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2025-2026 Graduate Catalog (DRAFT)
Criminal Justice & Criminology, MA
Location(s):
Online
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The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology offers three separate concentrations. Students can choose one or more concentrations. Students should consult with faculty advisors to develop a degree plan based upon student interests and career goals.
The Behavioral Crime Analysis concentration presents advanced criminological theories and further examines the behavioral manifestations of violent and serious criminal offenders. By combining the best of criminal justice and applied criminology study, the program enables students to build a strong foundation of theory, application, and research through knowledge and skills. Students will learn to apply theoretical frameworks to real-world situations involving criminal investigative analysis, equivocal death analysis and geographical crime analysis.
The Forensic Linguistics concentration of the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology builds knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of forensic linguistics. Professionals in this field work as practitioners or consultants, bringing their expertise to criminal and civil investigations, corporate and national security matters, threat assessment situations, legal proceedings through analysis of evidence such as emergency phone calls, suicide notes, ransom demands and fraudulent documents.
The Criminal Justice Studies Concentration, a cornerstone of the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology program, cultivates future leaders by offering graduate students an in-depth exploration of the fundamental components of the criminal justice system—Law Enforcement, Courts, and Corrections—while addressing contemporary challenges faced by today’s practitioners. A distinctive feature of this concentration is its strong emphasis on Fraud Investigation, a critical area in modern criminal justice. Students will develop leadership and forensic investigative skills, gaining expertise in identifying, analyzing, and prosecuting fraud-related offenses, including white-collar crime, identity theft, cybercrime, digital records fraud, organized fraud schemes, and misconduct within corporate and government settings. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this concentration prepares students to detect, investigate, and prevent fraud across diverse sectors. Graduates will be equipped to collaborate effectively with law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, and legal professionals. By applying cutting-edge investigative techniques, forensic analysis, and legal frameworks, they will be ready to lead efforts in uncovering fraud, ensuring justice, and restoring public trust in the criminal justice system.
Advisement Sheet MA Criminal Justice - Behavioral Crime Analysis Concentration
Advisement Sheet MA Criminal Justice - Criminal Justice Studies Concentration
Advisement Sheet MA Criminal Justice - Forensic Linguistics Concentration
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Student Learning Outcomes
Behavioral Crime Analysis Concentration Outcomes Apply contemporary criminological theories to the practical aspects of solving crime through criminal investigative analysis, equivocal death analysis, and geographic crime analysis. Describe the various techniques used to disambiguate equivocal deaths. Outline contemporary processes of geographical crime analysis. Identify, critique, and summarize current research articles in the field of criminology Prepare a written full research proposal on a crime-related issue, which is relevant to the substantive components of the program. Apply principles of criminal profiling in evaluating written or oral threat communications. Identify and analyze criminological and criminal-justice related ethical issues. Describe the best practices for undertaking behaviorally oriented interviews of victims and suspects.
Forensic Linguistics Concentration Outcomes Criminal Justice Studies Concentration Outcomes Identify legal and ethical issues that criminal justice practitioners face, analyze legal issues by identifying relevant facts and legal doctrine, and further develop strategies to resolve them. Demonstrate skills and knowledge of how to work collaboratively to influence and lead others in the field of criminal justice and criminology. Recognize contemporary issues facing our nation’s correctional system and make related policy and procedure recommendations. Identify the epidemic of white-collar crime in America and apply criminological theory to postulate causation. Construct a detailed security policy at the national and international levels, for government operations and human security. Demonstrate investigative techniques and analytical strategies to detect, prevent, and address fraudulent activities Apply advanced research methods and critical thinking skills to evaluate policies, practices, and innovations within the field of criminal justice
Core Requirements
All master level criminal justice students take the following two courses regardless of concentration. Total Core Credits Required: 6
Behavioral Crime Analysis Concentration
Concentration Credits Required: 24
Forensic Linguistics Concentration
Students in the online forensic linguistics program build a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge and research skills as they learn to examine and assess threatening communications, fraudulent documents and other writings associated with serious criminal, civil and national security matters. Students apply theoretical framework to real-world situations requiring forensic linguistic training and skills. Students also develop skills in critical areas of forensic linguistics, including language structure, author profiling and threat assessment, sociolinguistics, and legal and ethical issues. Concentration Credits Required: 24
Criminal Justice Studies Concentration
Students in the Criminal Justice Studies concentration develop a strong foundation in theoretical knowledge and practical research skills to analyze and investigate various aspects of criminal justice leadership, security, and fraud, including financial fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime. Through applied learning, students gain experience in fraud detection, prevention, and investigation, preparing them to address real-world challenges in the field. Key skills developed include: “advanced cyber investigation”, “digital forensics”, “corporate and occupational fraud”, “white collar crime” and “fraud and the law”. This concentration equips students with the expertise to conduct thorough investigations, identify fraud patterns, and contribute to safeguarding the integrity of both public and private institutions. Students are encouraged to select courses that align with their specific interests, particularly those focused on fraud investigation and forensic analysis. Criminal Justice Concentration:
Students are encouraged to select classes that most closely align with their areas of interest, such as those focusing on fraud investigation, security, or other areas. Students should work with their faculty advisor to choose eight of the following: Concentration Credits Required: 24
Experiential Requirements:
Students need to complete six credits in experiential learning (capstone). Students can choose either 3 or 6 credits in any category. Select Six Credits of the Following:
Students need to complete six credits in experiential learning (capstone). Students can choose either 3 or 6 credits in any category. Total Number of Credits to Complete the Program: 36
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