Criminal Justice, M.C.J.
Advance your career in law enforcement with our online Master in Criminal Justice.
About the Online Master in Criminal Justice
Ready to take your criminal justice career to the next level? The University of Mississippi's online Master of Criminal Justice program is designed for ambitious law enforcement professionals that want to positively impact their communities.
Here's what sets our program apart:
- Designed for busy professionals. Earn your degree entirely online, at your own pace.
- Flexible and customizable. Tailor your coursework to your specific career goals.
- Learn from the best. Gain insights from nationally recognized experts in criminal justice.
- Fast-track your advancement. Complete the program in just one year.
- Unlock your full potential in law enforcement. Get started today!
Depending on your career goals, you can choose between the Criminal Justice emphasis and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management emphasis.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
Master of Criminal Justice
Emphases
Criminal Justice Leadership ;
Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Required Credit Hours
30
Program Type
Master's Program
Program Location
School
Duration
1 Year
Application Deadline
Explore Everything the Master in Criminal Justice Has to Offer
The Masters of Criminal Justice has two unique emphases that you can choose from, Criminal Justice Leadership and Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
- Both emphases are designed for professionals wanting to excel in their field.
The Criminal Justice Leadership Emphasis
The Criminal Justice Leadership emphasis at Ole Miss is specifically designed for experienced law enforcement professionals like you who are ready to climb the ranks. We recognize the valuable experience you already bring to the table.
Our program goes beyond theory, honing your existing practical knowledge and equipping you with the advanced skills you need to:
- Influence policy and top-level decisions. Gain the expertise to shape the future of your agency.
- Navigate ethical challenges. Develop the critical thinking skills to make sound decisions in complex situations.
- Become a transformative leader. Inspire and empower your team to create a positive impact on your organization and community.
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management Emphasis
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management emphasis at Ole Miss is designed for law enforcement leaders that thrive in challenging situations. When disaster strikes, well-trained and dependable leaders are absolutely necessary to help guide communities through crisis. Our programs prepares you to help your community when they need it most.
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management emphasis at UM is a great choice to advance your career. Here's why:
- Explosive Demand. The need for skilled emergency management and homeland security professionals is growing rapidly.
- Career-Ready Education. We studied market trends to ensure our program equips you with the in-demand skills for success.
- Next-Gen Leaders. Become part of a new generation of criminal justice professionals prepared to protect and serve.
The Criminal Justice Leadership emphasis starts with a core curriculum of four essential courses. These courses aren't just theory—they're designed to immediately boost your practical knowledge in areas crucial for criminal justice leadership, management, and making critical decisions.
- Then, you'll choose at least three electives to dive deeper into your chosen emphasis. This focused track equips you with the targeted expertise you need to excel in supervisory and leadership roles.
The program culminates in a two-course capstone project (6 credits). This project allows you to apply your knowledge to a real-world challenge in your chosen field, showcasing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Criminal Justice Leadership Emphasis Capstone Project
Before graduating, you'll put your knowledge to the test by tackling a real-world issue in criminal justice leadership through a capstone project.
This project will allow you to:
- Conduct in-depth research on a topic of your choice.
- Analyze and interpret data to develop actionable insights.
- Showcase your findings in a comprehensive and authoritative paper.
This culminating experience will not only prove your mastery of the subject matter but also position you as a thought leader with a unique perspective to contribute to the field.
- Your capstone project is your chance to make a lasting impression. To ensure its quality and rigor, you must complete this course with a grade of B- or above. This high standard ensures that our graduates are well-prepared to make a significant impact in their chosen careers.
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management emphasis starts with a core curriculum of four essential courses, designed to equip you for success in both emergency management and homeland security.
- Once you've mastered the fundamentals, you'll choose four electives that align with your career goals in either emergency management or homeland security. This flexibility allows you to specialize in the area that most interests you.
The program culminates in a two-course capstone project (6 credits). This project allows you to apply your knowledge to a real-world challenge in your chosen field, showcasing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Emphasis Capstone Project
Before graduating, you'll put your knowledge to the test by tackling a real-world issue in Homeland Security and Emergency Management through a capstone project.
