Master of Science in Criminal Justice Online

Learn about the causes and alleviation of crime and take an active leadership role in a broad range of criminal justice pursuits with the skills you will gain in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice online program.

Apply by: 6/23/25
Start class: 7/7/25 Apply Now

Program Overview

Your master’s degree in criminal justice could help create safer communities

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice online program gives you the knowledge and tools to shape public policy in response to contemporary issues in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. This non-thesis program enables you to pursue advanced professional roles and boost your earnings potential.

You will study criminological theory and the administration of justice with an emphasis on in-depth research into corrections, ethics and legal studies. You will learn about comparative criminal justice systems, advanced quantitative methods in criminal justice, cybercrime and more. Our compelling electives include seminars on corrections and police practices, along with a special topics course that you can shape to meet your interests and career goals.

Our dynamic core curriculum covers foundations of the criminal justice system, the relationship between law and criminal justice, and advanced methods of social research. The program incorporates advanced seminars emphasizing analysis of criminal justice policies and criminological theory. Plus, you will participate in a capstone project—graded on a pass/fail basis—in which you will analyze and develop a practical approach to a significant issue facing the American criminal justice system.

This comprehensive master's in criminal justice program delivers curricula using state-of-the-art technology. Through our online platform, you will engage in critical and reflective thinking about professional and scholarly literature. Our coursework challenges you to conceptualize, analyze and evaluate scholarly discourse and participate in informed and thoughtful discussions.

Our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for scholarship and commitment to understanding and responding to relevant criminal justice issues. Boost your career in the public or government sector, in law enforcement or corrections, or in programs aimed at rehabilitating adult or juvenile offenders.

Benefit from flexible admission requirements, no thesis requirement and six start dates per year. Our accelerated, 7-week courses are delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, so you can balance personal and professional obligations while earning your degree. You can complete your degree quickly.

In this online program, you will:

  • Analyze crime issues in contemporary settings, given the practical constraints of the justice system
  • Study current societal trends and their impact on legal systems including criminal justice agencies, criminal courts, juvenile courts, mental health courts and civil courts
  • Critically examine biological, psychological, sociological and economic theories of crime
  • Compare criminal justice systems in the United States and selected countries from Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East
  • Discern how crime theories relate to various modalities of cybercrime and victimization
In this online program, you will:+
  • Analyze crime issues in contemporary settings, given the practical constraints of the justice system
  • Study current societal trends and their impact on legal systems including criminal justice agencies, criminal courts, juvenile courts, mental health courts and civil courts
  • Critically examine biological, psychological, sociological and economic theories of crime
  • Compare criminal justice systems in the United States and selected countries from Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East
  • Discern how crime theories relate to various modalities of cybercrime and victimization

As a graduate of this online program, you will be well-prepared for a variety of criminal justice careers such as:

  • Detective
  • Homeland Security Officer
  • Private Security Director
  • Senior Corrections Officer
  • Fraud Investigator
As a graduate of this online program, you will be well-prepared for a variety of criminal justice careers such as:+
  • Detective
  • Homeland Security Officer
  • Private Security Director
  • Senior Corrections Officer
  • Fraud Investigator
+

Also available:

Texas A&M International University offers multiple online criminal justice programs. Explore our criminal justice programs.

Total Tuition $13,212*
Duration As few as 12 months
Credit Hours 36
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 844-872-8712

Call 844-872-8712

Tuition

Learn more about our affordable tuition

Tuition for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice online program is affordable, and can be paid by the course. All fees are included.

View additional tuition information+

In-State Tuition:

The following tuition applies only to Texas residents.

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program*
M.S. in Criminal Justice $367 $ $13,212

Out-of-State Tuition:

Program Per Credit Hour Per Program*
M.S. in Criminal Justice $1,030 $37,080

*Tuition subject to change.

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $13,212*
Per Credit Hour $367

Calendar

Important dates for our students

The master’s degree in criminal justice program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring six start dates each year. Choose the start date that is best for you.

