Masters degrees in Criminal Justice Management equip you with the necessary skills to effectively manage and organise criminal justice institutions and services. Areas of focus include scrutiny of personnel, administrative processes, and the punishment and rehabilitation of offenders.
Taught MA and MSc degrees are typical for this field. Entry requirements normally include an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as Law or Criminology.
Today’s criminals are more sophisticated than those of the past, engaging the latest technologies to commit—and get away with—illegal acts.
Modern criminal justice professionals must be equally as savvy to stay at the forefront of the ever-changing landscape of domestic and international crime. In Walden’s online Master of Science (MS) in Criminal Justice program, you will study a unique blend of criminal behavior theory along with technology, homeland security, and management skills applicable to the challenges facing the law enforcement community. You will evaluate the root causes of crime and their impact on criminal justice practices and procedures and analyze how law enforcement, courts, and corrections function and interact at the local, state, and federal levels.
If you are a criminal justice professional interested in gaining the skills necessary to assume a more senior role or to transition into a second career as an educator or consultant, then an alternative master’s degree in criminal justice may be right for you. Consider Walden’s MS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management program.
The online Master’s in Criminal Justice program helps prepare its graduates to:
Find detailed information for the general specialization of this program, or all other specializations of this program, including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt.
Walden’s MS in Criminal Justice program offers a General Program as well as a variety of specializations to help you meet your personal and professional goals.
Graduates of the program will be well-prepared for a number of occupations across an array of areas, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and probation. Possible job titles include:
Learn more about the career outlook for graduates with a MS in Criminal Justice.
Career positions may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Walden’s online Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management will help law enforcement professionals prepare for executive management roles in criminal justice or transition into a career in education or as a consultant. In this program, you will study management philosophies as well as the budgeting and communication skills that criminal justice professionals require in order to create and influence policy makers.
If you are a criminal justice professional interested in studying a unique blend of criminal behavioral theory, along with human services, technology, homeland security, and management skills, then consider Walden’s MS in Criminal Justiceprogram.
Graduates of the MS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management program will be able to:
Find detailed information for the general specialization of this program, or all other specializations of this program, including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt.
Graduates of the program will be well-prepared for a number of occupations across an array of areas, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and probation. Possible job titles include:
Career positions may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
The LLM/MSc in Criminal Justice & Penal Change examines the range of legal, political and social responses across the world to what is widely known as 'the penal crisis'.
Blending a rigorous understanding of fundamental theory with evidence about real world problems you’ll analyse recent innovations in theory, policy and practice.
Drawing on a range of disciplinary approaches, the course will enable you to develop a rational and just response to crime.
The LLM/MSc in Criminal Justice & Penal Change is unique in both its approach and its flexibility.
You can choose to graduate with either an LLM or MSc or complete the course early with a PGDip/Cert.
You'll have the option of studying full or part-time and attending classes in the early evening.
You’ll benefit from the work of the CLCJ, which brings together expertise in the study of law, crime, criminal justice as well as interdisciplinary areas between law, sociology, social work, psychology and computer and information science.
As well as providing distinctive postgraduate courses and research opportunities, it conducts internationally leading research and helps to shape public policy, discourse and practice.
You'll be taught by some of the world’s foremost experts not only in academic research but also from the fields of policy and practice.
The course is run by Strathclyde Law School’s Centre for Law, Crime and Justice. It brings together world leading research expertise with some of the most accomplished practitioners and policy officials.
As well as seminars, you’ll be asked to take part in role play exercises, presentations and other forms of learning.
We've an active programme of public lectures from eminent visiting speakers on contemporary topics. There'll be a programme of visits to local justice agencies designed to stimulate your academic learning.
Students on the Strathclyde Masters (LLM or MSc) in Criminal Justice and Penal Change come from a range of backgrounds.
Some are recent graduates in law, humanities and the social sciences from around the world. Many are current practitioners, policy-makers in different fields of criminal justice. They find the course of invaluable assistance in gaining a step up the career ladder.
Where are they now?
Occupations which criminal justice students may (and do) take up include:
The M.S. in Criminal Justice trains individuals through an interdisciplinary focus in an online environment. The program prepares students through the core curriculum and allows for specialty training through various concentrations.
