Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Our online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program approaches the study of crime and criminal justice from an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing insights from sociology, criminology, psychology, and law.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program Overview
Our MS in Criminal Justice program prepares students to be leaders in the criminal justice field through experience-based learning, best practice approaches and field collaborations. The program is designed for criminal justice professionals seeking to advance their career to the next level. This MS in Criminal Justice program delivers a comprehensive understanding of how conceptual and theoretical frameworks apply to real-world situations in a wide range of criminal justice career paths.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program Highlights
High Quality Education
The University of Cincinnati’s online criminal justice master’s program is designed to achieve several core objectives:
- Provide students with the conceptual and research skills needed to undertake advanced analyses of crime and the criminal justice system
- Furnish law enforcement, corrections and court practitioners with knowledge of justice administration, social science perspectives of human behavior, policy analysis and criminal justice theory
- Train those who will become leaders in the criminal justice system by providing the skills needed to upgrade levels of professional practice, improve standards, initiate fresh perspectives and act as agents of change
- Prepare social scientists to pursue careers in university and research settings
- Equip graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue advanced leadership roles in a range of law enforcement and criminal justice disciplines
Flexibility
- 100% online
- Can be completed in just over two years
- Financial aid & scholarship options available
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s Degree (in any field of study) from a regionally accredited university
- At least two professional or academic letters of recommendation from individuals you have known for a minimum of one year – at least one letter must be from a current or past supervisor
- A personal goal statement
- Current resume or CV
- An overall 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) or higher from all previous undergraduate coursework
– OR –
- An overall 2.75 GPA will be considered for acceptance with at least one of the following:
- Five years of criminal justice work experience (does not include social work)
- Nine hours of graduate coursework with a 3.0 GPA or higher with a regionally accredited college or university
- A minimum combined score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative parts of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within five years of your application*
- *The GRE is not needed with a 3.0 GPA or higher
Automatic admission into the MSCJ-DL program for undergraduate students who graduate from UC
- Cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above (for courses completed at UC)
- Earned 4-year undergraduate degree from UC
- Graduated from UC within the past 5 years (15 academic semesters)
- Any major applies (not limited to Criminal Justice majors)
- Must still complete the application and pay the application fee, but if the student meets the above requirements they will be automatically admitted to the program
- The Fast Track application process removes the Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement, CV/Resume, and Letter of Recommendation requirements from the application for qualified applicants; submission of transcripts as part of the application process is still required
- Letter of recommendation will be waived as a requirement (a generic letter signed by the MS DL Director or the Associate Director will be provided to meet Graduate School requirements)
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Fall 2026 for all applicants who apply by July 1, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who: are currently serving in the US armed forces, or are veterans of the US armed forces.
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Please review and submit the following materials:
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
For questions regarding international students, contact an Enrollment Services Advisor.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
Transfer Credits
Have you already completed some graduate study? You may transfer up to 9 hours of graduate credit in criminal justice or criminology courses from a regionally accredited college or university. These credits must have been earned within the last five years prior to entrance into the program and can be used only for general electives. Talk to your Enrollment Services Advisor to discuss the petition process.
At least two professional or academic letters of recommendation from individuals you have known for a minimum of one year, presented on corresponding professional letterhead. At least one letter must be from a current or past supervisor.
The personal goal statement should explain how the Master of Science in Criminal Justice will further your career goals in less than 500 words. You may also provide any other information about your ability to succeed in our program that you’d like us to consider.
Must provide a current resume or CV.
International applicants must have a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (paper version) or 190 (electronic version) to be considered for acceptance.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Spring 2026 | B Term* Summer 2026 | A Term Summer 2026 | B Term* Fall 2026 | A Term Fall 2026 | B Term* |
February 16, 2026 April 28, 2026 June 11, 2026 August 1, 2026 September 28, 2026 |
March 2, 2026 May 11, 2026 June 25, 2026 August 24, 2026 October 13, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
Fraternal Order of Police members and their dependents are eligible for an exclusive scholarship for the online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. Contact an Enrollment Services Advisor to find out more.
The University of Cincinnati’s online Master’s in Criminal Justice program is ranked 12th best in the country by U.S. News & World Report (2024). OnlineMaster’sDegrees.org (OMD) also ranks this program as the 14th best, citing overall quality, affordability, and commitment to student success. Between 2018 to 2022 the program had a 93% first term retention rate, meaning that 93% of new students returned for their second semester.
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