Online M.S. in
Criminal Justice
Lead in today's advanced field
of criminal justice.
20+ Months
10 Courses
30 Hours
$685/CH
The online M.S. in Criminal Justice is a 100% online, 30-credit hour program that can be completed in as few as 20 months. The program is designed to help you develop the critical skills necessary in today’s advanced field of criminal justice. Working with criminal justice experts nationwide teaches you how to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, analyze complex problems, and develop positive public engagement.
The program offers a broad choice of electives, allowing you to choose the courses that fit best with your interests and career goals.
Admissions Deadline
Rolling admissions (applications due 14 days before the intended start date).
Program Start Terms
Fall, Spring, Summer
Academic Term
Stay up to date with OU holiday closings, deadlines, and more.
Master's Degree
Lead in Today's World
This program is designed to create strong leaders in the law enforcement field. You’ll gain skills that open pathways for job advancement, allowing you to impact the communities you serve positively.
Strong Career Growth
OU Online is dedicated to providing professionals with the ethics, decision-making, and front-line leadership skills they need to thrive as leaders in today’s criminal justice field.
Flexible Format
Learn in a flexible, online program designed for working adults. You’ll engage in discussions with professors and fellow students while you gain advanced skills that prepare you to lead in the law enforcement field.
OU Online graduates find employment within six months after graduation*
OU Online graduates report earning an annual salary of $75,000 or more*
OU Online students say the skills they gained in their program made them more competitive in their career field*
*Source: OU Online Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2023
Pursue your
Criminal Justice
Master's degree
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is a fast-paced, accelerated program that accommodates working adults.
The criminal justice landscape is complex and ever-changing, requiring leaders with a strong foundation in policy reform. The Master of Science in Criminal Justice will give you the skills to adapt to these diverse situations. You’ll study a variety of topics, including restorative justice, drug abuse policy, and ethical decision-making in criminal justice, setting you up with the leadership skills necessary to thrive in today’s criminal justice field.
Course Offerings
- Research Methods for Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Quantitative Research & Analysis
- Demonstration Project
- Criminal Justice Policy Development
- Victimology and Restorative Justice
- Mediation and Conflict Resolution
- Community Corrections in the 21st Century
- Community Policing
- Juvenile Justice
- Restorative Justice Programs for Drug Offenders
- Human Trafficking
- Correctional Leadership
- Special Populations in Criminal Justice: Race
- Juvenile and Elderly Offenders in Prisons
- Special Populations in Criminal Justice: Class
- Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System
- Women and Crime
- Penology
- Collateral Effects of Incarceration
- Substance Abuse and Crime in the US
- Global Drug Trafficking
- Gangs in the United States
- Studies in Police Leadership
- Life Course Criminology
- Crime Analysis for Intelligence-Led Policing
- Cyber-Forensics
- Advanced Topics in Criminal Justice
- Internship in Criminal Justice
- Drug Enforcement Operations & Management
- Directed Readings in Criminal Justice
- Independent Study
Getting Started Today
To apply to the online M.S. in Criminal Justice program, students must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or appropriate international equivalent).
To apply, students must:
- Complete the online application at https://gograd.ou.edu/apply/
- Submit a current resume
- Provide official college transcripts from all institutions
- Submit a personal statement
- International students must demonstrate English proficiency
Applicants may be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), depending on their work experience and prior education. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed individually.
Application Timeline
Questions about Admissions?
For more information on the admissions process, please complete the contact form below, and an admissions counselor will be in touch shortly.
Paying for School
If you would like to compare the estimated cost of your program with a typical financial aid package, use the cost calculator on our OU Online financial aid page.
Graduate tuition waivers cannot be applied to OU Online programs. OU Online programs qualify for the OU Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver & Fee Exemption, and we encourage you to check your eligibility.
Tuition waiver and fee exemption package application
If you have questions regarding financial aid for your online program, please get in touch with the Online Aid office by emailing onlineaid@ou.edu or calling 405-325-2929.
same academic excellence
Earning an M.S. in Criminal Justice from OU Online gives you the skills to succeed in a growing and evolving field. It also gives you access to career support and an expanded professional network as part of the global OU alumni community. Stand out where the industry is moving while enjoying the potential for higher pay, career advancement, and new opportunities.
Tuition and fees for the program are $20,550 ($685 per credit hour). Books and additional materials are not included.
Once accepted into the program, students must submit a $350 nonrefundable deposit within two weeks. Deposits are applied toward tuition expenses and secure a student’s place in the upcoming class. There is no application fee for this degree.
Tuition Calculator
Our tuition calculator can help you estimate your tuition and financial aid for your program of interest.
Why OU Online?
We are a top-tier public institution offering high-quality, affordable, professional undergraduate and graduate programs committed to maintaining academic excellence online.
Our Online Programs
Every OU Online program is built on the foundation of world-class faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.
Our OU Family
When you graduate from an OU Online program, you’ll join the network of 250,000 OU alumni and be forever part of the OU family. Become part of the tradition of excellence that OU has established in its 130-year history.
