Masters Degree in Criminal Justice

Law enforcement is a broad field that covers a wide range of subjects. Some of the typical practitioners include: police and detectives, private investigators, probation officers, managers of police and detectives, correctional officers and several others. In order to advance in law enforcement, there is a need for specialized training and a master´s degree in criminal justice provides the opportunity for career advancement for a lot of individuals. Consequently, before embarking on any masters program in an institution, there is a need to evaluate the requirements, curriculum, cost and other considerations.

Masters Degree in Criminal Justice—Facts

Criminal justice is a wide field and typically covers several areas, some of which include: criminal law and policies, criminal justice management, correctional systems organization, police organization, justice administration, police science, law enforcement, criminal justice leadership, formulation of justice system policies and several others. Admissions requirements include letters or recommendation and references from employers, academic transcripts, a previous educational background or work experience in law enforcement and criminal justice, a resume and a personal admissions interview.

Top Schools for a Criminal Justice Masters Degree

There are several institutions that offer a master´s degree in criminal justice and they cut across all states. Some of the top ranked schools include: University of Cincinnati (ranked number one by US News), CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Pennsylvania State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Park University, New Jersey City University and University of Massachusetts Lowell. Apart from campuses, top online universities include: Nova Southeastern University, Arizona State University, Seton Hall University, Kaplan University, Ashford University, Walden University and Devry University.

Work Possible with a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice

Several opportunities exist for individuals with criminal justice degrees. Some of the available ones include positions in law enforcement such as the police, FBI, Homeland Security and the DEA. Others include work as detectives and crime investigators, criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, probation officers and correctional specialists, correctional officers and jailers, fire fighters, transit and railroad police, judicial appointments and policy makers, managers of police and detectives, private detectives and investigators and a host of others.

Salary and Outlook in Criminal Justice

The salaries of criminal degree holders vary widely based on factors such as place of employment, field, geographical location and experience. However, individuals who possess master’s degrees typically earn more than those who only have bachelor’s degrees or lower qualifications. Detectives and criminal investigators earn about $67,000 as median annual salary whilst criminal justice and law enforcement teachers earn about $57,000. Others can earn higher or lower. Lastly, the job outlook for most positions in criminal justice can be said to be favorable for qualified individuals due to increasing demand for more efficient law enforcement and replacement for retiring workers.

In short, getting a masters degree in criminal justice is necessary for individuals who desire to advance in their careers. However, before embarking on any program, a careful consideration of the schools, requirements and the cost should be carried out.