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.
Rolling admissions (applications due 14 days before the intended start date).
Fall, Spring, Summer
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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.
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.
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
Take the next step in your career with a degree from the University of Oklahoma. Applications are reviewed year-round for fall, spring, and summer sessions. Choose your program, choose your start, and apply today.
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.
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).
Students should have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate studies.
To apply, students must:
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.
The admissions committee operates under a rolling admission process, and admissions may continue until two weeks before the start of classes. The committee strives to respond to all applicants within two weeks of submitting a completed application.
For more information on the admissions process, please complete the contact form below, and an admissions counselor will be in touch shortly.
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.
Like every OU Online program, the M.S. in Criminal Justice is built on the foundation of world-class University of Oklahoma 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.
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.
Our tuition calculator can help you estimate your tuition and financial aid for your program of interest.
We are a top-tier public institution offering high-quality, affordable, professional undergraduate and graduate programs committed to maintaining academic excellence online.
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.
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.
