Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of West Florida's online M.S. in Criminal Justice is designed to help students pursue advancement in the practice or administration of criminal justice, or to pursue doctoral-level studies. The program focuses on theory, administration, research, and data analysis, and is taught by prominent scholars and professionals in the field.

Program Details

• Next Start Date: May 11
• Credit Hours: 33
• Course Length: 16 weeks
• Estimated Program Length: 24 months

What You Will Learn

By completing this degree, students will be able to:

• Describe and critique the various theoretical explanations of crime, delinquency, and criminal justice
• Interpret, design, and apply scientific research using appropriate methods
• Describe and evaluate the structures and processes of criminal justice organizations
• Critically evaluate the operations and functions of criminal justice and the causes and consequences of crime
• Author logical, articulate, and structurally sound papers and oral presentations

Courses & Requirements

The program includes a total of 33 credit hours and requires completion of the following courses with a grade of C or higher.

Required Core Courses

• CCJ 6061 - Criminological Theory
• CCJ 6008 - Criminal Justice Theory
• CCJ 6704 - Research Methodology
• CCJ 6705 - Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Data
• Choose one of the following (3 credit hours)
  • CCJ 6745 - Policing and Society
  • CCJ 6006 - Criminal Justice Administration
  • CCJ 6021 - Penology
  • CJL 6521 - Courts and Society

Options

• Option 1:
  • CCJ 6946 - Criminal Justice Internship
  • Two CCJ, CJC, CJE, CJL, CJJ, or DSC Electives
  • Three Unrestricted Electives
• Option 2:
  • CCJ 6910 - Criminal Justice Area Paper
  • Two CCJ, CJC, CJE, CJL, CJJ, or DSC Electives
  • Three Unrestricted Electives

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, students must have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, criminology, or a related field from an accredited institution. Other criteria for admission include:

• Undergraduate institutional GPA
• Academic preparation as demonstrated by quality and relevance of undergraduate degree major
• Submission of a personal statement outlining future career goals in criminal justice and how the degree will help achieve these goals
• Submission of one letter of recommendation from a current or past professor, or two letters from supervisors or professional colleagues
• Submission of a resume or CV

Careers & Outcomes

A master's degree in criminal justice empowers graduates to step into impactful leadership roles within law enforcement, corrections, and the criminal justice system. Potential job titles include:

• First-line Supervisors/Managers of Police and Detectives
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators
• Compliance Officers
• Security Managers
• Federal Agent The median salary for criminal justice occupations is $74,547, with job openings expected to grow 10% from 2024 to 2034.

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

• In-state Tuition: $384.60 per credit hour
• Full Out-of-state Tuition: $1,044.24 per credit hour
• 90% Out-of-state Tuition: $478.83 per credit hour Tuition waivers are available to non-Florida residents admitted to online campus programs.

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

• Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition: a reduced out-of-state tuition rate for residents of Alabama
• Military & Veterans: various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities
• UWF Financial Assistance: loans, scholarships, and grants for degree-seeking students

Featured Courses

A sample of featured courses includes:

• CCJ 6061 - Criminological Theory
• CCJ 6008 - Criminal Justice Theory
• CCJ 6704 - Research Methodology
• CCJ 6705 - Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Data

Related Programs

• Criminal Justice, B.A.
• Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's
• Fraud Examinations Undergraduate Certificate
• Intelligence Analysis Undergraduate Online Certificate
• Master of Business Administration, MBA