Master’s in Criminal Justice (MA)

Program Overview

Protect. Serve. Advocate. Investigate. Whether you’re a first responder wishing to advance in your career or a working professional who wants to play a decisive role in safeguarding your community and country, a master’s in criminal justice can help you reach your goals. 

Monmouth University’s dynamic graduate program will give you a multidisciplinary perspective on the justice system and its institutions and processes. You’ll learn from an expert faculty while honing your problem-solving ability, building technical skills, and gaining a deeper understanding of moral and ethical issues. 

You’ll have the opportunity to customize your degree with a career-focused tracks including one of the nation’s few Intelligence Analyst tracks in partnership with the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA). Enrich your education by also pursuing independent research, study abroad experiences, or internships with local, national, and international agencies.

Career Outcomes

Our graduate criminal justice alumni pursue meaningful roles with organizations such as: 

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Homeland Security Investigations
• New Jersey State Police
• New York Police Department
• Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

Alumni Success is Our Strength

Criminal Justice Specializations

Develop specialized skills and knowledge with one of our optional career-focused tracks: 

Intelligence Analyst Track

As technology continues to advance and data sharing is faster than ever, intelligence analysis has been established as a crucial facet of the criminal justice field. Learn about analytical techniques, data interpretation, intelligence reporting, and meet the training requirement for the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) Professional Certification Program, setting you apart in the job market and giving you an edge over your peers.

Developed in part by an Intelligence Analyst Working Group comprised of practitioners in the private sector as well as federal, state, and county law enforcement, our program is uniquely positioned to prepare students for success in the field with a domestic and global approach.

Community-Law Enforcement Relations Track

Be on the forefront of a new era of criminal justice. Focus on building trust and collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies. As a graduate of this program, you will be equipped with the tools, strategies, and unique perspectives needed to be a leader and create positive change within your community. 

As policing in the United States continues to move toward a community-based model that focuses on solving issues through prevention and de-escalation, more criminal justice and non-profit organizations are opting to hire professionals with experience in creating and implementing outreach programming. You will stand out in a changing job market as a law enforcement professional equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities in both criminal justice and social work disciplines. In these roles, you will be positioned to institute change while potentially creating policies and procedures that will help make an impact in the community. 

Homeland Security Track

Learn to address national security issues, counterterrorism, and emergency management. Prepare for leadership roles preventing terrorism, reducing vulnerability in our communities, mitigating the threat of damage, and recovering from attacks and natural disasters.

Monmouth University is a partner to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California and has based our curriculum on their nationally recognized program. We also participate in the University and Agency Partnership Initiative, giving you access to the Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL), a national collection of documents related to homeland security policy, strategy and organizational management.

Leadership Track

Today’s employers are seeking adaptable problem solvers with strong leadership capabilities. Prepare for roles in criminal justice/law enforcement management, policy, and strategic planning. Under the direction of faculty with prominent experience in the criminal justice field, you will learn how to analyze complex public sector challenges and manage the day-to-day operations of law enforcement and public agencies.

This track is tailored to prepare students for an executive role within the field of criminal justice and will benefit law enforcement officers, criminal justice professionals, government employees at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels, members of the Armed Services, and more.

Curriculum Requirements

Your MA in Criminal Justice will include core courses, electives, and a capstone project. You can also add one of our four specialized tracks to further customize your degree.

Application Overview & Requirements

Here’s an overview of the admissions process for our master’s degree in criminal justice: