Program highlights
- Convenient and flexible. Earn your master’s in criminal justice online in five semesters – perfect for working professionals. We offer six start dates, and semesters last seven weeks.
- Nationally ranked. Our part-time online program is highly ranked among Ohio and Midwest universities as determined by U.S. News and World Report.
- Nationally recognized faculty. Engage with faculty who are involved in policy-relevant research and have a professional background in criminal justice. Some consult with leading criminal justice organizations, such as the National Institute of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
BGSU’s online criminal justice master’s program is one of the top programs in Ohio and in the top 15 in the U.S.
Sources: U.S. News and World Report
Career opportunities
The BGSU criminal justice graduate program allows professionals working in criminal justice to gain the necessary insights, frameworks and communication skills to advance to leadership positions. The MSCJ program also prepares those looking to make a career change to the criminal justice profession.
Graduates of the MSCJ program have gone on to work or advance their careers in federal, state, county or local law enforcement agencies. Some go on to law school or research- or policy-oriented doctoral programs.
Career paths
- Criminal investigator
- Criminal justice analyst
- Law enforcement leadership
- Senior corrections officer or administrator
- Parole and probation officer
- Community corrections specialist
- College instructor
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The master’s program curriculum integrates theory, research and practical experience to help you develop effective responses to contemporary challenges facing the criminal justice system. You will gain a broader understanding of the criminal justice process and the link between research and policy.
You will develop the skills to communicate effectively and conduct and assess research.
Sample courses
- Criminal Justice Ethics
- Data Analysis and Interpretation in Criminal Justice
- Law, Evidence and Procedure in Forensic Science
- Seminar in Contemporary Corrections
- Seminar in Contemporary Policing
- Race, Gender and Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice
- Nature of Crime
BGSU is the only university in Ohio and one of just nine in the nation to earn the Quality Matters Online Learner Support certificate for all of our seven-week online programs. The certificate recognizes that our programs provide the critical services needed for student success and that we use student feedback to continuously improve those services.
The criminal justice program is part of the Department of Human Services in the BGSU College of Health & Human Services.
Updated: 08/12/2024 09:28AM