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Criminal Justice and Public Safety, M.S.

The IU Online M.S. in Criminal Justice and Public Safety looks at where criminal justice and public safety intersect. Fully online and flexible, this degree provides the skills, knowledge, and practical applications you need to meet your professional goals.

Course Delivery: 100% Online

Total Credits: 33

In-State Tuition Per Credit: $350.00

Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit: $490.00

Cost of attendance may vary by campus. View the total cost calculator

Degree Overview

Complete coursework in a variety of special topics, including crime mapping, geographic information systems, and cybersecurity, among others. The curriculum also covers the analysis and improvement of policies through quantitative research methods, statistical techniques, and critical assessment of current approaches based on empirical evidence.

Tailor your degree to your professional interests by choosing one of two concentrations:

  • Public safety
  • Criminal justice

You’ll graduate with an Indiana University degree respected by employers worldwide—and you can work on yours anytime and anywhere. Plus, you’ll enjoy personalized support services throughout your academic journey.

And the benefits start long before graduation. More than half of IU Online students advance in their careers before they complete their degree.

Online worked for me—the flexibility to take classes around my schedule, the professor’s flexible office hours.

Ivorie Stalling M.S. in Criminal Justice and Public Safety

To be accepted to this program, you must have:
  1. A bachelor's degree
  2. 2.7 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
To apply to this program, complete an online application that includes:
  • Official transcripts
  • GRE scores 
  • A 250-word personal statement explaining background and goals for entering the program
  • TOEFL scores (international students only)
  • Supplementary materials such as letters of recommendation and writing samples may also be submitted but are not required
Application Dates

Fall semester: Aug 1

Spring semester: Jan 1

Summer 1 semester: May 1

Summer 2 semester: Jun 15

Your IU Online M.S. in Criminal Justice and Public Safety prepares you for such careers as: 

  • Correctional officer supervisor
  • Police and detective supervisor
  • Criminal investigator
  • Emergency management director
  • Security manager
  • Public safety officer

To graduate with the M.S. in Criminal Justice and Public Safety, you must complete 33 credit hours.

Requirements are broken down as follows:

  • Core courses (15 credit hours)
  • Concentration courses (18 credit hours)

Concentrations

Tailor your degree to your professional interests by choosing one of two concentrations:

  • Public Safety Concentration
    • Assess public safety risks using various analysis tools and develop plans to prepare, manage, and mitigate natural and human-made crises.
  • Criminal Justice Concentration 
    • Analyze the nature and extent of crime, critically evaluate major theories of crime, and assess the effectiveness of criminal justice systems, non-criminal justice programs, and other policies and practices that respond to crime.

Core 

Core Classes for the MS in Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Course Number Course Name Credits

CJUS-P 501 -or SPEA-J 582

Proseminar: Criminal Justice I -or- Criminal Justice Systems

3 Credits

CJUS-P 619 -or- SPEA-J 666

Crime and Public Policy -or- Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation

3 Credits

SPEA-J 502 -or- CJUS-P 594

Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Safety -or- Introduction to Research Methods

3 Credits

SPEA-V 506 -or-CJUS-P 595

Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making -or- Data Analysis in Criminal Justice

3 Credits

Criminal Justice Concentration:

Criminal Justice Concentration
Course Number Course Name Credits
SPEA-J 501 -or- CJUS-P 502. Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy I -or- Proseminar: Criminal Justice II 3 Credits

Public Safety Concentration:

Public Safety Concentration
Course Number Course Name Credits
SPEA-J 528 Risk Analysis for Public Safety 3 Credits
SPEA-J 586 Public Safety in the U.S. 3 Credits

Electives:

Electives for the MS in Criminal Justics and Public Safety
Course Number Course Name Credits
CJUS-P 512 Corrections 3 Credits
CJUS-P 515 Police in Society 3 Credits
CJUS-P 517 Juvenile Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 519 Probation and Parole 3 Credits
CJUS-P 602 Courts and Criminal Justice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 623 Violent Behavior 3 Credits
CJUS-P 627 White-Collar Crime 3 Credits
CJUS-P 629 Victimization 3 Credits
CJUS-P 634 Sentencing Theory and Practice 3 Credits
CJUS-P 671 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems 3 Credits
CJUS-P 680 Seminar: Issues in Criminal Justice and Public Safety 3 Credits
CJUS-P 682 Seminar on Law Enforcement and Minorities 3 Credits
SPEA-J 520 Mapping and Analysis 3 Credits
SPEA-J 520 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety 3 Credits
SPEA-J 524 Crisis Management for Public Safety 3 Credits
SPEA-J 531 National and Homeland Security in America 3 Credits
SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice and Public Safety 1-3 Credits
SPEA-J 581 Public Safety Law 3 Credits
SPEA-J 587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics 3 Credits
SPEA-J 588 Law and Control in Society 3 Credits
SPEA-J 682 Planning and Management 3 Credits
SPEA-V 560 Public Budgeting and Finance 3 Credits
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management 3 Credits

Find course descriptions with our Search Schedule of Classes/Courses tool.

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