Criminal Justice Administration, MS

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration Degree?

Your master’s in criminal justice administration degree can be the credential you need to take the next step in your career, opening doors to higher salaries and leadership roles with greater responsibility. A master’s degree will prepare you for high-level positions such as police chief or captain, criminologist, corrections supervisor, federal agent and policy analyst, while helping you gain a better understanding of growing trends such as cyber crime.

Benefits of a Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration Degree

Your master’s in criminal justice administration prepares you to make a greater impact in the criminal justice system with advanced training that includes organizational theory and management, program planning and evaluation, finance and budgeting, and ethical leadership. It signals to employers that you are ready to take on key leadership and management roles, whether you are looking to advance on your current career path or pivot to a related career. Because many hiring managers prefer candidates with a master’s degree for their senior positions, having an advanced degree is a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates in a highly competitive job market.

Additional benefits of a master’s in criminal justice administration degree include increased job security and the professional satisfaction that comes from taking your career to new heights.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration Careers

A master’s degree in criminal justice can help you qualify for and advance in an array of rewarding careers, including:

Why Choose Hilbert for Your Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration?

Hilbert College’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration program is unique in incorporating an ongoing, integrated research project throughout the curriculum. As your courses teach you the theory, your research will act as a foundation on which to ground your knowledge and find practical applications in a final capstone project. This focus on practical skills for real-world situations is the key to a Hilbert College education, online or on campus.

Why Choose Hilbert for Your Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration?

Hilbert College’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration program is unique in incorporating an ongoing, integrated research project throughout the curriculum. As your courses teach you the theory, your research will act as a foundation on which to ground your knowledge and find practical applications in a final capstone project. This focus on practical skills for real-world situations is the key to a Hilbert College education, online or on campus.

What Is the Typical Salary for a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration Graduate?

Here are some of the careers you may pursue with your master’s in criminal justice administration from Hilbert College, along with their median salaries:

*Salary info based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Salary info based on data compiled by Payscale

Criminal Justice Administration Job Outlook

Employment of protective service operations is projected to grow 2% from 2021 to 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This increase is expected to add about 72,600 new jobs to an already enormous field that includes law enforcement, corrections, public safety and security. All together, growth and replacement needs will result in an impressive 421,500 total job openings in this sector each year.

More reasons to pursue your graduate degree at Hilbert:

• Innovative curriculum with accelerated cohort model
• Enroll in on-campus classes or study entirely online
• Experienced, multi-disciplinary faculty
• Practical experience and research opportunities
• No GRE or GMAT required

Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration Curriculum

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration program at Hilbert College is designed to strengthen your knowledge of public policy and theoretical frameworks and apply them to current trends and issues in the criminal justice system. Students will develop and prepare a research project throughout the curriculum and present their findings upon completion of the capstone course.

Key components of the program include:

• Criminal justice history
• Court system structure
• Diverse communities
• Legal procedures

The master’s in criminal justice administration curriculum consists of 36 credit hours (or 39 hours, including an optional 3-credit internship, for students who have not yet achieved full-time employment in their field). The program uses an accelerated cohort model that’s convenient for individuals who are employed full time:

Students take two classes at a time totaling 9 credits a semester for four total semesters. Cohorts remain together throughout the 16 month program. You can choose to enroll in on campus Monday/Wednesday evenings and Saturday or can complete your program asynchronously online.

View CJA curriculum