Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Program Is It?

A master's-level criminal justice program could prepare you to pursue various career advancement opportunities and leadership roles in the field. Walden University's M.S. in Criminal Justice General Program analyzes current trends in criminal justice and evaluates the effects of criminal justice policies. In addition to covering fundamental criminology theories, courses examine management principles as they apply to private, nonprofit, and public organizations. This program is also designed to address topics such as homeland security and law enforcement technology while also giving you opportunities to explore the behavior patterns and motivations of offenders.

What Are the Prerequisites?

You should be interested in studying criminal justice issues and learning about law enforcement operations. A background in psychology could be useful. Applicants to Walden University's master's programs, should hold a bachelor's degree or higher. You may need to complete additional requirements for some programs.

What Are the Course Requirements?

To earn this degree, you must complete 46 quarter credits. Estimated time to completion is 15 months. Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable.

Course Requirements

• Foundations of Graduate Study
• The Nature of Crime and Criminology
• Controversies in Criminal Justice
• Organizational Management and Leadership
• Criminal Justice Research
• Ethics and Social Justice
• Special Populations
• Technological Solutions and 21st-Century Crime
• Victimology
• Applied Communications

What Could I Do After I Graduate?

Career Options

As a graduate of this program, you could have the skills necessary to pursue professional positions in private sectors or with local, state, or federal government agencies. You could seek opportunities in law enforcement, security, social services, and corrections. Positions you could pursue include:

• Federal law enforcement agent
• Victim advocate
• Police administrator
• Chief probation officer

Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.

Advanced Degrees

You might be able to pursue applied criminal justice research or university professorship positions if you continue the educational process and earn a doctoral degree in criminal justice or a related field. Such a degree program might also allow you to develop the expertise needed to seek leadership opportunities with a variety of criminal justice agencies.

Degrees listed are not institution-specific but constitute a sampling of continuing education options for graduates. Degree options that graduates could pursue include:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice
• Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Criminal Justice