Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership
Overview
Criminal justice and security agencies are under increased scrutiny—challenged to provide efficient and effective services, be transparent in their interactions with the public, and respond to changing local, national, and world conditions. To be successful, justice system leaders need to think strategically, communicate locally, and act ethically while developing comprehensive (and often multi-jurisdictional) solutions to crime and terrorism problems.
In response, Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies—in collaboration with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice—offers the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership. This innovative online master’s degree provides a path to excellence for leaders in law enforcement, courts, private security, and corrections organizations. Academically distinctive, graduate courses in this program emphasize leadership, communication, and ethics—themes that are designed to enhance your leadership capacity and improve your career prospects.
Program Objectives
- Gain a better understanding of the increasingly complex criminal justice environment
- Understand the short- and long-term benefits of ethical decision making
- Identify and apply leadership theories and practices that contribute to the commitment of an effective, efficient, and equitable administration of public safety
- Build a personal model of leadership that can be put into action in the workplace
- Evaluate major substantive topics and criminal behavior trends, including street violence, gangs, guns, drugs, human trafficking, terrorism, and cyber crime
- Examine current and emerging anticrime strategies such as community policing, intelligence-led policing, and multijurisdictional intelligence fusion operations.
- Discover how technology can be utilized to prevent and respond to criminal activity
Interested in learning more?
Watch the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership Webinar.
Curriculum
Foundation Courses (18 q.h.)
| CJS 6400 | The Justice Seminar (includes a 1-week summer institute in Boston) | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6405 | Criminological Theory for Criminal Justice Leaders | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6415 | Legal Decision Making and Leadership | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6420 | U.S. Policing in the 21st Century | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6100 | Developing Your Leadership Capability | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6470 | Criminal Justice Capstone (recommended as last course) | 3 q.h. |
Operations Courses (9 q.h.)
Choose a minimum of three courses:
| CJS 6425 | Research Methods | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6435 | Managing and Using Program Evaluations | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6440 | GIS, Evidence-Based Learning, and Policy | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6205 | Law Enforcement Management and Planning | 3 q.h. |
| NPM 6120 | Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations | 3 q.h. |
Concentrations (15 q.h.)
Choose one of the following concentrations or select a minimum of five courses from any of the following concentrations:
Community and Family Justice Concentration (15 q.h.)
Complete five of the following courses:
| CJS 6050 | Models of Intelligence-Led Policing | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6300 | Communities and Crime | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6330 | Youth Justice and Crime | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6340 | Substance Abuse and Addictions | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6305 | Criminal Behavior and the Family | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6135 | Intimate Partner Violence | 3 q.h. |
Corrections Management Concentration (15 q.h.)
Complete five of the following courses:
| CJS 6300 | Communities and Crime | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6330 | Youth Justice and Crime | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6315 | Administration of the Adult and Juvenile Correctional Systems | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6325 | Probate and Parole | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6320 | Community Corrections | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6145 | Correctional Rehabilitation | 3 q.h. |
Leadership Concentration (15 q.h.)
Complete five of the following courses:
| LDR 6110 | Leading Teams | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6120 | Creating Leadership Capacity: Developing Bench Strength | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6125 | Managing Organizational Culture | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6140 | Developing the Strategic Leader | 3 q.h. |
| LDR 6360 | Dynamics of Change at the Community and Social Level | 3 q.h. |
Security Concentration (15 q.h.)
Complete five of the following courses:
| CJS 6000 | Management for Security Professionals | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6010 | Advanced Principles of Security Management and Threat Assessment | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6005 | Legal and Regulatory Issues for Security Management | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6105 | Domestic and International Terrorism | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6125 | Issues in National Security | 3 q.h. |
| CMN 6050 | Crisis Communication | 3 q.h. |
| CJS 6430 | Risk Management | 3 q.h. |
Total Quarter Hours: 42
Admissions Requirements
Below are the official Admissions Requirements for this program.
- Online application
- Statement of purpose (500-1000 words): identifying your educational goals and expectations from the program; please be aware that the University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to applicant's statement of purpose
- Professional resume: current resume that displays job responsibilities, relevant experience, and education history
- Two letters of recommendation: from individual(s) with either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities, such as a faculty member, current employer, mentor, or colleague
- Official undergraduate degree documentation
- Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language: English language proficiency guidelines
For general admissions information and recommended admissions deadlines, Graduate Admissions.
Tuition
Estimated total tuition for this program is $22,470.00.
Tuition for individual courses is based on the number of quarter hours. Most courses are 3-6 quarter hours. See Graduate Tuition Rates for details.
Use our Tuition Calculator below to see if transfer credit or tuition reimbursement from your employer could reduce your total tuition.
Tuition Calculator
Please note: The estimated total tuition is based on tuition rates for Academic Year 2011-12 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time.
Student Profile
Who Will Your Classmates Be?
Designed for individuals with three or more years of experience in the criminal justice field, this program improves students’ leadership skills—preparing them to assume future leadership positions.
This broad-based program provides skills and knowledge that can be applied across a wide variety of criminal justice organizations.
Typical job titles include:
- Community service officers
- Youth outreach professionals
- Police officers
- Private security officers
- Probation and parole officers
An undergraduate degree is required.
Career Outlook
Put Your Degree to Work
Technological advances have created a host of exciting career opportunities in the criminal justice field. While there has always been a consistent need for criminal justice professionals, the field is growing at a faster-than-average rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—with significant need for leaders with skills in technology, risk management, and budgeting.
The U.S. Department of Labor categorizes the earning capacity in criminal justice jobs as very good with the median yearly earnings in the various departments related to criminal justice ranging from $42,020 to $78,230.
Talk to an Enrollment Coach
We can walk you through your program options and the application process.
- Call Toll Free:
- 877.668.7727
- Email:
- Contact Us
Meet the enrollment coaches
- Christine
- "I have the opportunity to change students' lives every day by helping them embark on a journey that will enhance their future."
- Ricky
- "It is exciting to work with students who show such an amazing energy and enthusiasm toward advancing their personal and professional lives through our programs."