Graduate Programs Degree Plan

View full calendar  + 

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring II3/24/253/10/253/17/253/21/255/9/25
Summer I5/19/255/5/255/12/255/16/257/5/25
Summer II7/7/256/23/256/30/257/7/258/22/25
Fall I8/25/258/11/258/18/258/22/2510/10/25
Fall II10/20/2510/3/2510/15/2510/17/2512/9/25
Spring I1/20/261/2/261/15/261/16/263/7/26

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 6/23/25
Class Starts 7/7/25

Ready to take the next steps toward earning your next degree?

Apply Now

Admissions

What you need to know before applying

You must meet the following requirements for automatic admission into the online criminal justice graduate program.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • Professional resume
View all admission requirements +

Automatic admission will be granted to students with a bachelor's degree (in any major or field) with an overall GPA of 2.8 or above, or an overall GPA of 2.5 with three of more years of work experience in Criminal Justice or related fields.

Applicants with an overall GPA below 2.8 with no work experience in Criminal Justice or related fields will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by program faculty.

Applicants with an overall GPA below 2.5 will also be required to submit a 200-word personal statement describing their academic and professional background characteristics that will assist them in successfully completing the online degree program, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by program faculty.

The admissions committee may request a personal interview.

International Transcript Evaluation:
TAMIU does their own foreign credential evaluations. Graduate School does not require third party evaluations nor are obligated to accept the results, or GPA calculations, if an evaluation is submitted. If an applicant submits an official evaluation, the evaluation does not replace official transcripts or certificates of graduation.

Official transcripts from all institutions attended can be sent to:

Texas A&M International University
Graduate School
Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, Suite 223
5201 University Boulevard
Laredo, TX 78041
OR
Electronically to GraduateSchool@tamiu.edu

Former TAMIU students DO NOT have to request TAMIU transcripts.

For documents other than transcripts, please upload to your application portal located here. If transcripts are uploaded to the portal, you will be asked to resend all official transcripts by mail or email and will delay the application process.

Have a question? Call us at 844-872-8712

Courses

Read about our online Master of Science in Criminal Justice courses

Curriculum for the online master’s criminal justice degree is comprised of 12 courses (36 credit hours), including 18 credit hours of core courses and 18 credit hours of Criminology electives.

Expand All
You must take the following courses.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students in this course will survey various topics within criminal justice. Special attention will be given to theories of crime, research methodology, policy, and legal issues.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to build student's critical abilities in analyzing criminal justice policies. This course also examines organizational theories, management and personnel issues including ethics in criminal justice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of current societal trends and their impact on legal systems including criminal justice agencies, criminal courts, juvenile courts, mental health courts, and civil courts. The role of the U.S. Constitution and the role and response of both state and federal court systems with respect to these societal trends will be explored.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A description of a variety of research techniques, including theories and frames of reference, the logic of conceptual schemes, and hypothesis development and testing. A variety of sampling plans are contrasted and evaluated, and sampling issues are examined. Critical measurement issues are highlighted, including validity and reliability, how these terms are conceptualized and applied in scaling. Alternative data gathering methods and issues are featured. Several bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques are presented, including relevant computer applications such as SPSS.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Critical examination of biological, psychological, sociological, and economic theories of crime. The "traditional theories" of crime are covered; theories upon which the field was originally founded. Also analyzed are the new "integrated" theories along with relevant research data. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course includes a practical approach to a significant issue facing the the criminal justice system in the United States. Students will complete an in-depth analysis of a topic area relevant to the study of Criminal Justice, that is to be undertaken at the end of their coursework in the program. This course will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Fixed Last Course.

