Criminal Justice (MS)
Criminal Justice Plus One Program
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Plus One program offers a streamlined path to your master’s degree through daytime classes held on the main campus. The program is open to students with undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of majors, including cybersecurity, computer science, business administration, psychology, political science, and public policy. It is also ideal for professionals working in the field who want to advance their careers. This immersive program offers insight into the most current topics and challenges facing criminal justice agencies today.
You can choose one of two concentrations: Leadership and Administration or Psychology and the Law. Through full-time studies, you can complete your master's degree in one year. The program begins in June and finishes the following May.
- It will increase your earning potential. U.S. workers holding a master’s degree earn 16 percent more in average annual salary than those with a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023.
- You will gain the skills you need to succeed. You’ll learn to effectively analyze business data to make key management decisions.
- It’s a great value. AU graduate programs are affordable and have impressive student outcomes.
- Athletes can stay on the team. It’s a great option for student-athletes with a remaining year of athletic eligibility.
- It offers a streamlined application process. There is no application fee and no GMAT/GRE required to apply for the program.
- There are no textbook costs. You'll benefit from a tuition structure that includes textbook costs, professional organization membership fees, and high-impact experiences.
- Admission requirements are simple. All that’s required is:
- A completed graduate application for admission.
- A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
A master’s degree in criminal justice can help a law enforcement officer get promoted, sharpen critical skills for someone in a criminal justice-related field, or serve as an entry point for a competitive job, such as a position at a federal agency.U.S. News and World Report, 2019
Experiential learning
You will complete a high-impact professional experience aligned with your career goals. These experiences, typically in the form of an internship, take place at federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, private security agencies, law offices, probation departments, and social service agencies.
Sample Schedule
Plus One students meet as a cohort during summer, fall, and spring semesters.
Schedule: Leadership and Administration
| Term | Classes |
|---|---|
| Summer: 9 semester hours June–August; 10-week courses Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–Noon |
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| Fall: 12 semester hours August–December; 8-week courses Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–Noon |
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| Spring: 9 semester hours January–May; 8-week courses Saturday, 9 a.m.–Noon |
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January–May; 16-week course |
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Schedule: Psychology and the Law
| Term | Classes |
|---|---|
| Summer: 9 semester hours June–August; 10-week courses Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–Noon |
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| Fall: 12 semester hours August–December; 8-week courses Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–Noon |
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| Spring: 9 semester hours January–May; 8-week courses Saturday, 9 a.m.–Noon |
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January–May; 16-week course |
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Career possibilities
- Emergency management official
- Federal marshal
- Forensic examiner
- Intelligence analyst
- Investigator
- Law enforcement officer
- Military officer
- Police officer
- Probation/parole officer
- Sheriff
- Special agent at a federal agency
Where our graduates work
AU alumni work in a variety of agencies that provide service to their communities and their country.
- Corrections and court services
- Emergency management
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Nonprofit agencies
- Private sector defense
- State and local police departments
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. military