In Short
Gain experience in leadership and management to advance your career in policing, courts, corrections, victim services, social services and other public service related fields.
Program at a Glance: Become a Criminal Justice Leader
Fitchburg State’s Professional Studies concentration in the online Master of Science (MS) in Criminal Justice degree program strengthens your leadership and problem-solving skills for advanced opportunities in policing, courts, corrections, and social services. Learn how to manage teams, analyze data, and make informed decisions to address real challenges in the criminal justice system.
Elevate your career while balancing work and personal responsibilities with our one-year Criminal Justice master’s degree program.
Professional Studies Concentration Overview
Criminal justice experts play a vital role in maintaining public safety, supporting rehabilitation, and ensuring fair and effective justice administration across communities. Fitchburg State’s Professional Studies concentration prepares you to take on influential roles in criminal justice with a well-rounded, practical education that builds your skills in problem-solving, data analysis, ethical decision-making, and leadership.
Three Tracks of Study
The Professional Studies concentration offers three optional tracks to tailor your educational experience to your career goals. Each track includes five three-credit courses that focus on criminal justice core studies.
- Leadership: Advanced policy development, management strategies, and administrative leadership within the criminal justice system.
- Corrections: Contemporary correctional practices, rehabilitation strategies, and community integration programs.
- Community Justice: Restorative justice approaches, community engagement, and strategies for social reentry.
Program Length
While you can complete the online master’s in Criminal Justice, Professional Studies concentration in one year, you may take up to six years to finish the program.
Learn From the Experts
Our Criminal Justice faculty comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in law enforcement, corrections, policy development, and community advocacy. They are committed to your success, offering mentorship, insights, and opportunities that bridge classroom knowledge with real-world application.
What Can You Do With an MS in Criminal Justice, Professional Studies Degree?
The Professional Studies concentration prepares you for leadership in criminal justice, equipping you to develop policies, manage teams, implement new initiatives, and enhance the administration of justice organizations.
Providing a strong foundation in leadership and analytical thinking, this degree program opens doors for career advancement in a range of settings where you can promote ethical and effective practices. Graduates of the program lead in areas like:
- Corrections
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Courts
- Policing
- Public Policy
- Rehabilitation
Admissions Requirements
To apply for Fitchburg State’s online MS in Criminal Justice, Professional Studies concentration, you must submit the application materials listed below:
- Official transcript: We require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8.
- If you attended Fitchburg State University for your undergraduate education, please add the school to the Academic History Tab, and Fitchburg State will upload your transcript to your application on your behalf.
- Personal statement: In a statement of no more than 300 words, please describe how earning a master's degree in Criminal Justice would help you fulfill your personal and professional goals.
- Professional resume and references: Please upload a professional resume that sets forth, at a minimum, your educational and employment history. On your resume, please include the names and contact information (email and/or phone number) of three references. At least two must be individuals under whose supervision you have worked in a professional capacity. As long as you provide names and contact information for three professional references on your resume, you do not need to submit letters of recommendation. However, the Criminal Justice program reserves the right to request letters of recommendation.
Fitchburg State University reviews all completed applications on a rolling admission basis.
Tuition and Fees
Understanding the cost of your graduate education is an essential step in planning for your future. At Fitchburg State, we believe in affordable, high-quality education and are committed to providing clear information about tuition and financial aid options. Review graduate scholarship opportunities and tuition and fees for graduate programs.
If you would like help financing your education, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Requirements and Curriculum
Fitchburg State’s 30-credit/10 courses online MS in Criminal Justice equips you to navigate the complexities of the justice system while developing expertise in your chosen area.
Your studies begin with a core set of courses that provide a deep understanding of criminal justice theory, the motivation behind crime, ethical challenges, and cultural communication. These courses establish the background knowledge and critical thinking skills needed for leadership roles in law enforcement, corrections, and the legal system.
Beyond foundational courses, you can customize your learning experience with electives and Professional Studies concentration courses across three optional tracks: Leadership in Criminal Justice, Corrections, and Community Justice. The courses, from policy development and management to rehabilitation strategies and community engagement, ensure you gain specialized knowledge based on your interests.
Curriculum in Course Catalog Course Rotation (PDF) All MSCJ Courses Two-Year Rotation (PDF)
Core Requirements (15 credits)
- CJ 7240 Criminal Justice Process (as required)
- CJ 8580 Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
- CJ 7320 Crime Causation
- CJ 8100 Program Evaluation
- CJ 9680 Cultural Diversity and Communication
Electives (9 credits)
Dependent upon CJ 7240 Criminal Justice Process (as required) and/or desired track below:
Corrections Track (6 credits)
- CJ 8300 Beyond Incarceration
- CJ 8350 Community Reentry and Integration
Leadership Track (6 credits)
- CJ 8010 Leadership and Management
- Any one of the following three courses:
- CJ 8150 Advanced Policy Seminar
- CJ 9620: Legalities of Criminal Justice Administration
- MGMT (as applicable and approved)
Community Justice Track (6 credits)
- CJ 7400 Community Justice Approach to Criminal Justice
- Any one of the following two courses:
- CJ 8350 Community Reentry & Integration
- CJ 7260 Social Relations and the Legal System
- Apply knowledge of the operations of the criminal justice system to real-life case scenarios and current events
- Recognize and analyze ethical issues and dilemmas in the practice of criminal justice
- Demonstrate the ability to research and analyze crime data and its impact on criminal justice policy
- Identify the links between theoretical foundations of crime and delinquency and the development of criminal justice policy
- Recognize diversity in society and how criminal justice professionals respond to the increasing diversity in society
- Develop critical thinking skills and the ability to apply them to problem solving
- Develop oral and written communications skills as well as the ability to use technology for communication purposes
- Official transcript of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8. If you attended Fitchburg State University, please add the school to the Academic History Tab, and Fitchburg State will upload your transcript to your application on your behalf.
- Personal statement. In a statement of no more than 300 words, please describe how earning a Master's degree in Criminal Justice would help you fulfill your personal and professional goals.
- Professional resume and references. Please upload a professional resume that sets forth, at a minimum, your educational and employment history. On your resume, please include the names and contact information for three references. At least two must be individuals under whose supervision you have worked in a professional capacity.
- Letters of recommendation. As long as you provide names and contact information for three professional references on your resume, you do not need to submit letters of recommendation. However, the CJ program reserves the right to request letters of recommendation if needed.
Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling admission basis.
Still have questions? We're here to help!
You can connect with us by email or phone, attend an upcoming info session, or watch a recorded webinar to learn more about what makes Fitchburg State’s online Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Professional Studies concentration the right fit for you. We look forward to helping you take the next step in your career!
- Email an enrollment counselor gce@fitchburgstate.edu or call 978.665.3182
- Attend an Information Session
- Watch a webinar
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