This facilitates choice for students and fosters the development of specialized expertise. Students will complete the thirty hour program that includes core courses, specialty concentrations, and electives.
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This program is designed for individuals looking for careers in or as:
To see a complete list of possible career options, click here.
The master's program is offered entirely online. The online format allows for students to participate in courses from anywhere in the world where internet access is available. In addition, it allows for the flexibility of completing your master's degree without interrupting your career. For information on the online/residential bachelor's program, click here. For information on the online doctoral program, click here.
Master's students are provided NSU computer accounts including email and Blackboard, but must obtain their own Internet service providers, use their own computer systems and have a usable web camera. Online students use the web to access course materials, announcements, email, distance library services, subscription library databases, and other information, and for interaction with faculty and fellow students. Online, interactive learning methods are based on the use of Blackboard as a course management system. Online activities facilitate frequent student-to-faculty and student-to-student interaction. They are supported by threaded discussion boards, white boards, chat rooms, email, and multimedia presentations. In addition, Blackboard enables students to submit assignments online in multimedia formats and to receive their professors' reviews of assignments online in the same formats.
The Master's program is comprised of 30 credits. The core curriculum is comprised of five courses (15 credits) and one elective course (3 credits). The specialty concentrations are comprised of four courses (12 credits).
Core Courses (15 Credits)
Specialty Concentrations (12 Credits)
Students must choose one concentration below and complete 12 credits within the concentration. (The concentrations remain the same)
Electives (3 Credits)
Students must choose one or a combination of electives below to obtain a total of 3 credit hours.
Criminologists investigate the causes, consequences and reactions to crime – and this course gives you hands-on experience in real-world situations, designing, analysing and evaluating criminal justice and crime control strategies.
With an interesting and varied curriculum, this programme has a very strong emphasis on applied knowledge and job market skills. You’ll learn by doing; bridging the gap between the classroom and the police station, the lecture theatre and the community centre, and between research and policy. This course is intended to create sophisticated criminological practitioners, able to navigate the realities of criminal justice and crime control, with superior experience, skills and knowledge of how to think, act and reflect criminologically.
This MA has a strong emphasis on communication, research, problem-solving, teamwork, and policy analysis. These skills will be developed through classroom discussion and debate through practical engagement with external criminal justice and community safety organisations. You’ll be taught by a team of expert criminologists from a variety of specialist backgrounds, including: law, sociology, psychology, history, and politics.
Classes will be interactive, discursive, and task-based. There will be few traditional ‘lectures’, but plenty of workshops where you’ll be involved in planning, preparing and leading. With support from staff, you’ll have the freedom to shape the course of your learning and focus on your personal interests and career ambitions.
The course is flexible, teaching is blended between fortnightly 2-hour workshops interspersed with preparation and online support. Assessment is task-based and varied, and will include: written essays, oral presentations, events organisation, engagement projects, research projects and problem-solving exercises. The Crime Control and Community Safety Hub provides a separate resource room and office space for students on this degree to meet and undertake project work.
You’ll be provided with a high level of support throughout your studies, and academic support tutors work with small groups to provide support and advice.
The MA in Criminal Justice and Crime Control aims to produce postgraduates who are versatile communicators, effective problem-solvers, policy analysts, and evidence-led decision makers.
Completing this course opens up a wide range of careers in the following fields: policing, probation, offender management, prison service, community safety, crime prevention, private and corporate security, civil service, border agency, customs and excise, military policing, security services, legal professions, social housing, offender rehabilitation, youth justice, supporting people, crime analysts, victims and survivors support, local government, and retail / industrial surveillance.
The skills you’ll develop on this programme will be transferable in a number of other careers, including: information technology, management, and administration. Careers in retail and hospitality management, marketing and sales, financial services, research and product development are also successfully pursued by graduates with criminology qualifications.
* All modules are subject to availability.
