Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice provides graduates with numerous career and educational opportunities, including advancement within their current careers. The degree also positions graduates to be competitive for admission to doctoral study and law school.

Program Details

• Credit Hours: 33
• Course Length: 16 weeks
• Estimated Program Length: 24 months

Why Criminal Justice at UWF?

The courses in the UWF Master of Science in Criminal Justice program are taught by eight full-time faculty members with doctoral degrees and various areas of expertise, with the support of adjunct faculty who are prominent expert practitioners in their fields. The program enjoys strong connections with more than fifty different local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies.

What You Will Learn

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills in theory, administration, research, and data analysis necessary for careers in the practice and administration of criminal justice, research, education, policy analysis, or the pursuit of doctoral-level studies.

Courses & Requirements

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:
  • 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 Elective
• 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 into the University of West Florida's M.S. in Criminal Justice, you must have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, criminology or a related field from an accredited institution. Other criteria for admission are outlined below.

• Undergraduate institutional GPA
• Academic preparation as demonstrated by quality and relevance of undergraduate degree major
• Submission of a personal statement written by the applicant, which outlines his/her future career goals in criminal justice and how the degree will help them to achieve the goals.
• Submission of one letter of recommendation from a current/past professor of the applicant OR two letters of recommendation from supervisors or professional colleagues familiar with the applicant's ability to succeed in a graduate program
• Submission of a resume or a CV

Application Deadlines

Criminal Justice M.S. Semester Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester: August 1
• Spring Semester: December 1
• Summer Semester: No admission

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. With a focus on policy analysis, crime prevention, and ethical decision-making, this advanced degree provides the tools needed for positions in law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and social services.

Job Titles

• First-line Supervisors/Managers of Police and Detectives
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators
• Compliance Officers
• Security Managers
• Federal Agent

Career Outlook

• The median salary for Criminal Justice occupations is $74,547
• Job openings in the field are expected to grow 10% from 2024 to 2034
• 550,219 new job openings are expected annually

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

Criminal Justice M.S. Tuition Component | Cost | Total

• In-state Tuition | $377.60 per credit hour | $12,460.80
• Out-of-state Tuition | $1,037.24 per credit hour | $34,228.92

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

• Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition: Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate.
• Military & Veterans: The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students.
• UWF Financial Assistance: The University of West Florida offers various financial aid options for our students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students.

Featured Courses

A sample of featured courses you will take in the Criminal Justice M.S. program.

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

Related Programs

• Social Work, MSW
• Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, B.A. - Children and Society
• Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, B.A. Online - Community Education
• College Student Affairs Administration, M.Ed.