Course Spotlight

Leaders in the criminal justice field rely on a broad foundation of expertise that covers all the moving parts of criminal justice. This master’s degree in criminal justice online offers the well-rounded education students need to effectively  oversee a number of areas within criminal justice—from the courts to corrections. Some of the course topics that help students prepare for careers in criminal justice administration include:  

• Financial Policy  
• Ethics in Accounting  
• Auditing Theory & Practices  
• Management Practices 

Essential Skills & Insights

Coursework in this online master’s degree in criminal justice program covers the following: 

• Ethical Leadership – develop a high level of ethical awareness within a people-centered leadership approach. 
• Critical Thinking – learn to analyze entire systems of thought down to specific scenarios within your oversight to effectively solve problems and create the right solutions. 
• Public Policy and Criminal Justice – gain an advanced understanding of policymaking through the lens of criminal justice principles and practices.  
• Constitutional Law – harness the major insights of constitutional law as they relate to criminal justice, and learn to apply these insights to particular scenarios within the criminal justice system.

Career Outlook

An online master’s degree in criminal justice can help alumni take on specialized or leadership paths in this vast job field after graduation, with the qualifications to serve a wide variety of industries. Many of these career paths for criminal justice administration can be lucrative, with police detectives earning a median annual salary of $74,910, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those who aspire to serve criminal justice behind the scenes can pursue information security analyst roles, which can earn a median annual salary of $120,360.    

Admissions Requirements

For admission to your program, you will need to complete your online application and submit the following documents:

• Online Application
• Résumé
• Letter of intent/personal statement, including a personal statement regarding your interest in the program and career goals
• Official undergraduate transcript(s) as well as official transcript(s) from any graduate school(s) attended
• Transcripts demonstrating completion of undergraduate degree in related field with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in all major coursework.
• The official results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) may be required if GPA is below 3.0.  
• Contact information for three academic and/or professional references.  
• 1,000-word statement of purpose describing applicant’s goals.  
• Specific deliverables depending on area of study, such as a writing sample and/or portfolio of work. 

Tuition Details

The cost per credit hour for this program is $551. Besides being ranked ranked No. 17 on Niche.com’s list of Best Value Colleges in Missouri, we build in unique benefits such as our 20 percent discount per credit hour for returning alumni pursuing their master’s degree. 

Transfer Credits

Lindenwood offers a generous transfer policy of up to nine credits toward your criminal justice online master’s degree completion to further offset tuition costs. This means you can complete your degree in as few as 24 credit hours at Lindenwood—saving you time and money on your education!  

Plus, you can personalize your transfer experience through Lindenwood’s Transfer Guides. These guides are part of our articulation partnerships with area community college to help you get the most value from your transfer credit.  

Related Programs

Interested in discovering related programs? Explore the following programs to find the best fit for your future: 

• Bachelor’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice, BA
  

If you aren’t sure which program is right for you, filling out the form on this page and speaking to a Lindenwood representative is the best way to determine your path forward!