This project will allow you to:
- Conduct in-depth research on a topic of your choice.
- Analyze and interpret data to develop actionable insights.
- Showcase your findings in a comprehensive and authoritative paper.
This culminating experience will not only prove your mastery of the subject matter but also position you as a thought leader with a unique perspective to contribute to the field.
- Your capstone project is your chance to make a lasting impression. To ensure its quality and rigor, you must complete this course with a grade of B- or above. This high standard ensures that our graduates are well-prepared to make a significant impact in their chosen careers.
Find Courses in the Master in Criminal Justice
What does Criminal Justice look like in the job market?
Average base salary for Intelligence Analysts and Crime Reduction Managers in 2023.
Average base salary for Senior Fraud Investigator in 2023.
Average base salary for Forensic Analysts in 2023.
Average base salary of Cyber Crime Investigators in 2023.
What kind of jobs can you get with a master's degree in Criminal Justice?
- Deputy Chief
- Border Patrol Agent
- Disaster Services Supervisor
- Supervisory Criminal Investigator
- Disaster Response Manager
- Marine Interdiction Agent
- Emergency Operations Manager
- Director of Public Safety
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Meet the Graduate Program Coordinator
Meet the graduate program coordinator for the online Master of Criminal Justice—your guide to advancing in law enforcement. With flexible, expert-led courses tailored to your goals, this program helps busy professionals like you make a greater impact in your community and unlock new leadership opportunities in just one year.
If you have any questions about the Master in Criminal Justice, don't hesitate to get in touch!
Kimberly A Kaiser
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and Graduate Program Director
Accelerate Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice
Undergraduate students at UM that are interested in graduate study in Criminal Justice can get a head start through the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program.
Undergraduate students that would like to qualify for the Accelerated Master's Degree Program must meet the following requirements:
- Criminal Justice major
- Completed CJ 322: Criminal Justice Communications or WRIT 250: Advanced Composition (or equivalent writing intensive course) and achieved a “B” or above before applying
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- 90 completed credit hours as an undergraduate
Number of credit hours a student can earn towards the graduate degree while completing their undergraduate studies:
- 12 credit hours
Courses undergraduate students in the Accelerated Master's Degree Program can take to earn credit towards the graduate degree:
- CJ 600 Criminal Justice Administration
- CJ 601 Criminal Justice Statistics
- CJ 602 Criminal Justice Research Methods
- CJ 624 Theories of Criminal Behavior
- CJ 620 Criminal Justice in American Society: Policy & Practice
- CJ 621 Seminar in Law Enforcement
- CJ 622 Seminar in Courts and Sentencing
- CJ 623 Seminar in Corrections
- CJ 641 Transnational Crime
Remember: Students who fail to reserve 500-level courses for graduate credit at the time they take the course will not receive graduate credit for the course (graduate level work must be completed to earn graduate credit).
- Reserving graduate credit with 500-level courses is required to ensure the Graduate School and instructor know the student must complete graduate credit requirements for the course.
- Students cannot later claim graduate credit for 500-level courses if they did not take the appropriate steps to notify the Graduate School prior to taking the course.
Students must be accepted into the Accelerated Master's Degree Program and complete the requisite Accelerated Master's Degree Program Course Enrollment Form for this degree. The form must be received by the Graduate School.
- Students must download and complete the participating program’s specific enrollment form each term. The form must be completed prior to the start of the term.
- The form requires approval from the Undergraduate Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator.
- By signing the form to approve the enrollment for the semester, the Graduate Program Coordinator is agreeing that the student has been admitted to their Accelerated Master's Degree Program opportunity.
After the Graduate School receives the first approved program-specific enrollment form, the student will be identified as enrolled in the Accelerated Master's Degree Program for that degree.
- Each subsequent term for which the student wishes to earn credit towards the graduate degree while still completing their undergraduate studies, they must submit a registration form prior to the start of the semester.
- Failure to submit the required form on time will mean that the student does not earn graduate credit.
The Accelerated Master's Degree Program Course Enrollment Form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the Graduate Program Coordinator. Until the Graduate School receives the required form, the student is not officially registered for graduate coursework for that term.
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