Six courses (18 hours) are required from the 5000 course level, all courses will not be available each start.  You must work with your advisor to plan accordingly.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course involves applications of public administration principles and organizational theory to the unique problems of criminal justice bureaucracies. Various management approaches and proposed strategies of planned change and innovation are described and assessed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A comparative study of criminal justice systems in the United States and selected foreign countries. The comparisons will include countries from some or all of the following areas: Latin America, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, and the Middle East.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The rise of extremism in various forms over the past decades has made terrorism a complex and persistent threat to global security. This course addresses the multifaceted nature of terrorism, including domestic, international, cyber, and transnational threats, and the challenges they pose to the USA and other nations. The emergence and evolution of numerous terrorist groups across different continents are explored, examining how these groups adapt over time. While some seek legitimacy and political influence, others pursue more destructive objectives. This course places special emphasis on the rise of domestic terrorism, the growing influence of cyber-terrorism, and the continuing threat posed by international groups such as the Islamic State.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Homeland security is a comprehensive framework designed to safeguard the United States from a variety of threats, such as terrorism, cyberattacks, transnational organized crime, and illegal immigration. This course comprehensively reviews these threats, concentrating on the methods and policies employed by multiple agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Special attention is given to these agencies’ collaboration with state, local, and international partners. This course critically evaluates the efficacy of existing measures, with an eye on the consequences for civil rights, policy development, and international relations. This course elaborates on the complexities involved in protecting the nation by studying key areas such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, border security, and emergency management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines all dimensions of corrections, including institutional and community correctional organizations. Prisons and jails are featured, together with a variety of institutional and community programs operating to meet the diverse needs of inmates who eventually seek reentry into society. In addition, the types of rehabilitative and reintegrative programming for all types of correctional clients, including probationers, parolees, and divertees are discussed. The functions and operations of all types of correctional organizations are examined, including their historical development and evolution. Also, several important contemporary correctional issues are presented and examined. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the historical roots of contemporary policing, including police professionalism, recruitment and training, certification, and police organizations and operations. Focuses upon selected police issues, including misconduct and corruption, codes of conduct, community policing, patrol variations and styles, internal affairs, the police personality, and theories of police behavior. Several important law enforcement issues are examined. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Explores the fundamental concept of fairness throughout the criminal justice system. It examines situations, dilemmas, and problems encountered by persons in all criminal justice agencies and organizations as they go about their day-to-day activities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will explore the forces that set deinstitutionalization into motion and the outcome of this process as well as the way in which law enforcement, courts and corrections deal with offenders with mental illness. This course will also explore legal issues that are pertinent to this group and provide a realistic depiction of the concept and practice of criminal justice in 21st century America. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Digital forensics are the techniques used to identify, acquire, analyze and report on computer data, and these techniques are vital to the investigation of cybercrimes. This course will introduce important theoretical concepts pertinent to the practice of digital forensics, as well as information about the capacities and limitations of contemporary digital forensics. Information about how computer data is stored as well as common techniques for retrieving it will be covered as well, along with introductions to some of the most widely used tools in digital forensics.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces students to computer programming, focusing on its applications in criminal justice. Students will gain a practical understanding and utility of fundamental concepts, including variables, data types, operators, control flow statements, and arrays.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course builds upon the foundational programming skills acquired in CRIJ 5351. It focuses on more advanced programming techniques, including functions, object-oriented programming concepts, and file input and output.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will analyze various forms of cybercrime and discern how various theories of crime relate to the various modalities of cybercrime and victimization.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines organized criminal groups, such as the so-called "mafia," in the twentieth century. Applies historical, economic, political, and legal perspectives. Emphasizes labor rackets, gambling syndicates, and extortion methods. Covers in detail special government commissions and major legislative reforms.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
White-collar crime provides an overview of the conceptual origins of this unique crime-type. From its introduction as a term given in a speech to the American Sociological Association in 1940 as trust violations to the expanded emphases on corporate, financial, and even political crime, this class examines the evolution and utility of the term white-collar crime. Additionally, this course examines the etiology of white-collar crime and the breadth of research in this specialized area of criminology.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An in-depth analysis of the constitutional and legal foundations of public administration, as well as court decision rules, precedents, and practices as they relate to public organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the principles and practices of personnel administration in public bureaucracies. It includes the development of human resources management as a branch of knowledge and as a partner in the management of public organizations. Some of the key functions noted are personnel motivation, personnel recruitment and retention, bureaucratic subculture, organizational change, and political climate.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the public policy process in the United States, including agenda setting, policy formulation, implementation, evaluation, and termination. While the focus is on policy making at the national level, similar dynamics occur at the sub-national level. This course examines policy-making environment in the United States from a political, social, economic, and cultural context and covers selected substantive policy areas.

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