Criminal Justice, MA
Advocacy, Corrections, Criminology, Emergency Management, Justice, Juvenile Justice, Management, Parole Officer, Police, Policing, Social Justice, Violence, crime, law, sociology
Ranked No. 9 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, 2025, this online program will help you understand crime and its impact on society. Enhance your understanding of the legal system by gaining experience in data-driven decision-making, enabling you to successfully apply it to challenges in the field.
The Master of Arts program in criminal justice is designed to provide criminal justice agency professionals with training in research methods and statistics.
Coursework covers topics of criminology and the operation of the criminal justice system. The degree program also provides students with advanced training in program planning and management, policy analysis and program evaluation.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut
- Location: Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
33 credit hours including the required capstone course (CRJ 505)
Required Core (12 credit hours)
CRJ 501 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
CRJ 502 Seminar in Criminology (3)
CRJ 510 Criminal Justice Planning and Program Evaluation (3)
CRJ 511 Applied Data Analysis in Criminal Justice (3)
Electives (18 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
CRJ 505 Theory and Practice in Criminal Justice (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
Students can develop specializations in areas such as policing, corrections and management by combining required and elective coursework.
Students should see the academic unit for an approved elective course list. Electives must be at the 500 level.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in criminology or criminal justice or another closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- two letters of recommendation
- a written statement
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The written statement should be at least one page and describe the applicant's educational and career goals and long-term professional development strategy.
Students should see the academic unit website for application deadlines.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Demonstrate the essential qualifications for employment in criminal justice agencies and related fields by applying their foundational knowledge of criminology theory and criminal justice policy to a final written project.
- Critically appraise theoretical perspectives on causes of crime, policy responses to crime problems, and the operation of the criminal justice system.
- Use appropriate methodological and statistical techniques to generate research products useful for addressing criminal justice problems.
The MA program in criminology and criminal justice is designed to help graduates advance their career in criminal justice.
Graduates find a strong job market in the public and private sectors. Employment opportunities include supervisory and management positions in criminal justice agencies at federal, state and local levels, such as:
- city, county and state government liaison to criminal justice agencies
- communications supervisor (911 and dispatch)
- court administrator
- evidence and crime scene supervisor (CSI activities)
- intelligence analyzer
- law enforcement professional
- police crime analysis supervisor
- pretrial release specialist
- probation, parole or community supervisor
- property management and evidence retention supervisor
- risk manager
- veterans services specialist
Opportunities also include supervisory and management positions in social service agencies, such as:
- child and family services (e.g., Head Start, child support enforcement, foster care, elder care)
- Department of Economic Security
- homeless outreach
Graduates also have the opportunity to work in supervisory and management positions in the private sector, including online security, as well as in the cybersecurity sector.
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
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UCENT 600
idpadvising@asu.edu
602-496-0485
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
