Master of Science in Criminal Justice Online

This online criminal justice master’s degree program gives you the depth and breadth of knowledge in law enforcement you need to pursue upper-level positions in criminal justice. Graduates of this program emerge fully prepared for upper-level staff, administrative, management, treatment, and planning positions in criminal justice agencies.
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Program Overview
Learn what an online MS in Criminal Justice can do for you
Lamar University’s online MS in Criminal Justice is designed for law enforcement and criminal justice professionals ready to move into advanced or leadership roles across local, state, and federal agencies. The program blends theory, policy, and applied leadership to prepare you for the next stage of your career.
In addition to deepening your expertise in core areas including crime control, evaluation, and the evolving criminal justice legal and policy landscape, you’ll customize your program with electives in high-demand fields like homeland security, cybercrime, and forensic psychology. You will also develop managerial and leadership skills that agencies increasingly require for supervisory and executive positions.
In Lamar’s online MS in Criminal Justice, you will learn:
- The U.S. criminal justice system and policy
- Theoretical foundations of crime control along with an understanding of analytical tools, planning and evaluation
- Correctional issues, homeland security, police and constitutional law, ethics and criminal justice leadership
- The U.S. criminal justice system and policy
- Theoretical foundations of crime control along with an understanding of analytical tools, planning and evaluation
- Correctional issues, homeland security, police and constitutional law, ethics and criminal justice leadership
Career outcomes for the online MS in Criminal Justice include:
- (Chief) Criminal Investigator
- Criminologist or Crime Analyst
- FBI Special Agent
- Intelligence Analyst (Defense, Security)
- Marine Interdiction Agent
- Police Supervisor (Lieutenant, Captain, Chief)
- Probation/Parole Supervisor
- (Chief) Criminal Investigator
- Criminologist or Crime Analyst
- FBI Special Agent
- Intelligence Analyst (Defense, Security)
- Marine Interdiction Agent
- Police Supervisor (Lieutenant, Captain, Chief)
- Probation/Parole Supervisor
Career outlook for graduates of online MS in Criminal Justice:
- Strong regional labor market: Texas leads the country in unique job postings seeking criminal justice graduates.
- Double digit projected growth in job postings requesting MS-CJ skills including law enforcement operations, cybersecurity, project management, and immigration law.
- Jobs postings requiring an advanced degree in criminal justice led by federal and state agencies as well as large regional universities.
(Data per U.S. Department of Labor, 2025)
- Strong regional labor market: Texas leads the country in unique job postings seeking criminal justice graduates.
- Double digit projected growth in job postings requesting MS-CJ skills including law enforcement operations, cybersecurity, project management, and immigration law.
- Jobs postings requiring an advanced degree in criminal justice led by federal and state agencies as well as large regional universities.
(Data per U.S. Department of Labor, 2025)
Tuition
LU offers some of the most cost-effective online programs in Texas
The following is the tuition breakdown for students pursuing a Master of Science in Criminal Justice online. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.
Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program* |
---|---|---|---|
MSCJ | $360 | $1,080 | $10,802 |
*University fees are included in the tuition listed. University fees are able to be covered by Financial Aid if you choose to apply and are qualified.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.
Total program cost depends upon transfer hours and program advisement relevant to program requirements. For more information, contact a Lamar University enrollment specialist.
Financial Aid
Ready to get started on your degree program online but need help finding ways to fund your education? We can help you discover student financing sources that include grants, loans and other payment options. Learn more about financial aid here.
Tuition breakdown:

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View the upcoming dates and deadlines for our online criminal justice degree
Our Master of Science in Criminal Justice online program features multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.
8 week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall 2 | 10/13/25 | 9/22/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/7/25 | 12/10/25 |
Spring I | 1/20/26 | 12/30/25 | 1/6/26 | 1/13/26 | 3/13/26 |
Spring II | 3/16/26 | 2/23/26 | 3/2/26 | 3/10/26 | 5/6/26 |
Summer I | 5/26/26 | 5/5/26 | 5/12/26 | 5/19/26 | 6/30/26 |
Fall 1 | 8/20/26 | 7/30/26 | 8/6/26 | ||
Fall 2 | 10/12/26 | 9/21/26 | 9/28/26 |
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Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
These are the qualifications for our online Master’s in Criminal Justice Program
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
- Online Application
- Official Transcripts
- Complete online application and pay a one-time application fee of $25
- Submit official transcripts from all high schools, colleges, and universities you have attended
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a
regionally accredited college or university.
- Students with a background in criminal justice, criminology, or sociology are typically well prepared.
- Students with degrees in other fields and professional experience in criminal or juvenile justice may also be admitted with approval.
- Students from other fields without professional experience are still welcome to apply; additional preparatory coursework may be required, as advised by the Program Director/Advisor(s).
- GPA Requirements:
- Those with a GPA of 3.00 or higher on their last 60 Undergraduate hours will be admitted unconditionally
- Those with a GPA of 2.50-2.99 on their last 60 Undergraduate hours will be admitted provisionally and must maintain minimum grades of "B" in nine hours of CRIJ courses
- Those with a GPA of 2.49 or below on their last 60 Undergraduate hours must meet Lamar University's Graduate admissions formula with the GRE and GPA:
- Undergraduate GPA (or last 60 hours, whichever is higher) x 50 + GRE Verbal + GRE quantitative =/or greater than 428
Applicants who do not meet all admission requirements may enter as Pre Graduate, pending full admission to the program. Under Pre Graduate status, the student must make up all deficiencies and earn at least a "B" average. No more than 6 hours of graduate credit may be earned prior to full admission.
Students may transfer in up to 6 hours of approved courses for this degree.
Send all required documents to:
Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710
OR
Submit electronically to [email protected]
*All applicants must submit official transcript(s) indicating: 1) The conferred bachelor's or master's degree as required for the program of application from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent. 2) The transcript of the most recent attendance if it differs from the institution of the conferred degree. This requirement applies regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. However, if a department or program wishes to review additional transcripts from prior attendance for decision purposes, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions for processing. Students must be eligible to re-enter all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is justification for revocation of acceptance and dismissal from Lamar University.
Courses
Read about our online criminal justice classes
Courses in the M.S. in Criminal Justice online program include intensive studies in various areas of applied criminology as well as explorations of the criminal justice system and policy and theoretical approaches to the understanding of crime and delinquency. The program also includes courses designed to develop planning, evaluation and leadership skills specific to criminal justice professions.
9 credit hours required from below.
6 credit hours required from below.
15 credit hours required from below.
Request More Information
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