Why Choose the Master of Science in Criminal Justice at Bethel University?
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is built for professionals ready to lead in the field. Designed for law enforcement professionals and others advancing their careers in criminal justice, this 30-hour graduate program deepens your understanding of the system while building the research, administrative, and analytical skills that move careers forward. It prepares you not just to work in criminal justice, but to help lead and improve it.
Offered online through Bethel University's virtual campus, the program fits the schedule of a working professional. You study criminological theory, criminal law, diversity, and organizational administration, then apply advanced research methods to a real problem in the field. Whether your goal is command-level leadership, policy work, or teaching, you graduate with an advanced credential and the expertise to back it up.
What You'll Learn
In this program, you will learn:
- A command of current issues across policing, corrections, juvenile justice, and criminal justice technology
- An understanding of how race, class, and gender intersect with law enforcement and corrections
- The skills to analyze criminal justice organizations and design programs that improve their efficiency
- A functioning knowledge of constitutional law as it applies to law enforcement and criminal justice
- Advanced social science research skills, applied through a required research project
- A knowledge of criminological theory, from classical explanations to contemporary paradigms
- Specialized skills in areas such as crime mapping, ethics, and homeland security assessment
Courses You'll Take
These are the core courses in the program:
CCJ 5004, Topics in Criminal Justice
CCJ 5104, Diversity in the Criminal Justice System
CCJ 5204, Administration of Organizations in the Criminal Justice System
CCJ 5504, Criminal Law
CCJ 5404, Research Methods
CCJ 5604, Criminological Theory
Beyond the core, you will choose elective hours from options that include Crime Mapping, Ethics in Criminal Justice, Homeland Security Assessment, and an Organizational Development Project, along with a seminar.
Career Possibilities
Law Enforcement Leader
Advances into supervisory or command roles within a police or law enforcement agency.
Corrections Administrator
Oversees the operations, staff, and programs of a correctional facility or system.
Criminal Justice Analyst
Studies crime data, programs, and policies to inform decisions and improve outcomes.
Homeland Security Specialist
Assesses vulnerabilities and develops plans to protect agencies and communities.
Policy Advisor
Helps shape criminal justice policy for government agencies or organizations.
Criminal Justice Instructor
Teaches criminal justice at the college level or in professional training settings, often with further study.
Federal Agent or Officer
Pursues advancement within a federal law enforcement or investigative agency.
Organizational Development Consultant
Helps criminal justice organizations analyze their operations and implement improvements.
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