Program highlights
- Convenient and flexible. Earn your master’s in criminal justice on campus in three semesters or online in five semesters – perfect for working professionals. We offer three start dates for the on-campus program and six start dates for the online program.
- Nationally ranked. Our part-time online program is highly ranked among Ohio and Midwest universities as determined by U.S. News and World Report.
- Relevant specializations. Our on-campus program offers two specializations that address contemporary and pressing issues in criminal justice:
- Forensic investigation
- Victims and offenders
- Nationally recognized faculty. You’ll get personalized attention from faculty who are involved in policy-relevant research and have a professional background in criminal justice. Some consult with leading criminal justice organizations, such as the National Institute of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- On-campus research centers.
- BGSU’s Police Integrity Research Group studies police crime – crimes committed by sworn officers – and has created a database available to other researchers. Its mission is to inform the public and improve policing.
- The Center for Justice Research is a collaboration between BGSU and the Ohio attorney general. The center funds research and promotes data-driven, effective and fair policy solutions to Ohio’s most pressing criminal issues.
BGSU’s online criminal justice master’s program is one of the top programs in Ohio and in the top 15 in the U.S.
Sources: U.S. News and World Report
Career opportunities
The BGSU criminal justice graduate program allows law enforcement professionals to gain the necessary insights, frameworks and communication skills to advance to leadership positions.
Graduates of the MSCJ program have gone on to work or advance their careers in federal, state, county or local law enforcement agencies. Some go on to law school or research- or policy-oriented doctoral programs.
Career paths
- Criminal investigator
- Criminal justice analyst
- Law enforcement leadership
- Senior corrections officer or administrator
- Parole and probation officer
- Community corrections specialist
- College instructor
Curriculum
The master’s program curriculum integrates theory, research and practical experience to help you develop effective responses to contemporary challenges facing the criminal justice system. You will gain a broader understanding of the criminal justice process and the link between research and policy.
You will develop the skills to communicate effectively and conduct and assess research.
On-campus students can specialize in:
- Forensic Investigation
- Victims and Offenders
Accelerated M.S. in criminal justice
Current BGSU juniors and seniors can apply to the accelerated master’s program in criminal justice and earn a master’s degree with one more year of study.
Sample courses
- Criminal Justice Ethics
- Data Analysis and Interpretation in Criminal Justice
- Law, Evidence, and Procedure in Forensic Science
- Seminar in Contemporary Corrections
- Seminar in Contemporary Policing
- Race, Gender, and Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice
- Nature of Crime
The Master of Science in criminal justice is a program of the Department of Human Services in the BGSU College of Health & Human Services.
Updated: 12/05/2024 03:31PM