate study. Although you still study criminal justice procedures and laws, you are expected to look at them in a more critical light and think about them in a more meaningful way. The purpose of a master’s degree in criminal justice is best understood through a school’s learning outcomes.
Utah criminal justice schools often focus on goals like those listed here:
- Analyze issues in criminal justice system
- Apply theoretical foundations to current issues and problems
- Understand a variety of methodological techniques
The courses that make up your curriculum are chosen to help you achieve these learning goals. While earning a master’s degree in criminal justice in Utah, you may enroll in classes like the ones listed here:
- Legal Foundations of Criminal Justice: An extensive study of the laws that have shaped the criminal justice industry
- Technology and Innovation in Criminal Justice: Recent changes in the justice system, how technology affects crime, and where the field may go in the future
- Contemporary Legal Issues: Legal issues that have shaped the development of the criminal justice industry
- Criminal Justice Planning, Budgeting, and Evaluation: Leadership tasks and responsibilities in criminal justice
Tuition and other program expenses depend on the school you decide to attend. Across Utah, average tuition rates range from $450 per credit to $1300 per credit. Graduate assistantships are one opportunity to consider when it comes to financial aid. Don’t forget to look into scholarships offered by local organizations like the Utah Sheriffs Association.
Earning a master’s degree can change your life and make Utah a safer place. Contact schools to learn more about earning a criminal justice master’s degree in Utah.