The General Law programme at Aberdeen is one of the best programmes in terms of scope and areas of interest you can choose to study at advanced level. If your first degree was in a specific area of law there is nothing preventing you from choosing another area of law completely or a complementary area. You could study environmental law areas such as oil and gas law, energy and environmental law, low carbon energy transition with further environmental regulation. If you are more interested in criminal law you could look at Criminology, the politics of human rights, humanitarian law. If you are more interested in business you might choose international law, intellectual property law, world trade organisation or for business with a creative aspect you might think about specialist in cultural property issues or law for business and arts and museums law. There are many possible mixes of these general areas of law you might want to explore. Employment possibilities are huge from this range of areas of law and include all notable areas to practise law and careers within the legal profession to welfare sectors such as employment, business, HR and finance.
Law careers
You may become a Barrister if you wish to represent people at High Court and Magistrates court to put legal argument forward for decision. You could start off as a legal executive to later qualify as a solicitor with further training or after a number of years experience you may wish to become a judge. If you want some work experience you could become a court usher. Other careers include a Paralegal. This role undertakes much of a lawyers role in drafting documents, meetings and contracts. If you decide your law degree is useful for other areas you may look at Civil Service careers, become a politician, work in the police, city, or teach.
This programme is ideal if you want to be a generalist to an advanced level rather than a specialist in a specific area of law. You develop your analysis and research skills and you have the option of wide ranging courses to choose from which stretches your intellectual thinking capabilities in a top 10 School of Law (Complete University Guide 2018)
Courses listed for the programme
Semester 1
Compulsory
Optional (4 courses 2 in Semester 1 and 2)
Semester 2
Optional
Semester 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
You may be interested in:
This course is specifically designed for those needing strategic level skills and knowledge to effectively develop and implement plans in the security sector. Enabling participants to analyse, evaluate and communicate emerging security challenges within state, regional, national and international frameworks.
This course is suitable for those with a keen academic and practical interest in responding to the challenges associated with security sector reform. You might be an official in a government department or a member of the security forces, or an aspirant for leadership in an international organisation, an international NGO or in civil society. The course is also relevant to those who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills based on a related first degree, or those seeking to pursue a career in the fields of human security or national security.
By the end of their course of study, graduates will be able to:
NOTE: Cranfield University believes that our academic provision should remain current and relevant and to achieve this we periodically review and update our courses. The MSc Security Sector Management course is currently undergoing such a review and this may mean some changes are made before the next academic year. Applicants will be kept informed of these exciting new developments before an offer of admission to the course is made.
This course is offered as an executive part-time blended learning programme combining residential sessions, each consisting of two modules, at either end of the taught phase of the course with distance learning for the remaining 8 modules. The awards of MSc, PgDip and PgCert all apply to the blended learning option.
Postgraduate certificate: Requires the completion of Module 1 and 2, plus 4 other modules. Postgraduate diploma: Requires the completion of all modules. Masters of Science: Requires the completion of all modules as well as a 20,000-word research dissertation.
Individual project
The dissertation phase of the course for MSc students gives them the opportunity to research and write up to 20,000 words on a security topic of their choice. It could well be related to their regular work and will take approximately 6 months to complete. It will allow the student to explore their chosen interest by thought, wide reading, research, debate and discussion, supported by an academic supervisor with knowledge of the general topic, in order to produce a document of academic and practical value.
Assessment
Comprehensive online learning resources with opportunities for collaborative group work at residential schools, together with assignments and an individual project dissertation.
This degree is for independent, critical thinkers who want to work, or are working, within criminal justice or want to undertake further research. Many of our students have undergraduate criminology degrees, and come from universities across the world. Often they want to continue their learning or specialise within a specific subject area. Students also come from other science, humanities and legal backgrounds and from within the criminal justice system. Research methods form a key component of the programme so having an interest in data collection and analysis is valuable.
At City we believe crime is multi-dimensional, which is why this MSc course brings the victim into focus, not just the offender. The criminal mind is complex and our understanding of it matters – not just to the individual, but also to their family, the community and wider society at large.
We live in a criminogenic global society; one that is producing new forms of crime, and new criminal opportunities. City’s Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc course unpicks the power of the criminological imagination within this society.
This is not a Masters that focuses purely on criminal justice or crime control – instead we emphasise cutting-edge theoretical analysis and methodological training, so you can research the contemporary significance of crime and see how it can be a powerful marker of social and institutional change.
