MA in Criminal Justice Careers & Outcomes
Criminal justice graduates work in a variety of careers including city, county, state, and federal police science and public safety, security and loss prevention, juvenile and adult probation and parole, victim-witness services, and more. Effective leaders are needed in criminal justice now more than ever.
In this program, you will receive an individualized and customized education that sharpens skills and provides new insights into the criminal justice professions. You’ll learn to become an effective change agent capable of evaluating and implementing criminal justice policy and influencing organizational leadership.
Criminal justice professionals who complete the master’s degree earn an average of $12,000 more each year, and significantly improve their job mobility and chances for promotion. The federal government service rating will be many steps higher for professionals who have finished a master’s program. The MA in criminal justice is also excellent preparation for doctoral work in criminal justice and related fields.
What can you do with a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice?
- Victim/witness advocate
- Court employees
- Policy analysts
- Local non-profit employee
- Community corrections employee
- Administrative and supervisory positions within corrections and public safety
- Instructor at a 2-year college
- Prepare to apply for PhD programs
An MA in Criminal Justice will allow you to:
- Expand your career advancement opportunities
- Advance your professional and academic skills
- Improve your ability to positively impact your community
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice will:
- Acquire an advanced knowledge of criminal justice theory and research sufficient to pursue the PhD in criminal justice or related fields (aligned with University Wide Student Learning Outcomes 1; Demonstrate intellectual preparedness for success in professional life, bolstered by integrative experiences and technological competence 2; Demonstrate effective written and oral communication 3; Apply critical thinking skills in deliberative decision-making and problem-solving and 6; Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and self-awareness to sustain the life of ongoing, independent learning).
- Know the special statuses of marginalized and vulnerable populations in the US system of criminal justice (aligned with University Wide Student Learning Outcome 5; Develop ethical relationships with people who have different backgrounds, life experiences, cultures, beliefs, and values).
- Demonstrate understanding of criminal justice agencies, how they function, and their roles in both preserving and limiting individual and civil rights (aligned with University Wide Student Learning Outcome 4; Demonstrate community and civic engagement, both locally and globally).
- Acquire and develop skills for professional criminal justice settings (aligned with University Wide Student Learning Outcomes 3 and 6) through rigorous coursework and individualized opportunities to design and implement research, analysis, and assessment.