Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Wyoming
Wyoming has no standalone, on-campus Criminal Justice master’s, but the University of Wyoming offers a 39-credit Criminal Justice concentration within its Master of Public Administration, covering policy, crime causation, and an internship. If you want a dedicated CJ master’s instead, plan on an online or out-of-state program. Wyoming’s protective service occupations report a median wage of $55,390 (BLS, May 2025).
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you’ve done the hard part: learning how to read research and build an argument. A master’s in criminal justice asks you to turn that skill on the system itself: policy, management, and the kind of decision-making that moves someone from line staff to leadership.
Wyoming has felt criminal justice reform at both the federal and state level, and as those changes play out, the state will need people who understand the policy side, not just the procedural side.
What You Can Do With a Master’s in Criminal Justice in Wyoming
With a bachelor’s degree, you’ve likely already built the critical-thinking and decision-making skills graduate work asks for. Moving into a leadership or management role means applying those skills to justice problems without a clean textbook answer.
Local researchers are looking at ways to adapt drug policy to improve public safety (Pinedale Roundup, 2015), including a close look at crime statistics. That kind of policy work, not just day-to-day enforcement, is where a master’s degree earns its keep.
A criminal justice master’s in Wyoming can lead to work in corrections, law enforcement, legal support, or advocacy. As of May 2025, Wyoming’s protective service occupations report a median annual wage of $55,390 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). That figure covers the field broadly, from patrol to corrections to security supervision, so where you land in that range depends heavily on the specific role and agency. Education requirements, academy training, certification exams, and other hiring standards vary by occupation, agency, and state — a master’s degree alone doesn’t confer professional licensure or peace-officer certification.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Police and Detectives, Correctional Officers and Bailiffs, and Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers, the occupation groups within Wyoming’s protective service field. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026. 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.
What It Takes to Earn Your Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Wyoming
Credit requirements vary by program. Many criminal justice master’s programs run roughly 30 to 40 credits, with completion time depending on the program’s structure and whether you enroll full- or part-time. The University of Wyoming’s MPA/Criminal Justice concentration, for example, requires 39 credits, built around core public-administration coursework plus courses like Survey of Criminal Justice and Public Policy and Crime, and an internship.
Standalone criminal justice master’s programs typically draw from courses like:
- Criminological Theory: the major schools of thought in criminology and how they apply across different criminal justice settings
- Criminal Justice Systems, Policies, and Practices: an in-depth look at the justice system, its procedures, and Wyoming’s own policy landscape
- Law and Society: how law shapes society and how societal belief shapes law in turn
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution: techniques and research on navigating high-tension situations
- Public Policy Analysis: evaluating public policy for fairness and effectiveness
- Domestic and International Terrorism: where terroristic threats originate and how agencies respond to them
Many programs also offer an internship with a justice agency, nonprofit, legal office, or corrections facility. That kind of hands-on placement prepares you more for a high-level criminal justice role than another semester of lecture.
By graduation, most programs expect you to walk away with:
- A working understanding of how the criminal justice system fits together
- The ability to apply public policy concepts to real management decisions
- Research skills you can use to evaluate a program or policy on your own
- Sharper critical thinking under ambiguity
- A solid grasp of the field’s core theoretical frameworks
Your In-State Option: UW’s MPA With a Criminal Justice Concentration
Wyoming doesn’t have a university offering a standalone Criminal Justice master’s (an M.A. or M.S.) on campus, per federal education data covering the CJ-family CIP codes. But the University of Wyoming comes close: its Master of Public Administration includes a Criminal Justice concentration, 39 credits total, with graduate coursework in Survey of Criminal Justice and Public Policy and Crime, an internship, and an elective such as Comparative Criminal Justice (University of Wyoming School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies).
If you specifically want a degree titled Criminal Justice rather than an MPA with that focus, Wyoming residents seeking a standalone criminal justice master’s may need to consider online or out-of-state programs, including the schools featured above. Depending on your eligibility and school, you may also qualify for Wyoming Peace Officers Association scholarships. Check the association’s current categories and requirements first, since most are tied to specific situations like UW or Wyoming community college enrollment, WPOA membership, or completion of a Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy basic course.
Looking for a Criminal Justice Master’s Program in Another State?
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wyoming have an in-state master’s program in criminal justice?
Not a standalone one. Per federal education data, no Wyoming university offers an on-campus M.A. or M.S. in Criminal Justice. The University of Wyoming offers a 39-credit Criminal Justice concentration within its Master of Public Administration program, including courses like Survey of Criminal Justice and Public Policy and Crime, plus an internship. If you want a dedicated CJ master’s rather than the MPA pathway, Wyoming residents seeking one may need to consider an online or out-of-state program.
How long does a criminal justice master’s take to complete?
Credit requirements vary by program. Many run roughly 30 to 40 credits, and the University of Wyoming’s MPA/Criminal Justice concentration requires 39. Completion time depends on the program’s structure and whether you study full- or part-time.
What can I do with a master’s in criminal justice in Wyoming?
Graduates typically move into corrections, law enforcement, legal support, or advocacy roles, often in leadership or policy-facing positions rather than entry-level line work. Wyoming’s protective service occupations report a median wage of $55,390 as of May 2025 (BLS). Education requirements, academy training, and certification standards vary by occupation, agency, and state, and the degree alone doesn’t confer professional licensure or peace-officer certification.
Is an internship required for a criminal justice master’s?
It varies by program. Many offer or require an internship with a justice agency, nonprofit, legal office, or corrections facility, including UW’s own MPA/Criminal Justice concentration. That placement tends to matter more for job readiness than additional coursework.
Key Takeaways
- UW’s MPA/CJ pathway – Wyoming has no standalone, on-campus Criminal Justice master’s, but the University of Wyoming offers a 39-credit Criminal Justice concentration within its MPA program
- Credit requirements vary – most standalone CJ master’s programs run roughly 30-40 credits. UW’s MPA/CJ concentration requires 39
- $55,390 median wage – Wyoming’s Protective Service Occupations report this figure as of May 2025 (BLS), covering the field broadly rather than one specific job title
- Licensure is separate – a criminal justice master’s doesn’t by itself confer professional licensure or peace-officer certification, which vary by occupation, agency, and state
Whatever direction you take, UW’s MPA pathway or an online CJ program, confirm current admission requirements, course availability, and accreditation directly with the school before you apply. Programs change between catalog years, and only the school’s own advisor can confirm what’s actually enrolling today.