Program Overview

Overview of the University Program

The university offers various online programs, including a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. This program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the criminal justice system, with a focus on criminal justice administration.

Program Details

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is a 30-credit hour program that can be completed in as little as one year. The program includes 10 core courses that provide comprehensive coverage of the criminal justice field, with a specialized focus on criminal justice administration.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes the following courses:

• CJUS 611: Law & Justice in America
• CJUS 620: Sociology of Crime & Delinquency
• CJUS 623: Perspectives in Law Enforcement Management
• CJUS 633: Forensics & White Collar Crime
• CJUS 642: Criminal Justice Administration
• CJUS 643: Correctional Counseling
• CJUS 644: Government & Non-Profit Accounting
• CJUS 647: Human Resources for Criminal Justice Administrators
• CJUS 683: Research & Planning in CJUS
• CJUS 784: Research Essay

Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration

The university also offers a 9-credit online certificate in Criminal Justice Administration, consisting of three administration-focused courses. This flexible program is completed entirely online and may serve as a stepping stone toward the Master’s degree, with credits eligible for transfer.

Admission Requirements

To apply for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program, students must submit:

• A free online application
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• 2 letters of recommendation from professional references
• GPA requirements:
  • 3.0 out of 4.0 in the last two years of undergraduate matriculation
  • 2.7 cumulative GPA in undergraduate matriculation
  • 2.5 cumulative in the last 2 years of undergraduate matriculation with 5 years of work experience in a criminal justice or related field
• Test scores (if needed):
  • GRE (Graduate Record Exam): minimum score of 143 on the verbal section and 3.0 on the analytical section
  • MAT (Miller Analogies Test): minimum scoring requirement of 390
  • LSAT (Law School Admission Test): minimum scoring requirement of 138

Tuition and Fees

The tuition for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is $722 per credit hour, with a total estimated tuition of $21,660.

Faculty

The program is taught by world-class faculty with expertise in criminal justice, including:

• Gail Hurst Smith, Professor, Criminal Justice
• Cheryl Lero Jonson, Chair and Associate Professor, Criminal Justice
• Ronald Springman, Senior Teaching Professor, Criminal Justice
• Travis Brown, Deputy Sheriff
• J. Wayne McFarland, Teaching Professor, Criminal Justice
• Andrew Berghausen, Criminal Justice Professional

Career Opportunities

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program prepares students for a wide range of job opportunities in the criminal justice field, including:

• Law Enforcement
• Criminology
• Legal
• Homeland Security
• Cybersecurity

Law Enforcement

• Law Enforcement Officer
• Prison Warden
• Security Managers

Criminology

• Criminologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Forensic Investigator
• Police Analyst

Legal

• Attorney General Investigators or District Attorneys
• Victim Advocate
• Correctional Caseworker

Homeland Security

• Cyber Defense Operator
• Intelligence Analyst
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Special Agent at the FBI
• Special Agent at the DEA
• Cybersecurity Investigator

FAQs

• Will my degree say “online?”: No, the Criminal Justice degree from Xavier University is awarded on meeting coursework.
• Do online courses charge a different rate?: No, online criminal justice courses charge the same rate as all other courses.
• Are online programs easier or harder than campus programs?: Some students believe that online programs will be easier than face-to-face courses. However, that is not true for every student in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program.
• How will I interact with my faculty instructor and other students in the online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program?: Students may find that they can get to know their professor/instructor and other students better in an online course than in a traditional face-to-face course.
• Do I need to order books?: Students will need to review the syllabus for each of their criminal justice courses to determine how to obtain materials.
• Is there any way I can get a preview or a feel for Xavier’s online programs?: If you are new to online learning at Xavier University, we encourage you to go through the student orientation for online courses.
• Where can I go for technical help as an online student?: The Technology Services website offers great resources to support online students.
• How do I access library resources as an online student?: We encourage you to take advantage of the library’s online resources.
• How do I apply to an online program?: Complete a free online application.