Originally part of City’s MA in Human Rights, this degree offers a distinctive perspective on the relationship between criminology and human rights violations. It is global in outlook because, by its nature, crime is transnational and is taught by eminent criminologists who author the books that appear on reading lists across the country.
Here are some of the questions the course poses:
We will teach you through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops and seminars, in the first and second term (September-April). This is supplemented by insight from external visiting criminologists, criminal justice charities, research agencies and, in some cases, retired criminals. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions, debate your ideas and present your own evidence around particular arguments.
During the dissertation phase of the degree you also have the chance to visit the Central Criminal Court (otherwise known as the Old Bailey) and in some cases undertake a prison visit. One student is currently in New York, researching the New York Police Department, as part of her dissertation on the stresses of being a police officer in 2016.
The majority of postgraduate sociology modules are assessed by coursework. However, if you choose to study some modules outside of the department you may have different assessment methods so please check this carefully. You will need to gain a minimum pass mark of 50% in all assessment components.
Dissertation
The dissertation marks the point in the course where you begin to take hold of your research and let your criminological imagination come into play. The dissertation (of 15,000 words) accounts for one third of the total marks for the Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc degree. By the end of the first term you will have to start considering your dissertation topic. You may already know you area of focus, but we offer guidance and support through dissertation workshops.
You will take three 30-credit compulsory core modules and two 15-credit elective modules. Your choice of elective modules will hone your degree towards your own area of interest. In the final part of the course you take part in a dissertation workshop and produce a dissertation over the summer period.
The first module, ‘Analysing crime’ makes up the course’s theoretical base. You then research contemporary developments in criminal justice and penal policy within the second core module. At this point in the course you get to choose from a number of elective modules covering diverse topics including the dark side of media notoriety and celebrity, and the criminal mind. All these modules draw on the School’s research strengths making them unique to City.
Core modules
Elective modules
NB: Elective module choices are subject to availability and timetabling constraints.
The Criminology and Criminal Justice course is taught by internationally recognised experts and prepares you for careers across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
From research to policy development and from the security services to the criminal justice system and victim support, you will have a wealth of employment options once you graduate. Previous graduates are now working in:
This MSc, designed by a panel of academic departments, industrial partners and law enforcement and security agencies, introduces students to the fundamental knowledge, core expertise and advanced, evidence-driven methodological tools and approaches required to understand, analyse, prevent, disrupt and detect organised crime and terrorism.
Students develop an understanding of how science, engineering and a variety of professional disciplines can contribute to tackling organised crime and terrorism. By the end of the programme, they will be able to apply appropriate scientific principles and methods to security problems, think strategically to develop and implement countermeasures, and appreciate the complexity involved in the design and implementation of organised crime and terrorism threat-reduction technologies.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
Students are required to complete five core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma comprising five core modules (75 credits) and three optional modules (45 credits), and which may lead to the MSc, is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
Students choose three of the following:
NB: places for optional modules are awarded on a first-come first-served basis.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, projects and laboratory classes. Student performance is assessed through laboratory and project reports, unseen written examination, coursework, presentations, and the research project and dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism MSc
This unique linking of organised crime and terrorism, and the study of methodologies that can practically tackle both of these areas, means that this MSc holds appeal for employers across a broad range of industries.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
This programme equips students with the knowledge to develop operational strategies to counter organised crime and terrorism. This unique linking of organised crime and terrorism, and the study of methodologies that can practically tackle both of these areas, means that this MSc holds appeal for employers across a broad range of industries.
Each year we ask our graduates to tell us about their experience of the programme and their career after leaving UCL and we include some real-life graduate profiles on our website.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The UCL Jill Dando Institute, of which UCL Security & Crime Science is the core component, is the first research institution in the world devoted specifically to reducing crime through teaching, research, public policy analysis and by the dissemination of evidence-based information on crime reduction.
This MSc programme is delivered by experienced practitioners and researchers working in counter-terrorism, intelligence, law enforcement, risk assessment and security technology. It boasts a unique multidisciplinary platform, being the only postgraduate programme of its kind in the world taught in a faculty of engineering sciences, integrating the cutting-edge of the social and engineering sciences in the security domain.
Our graduate students come from varied backgrounds; many are practitioners and are encouraged to contribute their experience in and out of the classroom.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
