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Criminal Justice, M.S.

Advance justice through immersive research with a focus on the application of high-level empirical knowledge on impactful policy and practice in the criminal justice system.

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About the Master of Science in Criminal Justice

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (M.S.C.J.) with an emphasis in Criminal Justice Policy & Practice promotes evidence-based policy and practice and prepares future leaders in the fields of criminal justice by conducting relevant, innovative research and offering cutting-edge courses.

Our in-person criminal justice degree program is designed as a 30-credit, two-year program to provide students with essential skills in research, writing, and critical thinking. There are two admission options for the in-person M.C.J., including a 4+1 accelerated option for undergraduate students who want to get a head start on their graduate degree. 

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    Program Information

    Degree

    M.S. in Criminal Justice

    Emphases

    Criminal Justice Policy and Practice

    Required Credit Hours

    30

    Program Type

    Master's Program

    Program Location

    Oxford

    School

    School of Applied Sciences

    Duration

    2 Years

    Application Deadline

    To successfully apply for fall admission, prospective students must submit their application by March 1st.

    Program Requirements and Application Requirements

    Choosing the right graduate program can be difficult enough, so getting the application right shouldn't add to your stress. We've gathered all the info you need to apply to the M.S. in Criminal Justice to make things as easy as possible.

    The M.S.C.J. Policy & Practice program option is a 30-credit degree program providing students with the foundations needed to master applied methodological and theoretical knowledge to engage in policy analysis and decision-making. 

    • All students must take 12-credits of core classes, one additional research/statistics elective, 4 elective courses, and have two options for program completion (applied graduate project or thesis). 

    All students in the Policy & Practice program option must complete the following degree requirements:

    1. Complete all four (4) core classes with grades of B- or above 
    2. Complete three (3) elective courses in Criminal Justice Policy & Practice emphasis. 
    3. Complete one (1) additional research- or statistics-based elective 
    4. Six (6) credit hours to fulfill degree culmination requirements: either thesis, applied graduate project 
    5. Students can take up to six (6) credit hours of online 8-week classes 

    Application Deadline: March 1st

    Applicants must submit the following for consideration:

    • Academic Transcripts. Evidence of an award Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university. Transcripts must also show a grade point of at least a 3.0 or equivalent grade point average on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or at least a 3.0 or equivalent grade point average on master's coursework. 
    • Three (3) letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation preferably come from professors familiar with your academic qualifications and/or skills who are able to comment on your potential to be successful in a master's program.
    • Statement of Interest. A 400-to 500-word statement of interest that describes your interest in pursuing the degree, your future career goals, and why you believe you will be successful in graduate school. 
    • Writing sample. Submit a sample of your recent written work that best showcases your skills as a writer and a critical thinker. Writing samples should be in English and be no less than 10 double-spaced pages and no more than 35 pages double-spaced pages in length. There are no specific formatting requirements. This could be a term paper from a previous course, a thesis, a lead author academic publication (i.e., peer-reviewed journal article, encyclopedia/book chapter), professional report, policy brief, or any other document that demonstrates your writing and analytic skills. 
    • Curriculum vitae or resume. 

    Please note that the Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies does NOT require the submission of GRE scores for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. 

    International students must demonstrate compliance with the University of Mississippi’s English Language Proficiency Score Requirements and Exemptions policy. 

    What courses will you take to earn a Master of Science in Criminal Justice

    Check out some of the key classes you’ll encounter as a MSCJ graduate student. Curious about what else is offered? Browse the full catalog of courses.

    See the Course Catalog

    GR

    CRJU 6000: Criminal Justice Administration

    3 credits

    Analyzes the structures, functions, and operations of criminal justice agencies. Reviews existing organizational theory and examines the application of these theories within agencies of criminal justice. Discusses criminal justice processes occurring in organizational environments that are influenced by historical, social, political, legal, and economic factors.

    GR

    CRJU 6010: Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis

    3 credits

    Reviews essential statistical analysis techniques that can be used in criminal justice and related agencies.

    GR

    CRJU 6240: Theories of Criminal Behavior

    3 credits

    Provides overview of current knowledge on causes of crime. Reviews major theories of crime causation using an interdisciplinary perspective with emphasis on integration and application of knowledge to criminal justice policy and practice.

    What does a Master of Science in Criminal Justice look like on the job market?

    65K

    Average base salary for Intelligence Analysts and Crime Reduction Managers in 2026.

    79K

    Average base salary for Senior Fraud Investigator in 2026.

    103K

    Average base salary for Forensic Analysts in 2026.

    135K

    Average base salary of Cyber Crime Investigators in 2026.

    What jobs can you get with a Master of Science in Criminal Justice?

    • Senior Corrections Officer
    • Detective
    • Criminal Investigator
    • Warden
    • FBI agent
    • DEA agent
    • US Marshal
    • Security Director

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    Kimberly Kaiser

    We're here to help!

    If you interested in learning more about the Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice, don't hesitate to reach out!

    Kimberly Kaiser

    Chair and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

    Accelerated 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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