Criminal Justice Master of Arts
Online Degree Program
An Online Criminal Justice Master's to Fit Your Schedule
The Criminal Justice Master of Arts online degree program is designed for working professionals in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation, victim services and the judiciary environment. This program is offered online as a way to provide master's degree access to criminal justice professionals with a variety of work schedules, no matter where you live.
The UNC Criminal Justice Master of Arts online program will provide you with:
- An advanced understanding of traditional and emerging criminological theories
- Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for effective leadership and policy-making
- Opportunities to conduct original research and projects with real-world applications.
The Criminal Justice program begins each Fall semester. Students generally take two courses at a time and can complete the entire degree in two years. The online courses are taught by the same UNC professors who teach on-campus, allowing you to earn a quality master’s degree from anywhere in the world.
A World of Career Possibilities
Many criminal justice agencies require a graduate degree for advancement. This master's degree will provide you with the professional, practical training in leadership, policy and best practices, that will allow you to move up in the field and better serve your community.
More Resources
More information and a Criminal Justice master's student handbook are available at the Department of Criminal Justice–Master of Arts program page.
Contact the Academic Program Coordinator
Criminal Justice MA—Academic Program Coordinator
Brian Iannacchione
brian.iannacchione@unco.edu
(970) 351-2186
Course of Study
This program is designed to be completed in less than two years (6-9 credits per semester, including electives during the summer) and consists of 34 credits. Twenty-two credits are in required core courses, which includes a thesis or capstone project. The remaining 12 credits will consist of elective courses.
Students are invited to campus for a 1-day orientation session just prior to the Fall program start. If you live far from campus (Greeley, CO) and can not make it to the orientation in person, you can attend the sessions online.
Orientation to Online Learning
Before you begin your first academic course, we strongly recommend that you register for and complete the short Orientation to Online Learning course—especially if you do not have recent experience taking classes online. This free non-credit, non-graded course provides students with an introduction to online learning at UNC and provides important skills, knowledge, and resources to help students succeed.
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Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
Year 1 |
LIB 550 Library Research in Criminal Justice (1 cr) – 16 weeks |
Elective – 1st 8-week session |
Elective – Normally a 6- or 12-week session |
CRJ 560 Seminar in Criminology and Crime Policy (3 cr) – 1st 8-week session |
CRJ 550 Organization and Management of CJ (3 cr) – 2nd 8-week session |
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CRJ 531 Seminar in Law and Society (3 cr) – 2nd 8-week session |
CRJ 580 Advanced Research Methods for CJ (3 cr) – 16 weeks |
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Elective – 16-weeks |
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Year 2 |
CRJ 582 Statistics for Criminal Justice Research (3 cr) – 1st 8-week session |
CRJ 697 Capstone Project (3 cr) or CRJ 699 Thesis (3 cr). Both options are 16 weeks. |
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CRJ 610 Criminal Justice Planning, Policy, and Change (3 cr) – 2nd 8-week session |
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Elective – 16-week session |
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Admission Requirements and Transfer Credit
Admission Requirements
- GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) on the most recent 60 hours of baccalaureate-level coursework
- GRE or MAT test scores or personal essay. For more information see the Criminal Justice Masters Handbook available at the Department of Criminal Justice–Master of Arts program page.
- TOEFL Scores (for international applicants)
Eligibility by State
UNC has secured approval from almost every state, as required by new federal regulations, so that students are eligible to apply to online programs at UNC. However we are unable to accept applications at this time for our online programs from students residing in a few select states because their requirements, particularly application fees, for such approval are prohibitive. Please verify your Eligibility by State before applying.
Note: All international students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply to our online programs. Students attending online while residing outside of the United States do not need student visas for admission.
Transferring Credit
Applicable graduate credit may be applied towards this academic program. In order for credits to be accepted toward a degree they must be graduate level credits, be approved by the Academic Advisor, and have a grade of A or B. Once approved by the advisor, students must complete a Petition to Count Work in a Degree Program to have the credit approved by the Grad School. Master’s and specialist degree students must complete a minimum of 24 credits at the University of Northern Colorado. All work counted in a degree program must be within five years for a master’s degree and six years for a specialist degree. The time limit is calculated from the beginning of the first class transferred in and counted in the degree program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition
This program is offered through the UNC Office of Extended Studies, which means a flat per-credit tuition rate for all students in the program. There are no student fees. Certain courses may carry specific course fees for additional services and materials.
Tuition rates are set each academic year (which begin each Fall semester). The tuition rate for the 2012-13 school year for this program is $500 per credit hour.
Financial Aid
Students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA priority filing date for each academic year (which begins each August) is March 1. Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted but may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
Master’s degree students require a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time enrollment is based on 9 credits.
To apply for federal financial aid assistance
Fill out the FAFSA form at www.fafsa.ed.gov/
Extended Studies degree seeking students may contact Aimee Rogers in Financial Aid for more specific help at (970) 351-2502 or visit UNC Financial Aid website.
Students can also find information in the Guide to Federal Student Aid at studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html
Get Started
The Criminal Justice master's program accepts applications throughout the year. Accepted applicants begin the program each Fall semester. Those wishing to get an early start on elective courses can speak to the Academic Program Coordinator about enrolling for those courses prior to your formal admission.
- Early Application Deadline: May 15
- Standard Application Deadline: June 15
Applications received by May 15 will receive priority consideration. Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, admission to this program is a two-stage process. Your application will be reviewed by the graduate school then sent to the faculty/program for an admission decision. A completed application typically takes four to six weeks to process. The Criminal Justice department web page for this program links you to the student handbook, which has specific details and advice for submitting your application materials.
Take the Next Step—Begin the Application Process
