Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (Online)

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (M.A.C.J.) program is a fully online graduate program that provides individuals who have a four-year degree from an accredited institution of higher education an opportunity to obtain a graduate degree in criminal justice.

The curriculum greatly expands on criminal justice coursework learned at the undergraduate level but also provides a sufficient foundation for people who do not have a degree in criminal justice that will enhance their ability to matriculate to graduation. Coursework will equip students with knowledge of system components, crime trends, criminological theory, and criminal justice policy, combined with a thorough understanding of the scientific method and the importance of ethics associated with the use of human subjects in the scholarly research enterprise.

The M.A.C.J. program also includes practical and career-based training. Students have various opportunities to customize their educational experience by developing specialization areas, interning at criminal justice agencies, and participating in independent research. The degree will be finalized with a culminating experience via the successful completion of a thesis project, comprehensive exams, or capstone course that incorporates students’ critical analysis of theory and policy to crime and criminal justice phenomena.

Various experiential opportunities are available through the M.A.C.J. program. Students interested in an internship should consult with the M.A.C.J. program coordinator.

“I had a wonderful internship this summer. Working directly with families and children in foster care has been a very eye opening and rewarding experience. I am so grateful for this opportunity!” – Grace Lilly (M.A.C.J. student)

Click the photo of graduate Sonja Saunooke Chandler to watch a video about the M.A.C.J. program and the impact it has had on her life.