The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) is an online, management-focused program designed for professionals ready to move into supervisory and administrative roles in law enforcement, corrections, and public safety. You’ll learn critical skills in policy development and analysis, research design and ethics, and strengthen your leadership skills through coursework that blends academic theory with practical, real-world application.
24/7 flexibility to study when and where it’s convenient for you
Full- and part-time options
Earn your degree at a pace that works for you with six sessions every year
The curriculum blends theoretical understanding with applied management practice, culminating in a capstone that integrates policy, ethics, and leadership in real-world contexts.
Foundation and Core Courses
27 Hours
Understand research, policy, law, and ethics, leadership, budgeting, crisis management, and organizational administration.
Emphasis Options
9 Hours
Choose between two emphasis options to tailor your degree to your desired career:
Capstone Course
Your experience culminates in the capstone course, Emergent Issues in Criminal Justice Leadership, where you apply your learning to complex, real-world scenarios.
Columbia College has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
In addition to a cumulative undergraduate 3.0 GPA, applicants must either have completed a baccalaureate degree in criminal justice, or the following MSCJ prerequisite courses with an earned grade of B or higher in each course:
| Upcoming Academic Sessions | Classes Start |
|---|---|
| Early Spring Session | January 12, 2026 |
| Late Spring Session | March 9, 2026 |
| Early Summer Session | May 4, 2026 |
If you’ve completed NIC’s Management Development for the Future program, you may be awarded up to 9 graduate credits to reduce time and cost where possible.
At Columbia College, we believe a quality graduate degree should be within reach. Our tuition is competitively priced among private, nonprofit colleges, and there are no hidden fees, ever. With financial aid, military tuition assistance, employer reimbursement programs, and more, our financial aid advisors are ready to help you explore options and make your degree affordable.
Straightforward Pricing
Our grad programs cost $585 per credit hour. Tuition is transparent here — with zero hidden fees, ever.
Generous Financial Aid
Scholarships, payment plans, loans, and more are available to all. We'll help you find the assistance you need to budget confidently.
Reduced Tuition for Partnership Organization Employees
We partner with hundreds of companies and organizations to offer 15% off tuition to employees and their families.
We’ve been leading the way in flexible learning options since 2000. Our students are all over the world living their real lives, holding down jobs, and caring for others while learning their way to something better.
Here’s what you can expect from an online degree at CC:
This program prepares you for advancement into roles such as Police Lieutenant, Captain, Commander, Correctional Supervisor or Administrator, Probation/Parole Supervisor, Public Safety Director, Court or Justice Services Manager, and more.
At Columbia College, our flexible options make it easy to adapt to changing circumstances and pursue your education wherever life takes you. Many of our degrees are offered 100% online. If you prefer a traditional classroom experience, you can attend selected classes at our nationwide locations or at our main campus in Columbia, Missouri. Students at all locations will engage with multiple learning methods, including online and virtual while completing their degree.
Too many people have been made to feel that higher education isn’t a place for them — that it is someone else’s dream. But we change all that. With individualized attention and ongoing support, we help you write a new story for the future where you play the starring role.