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Criminal Justice, MA

Earn a master’s degree in criminal justice and gain in-demand skills in a flexible part-time format with a focus on ethics and leadership.

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About this Program

Advance Your Career with Our Criminal Justice Program

Advance your career in criminal justice with our master’s degree in Criminal Justice. You'll gain high-demand skills in a high-demand field and make strong connections with others who share your goals and values. Plus, you'll be able to choose between three different specializations: criminal justice research and evaluation, investigative criminology or victimology. 

Grounded in social justice, our interdisciplinary graduate program offers a comprehensive, rigorous and analytic study of crime and the societal responses to it.  

As one of the best colleges for criminal justice, you’ll experience an Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences aligned program and learn from renowned faculty members. You'll also have three specializations to choose from: criminal justice research and evaluation, investigative criminology or victimology. 

Advisory Committee: Deep Connections in Seattle and Beyond

Our Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, with more than 100 members, includes key professionals from more than 50 agencies in local, state, federal and private criminal justice agencies.  

All members make important contributions through assisting with program development, internships and collaborative research and service initiatives, preparing for employment trends and determining the best ways to serve your needs as student. 

Criminal Justice Master's Degree at a Glance

Learn how this degree from the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology and Forensics will contribute to your career goals. Then, explore course requirements and see how impactful a Seattle University degree can be.

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ): The MACJ curriculum consists of 55 credits: 18 3-credit courses and one 1-credit course. You will take 11 foundation courses (31 credits) and 8 elective courses (24 credits).

Specialization in Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation

The MACJ with Specialization in Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation curriculum consists of 55 credits: 18 3-credit courses and one 1-credit course. Students will take 11 foundation courses (31 credits), 4 elective courses (12 credits) and 4 specialization area courses (12 credits).

Specialization in Investigative Criminology

The MACJ with Specialization in Investigative Criminology consists of 55 credits: 18 3-credit courses and one 1-credit course. Students will take 11 foundation courses (31 credits), 4 elective courses (12 credits) and 4 specialization area courses (12 credits).

Specialization in Victimology

The MACJ with Specialization in Victimology curriculum consists of 55 credits: 18 3-credit courses and one 1-credit course. Students will take 11 foundation courses (31 credits), 4 elective courses (12 credits) and 4 specialization area courses (12 credits).

Seattle University graduates in criminal justice (CJ) should be able to:

  • Evaluate and analyze a contemporary CJ issues with advanced knowledge of CJ terminology, major topic areas/issues in criminal justice and criminological theory and ethical issues in crime and justice.
  • Design a research proposal and conduct computer-based statistical analysis at basic (descriptive) level.
  • Understand the interdisciplinary nature of criminal justice and ethical issues in law enforcement, courts and corrections.
  • Articulate key concepts in criminology and criminal justice.
  • Prepare and present a paper orally using multimedia/technology.
  • Master content in upper-level specialization courses.

What You’ll Learn

Learn about the classes you’ll take as a student here.

Explore Criminal Justice

Program Director Dr. Elaine Gunnison shares how our top-rated program prepares you for a rewarding career in criminal justice.

Support That Makes a Difference

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Internships for Career Preparation

While internships are not required for academic credit, there are a wide range of internship and employment opportunities in criminal justice at the local and national level. Students have had internships and volunteer experiences in city, county, state and federal agencies.

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Adding the Crime Analysis Certificate to Your Master’s Degree

Master of Criminal Justice (MACJ) students may add the crime analysis certificate to their program of study and double-count up to ten credits of coursework toward the certificate.  

The master’s degree and certificate requires a minimum of 70 credits (55 MACJ credits plus 25 certificate credits with 10 credits that count towards both degrees). 

Learn More About the Certificate
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Leaders for Justice, Fairness and Equality

We prepare our graduates to advocate for reform within and beyond the criminal justice system and to lead for justice, fairness and equality. You'll engage in the course Critical Criminology, a core course in our curriculum, to learn how to deconstruct scientific thinking, language and theoretical perspectives that have perpetuated oppression and power relations of injustice.

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Crime and Justice Research Center

We recognize that crime and its prevention, response and reparation are community concerns. We address those through the integration of perspectives, strategies and approaches based on evidence-based practices and collaborative engagement.

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Designed for Your Career

Along with graduating from a program that’s well respected and highly rated, you’ll graduate with:

  • Specialized experience in victimology, investigative criminology and research and evaluation.
  • Connections in the field through career-launching internship opportunities.
  • Strong criminology ethics, exposure to diversity of thought and the ability to think critically.

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degree generally seek careers in:

  • Law enforcement
  • Private security
  • Community and institutional corrections
  • Court services
  • Victim services
  • Social services
  • Academia
  • Investigation in a range of public and private agencies

Advisory Committee: Deep Connections in Seattle and Beyond

Our Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, with more than 100 members, includes key professionals from more than 50 agencies in local, state, federal and private criminal justice agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ACLU, Microsoft Global Securities Risk Operations, Seattle Police Department, WA State Department of Corrections, the Public Defender Association and many more.

Committee members make important contributions through assisting with program development, internships and collaborative research and service initiatives, preparing for labor market demands and determining the best ways to serve your needs as a student.

Popular Careers and Career Paths

The criminal justice field offers many career opportunities. Our graduates are working in law enforcement, private security, community and institutional corrections, court services, victim services, social services, academia and/or investigation in a range of public and private agencies.

They have rewarding careers as data analysts, law enforcement officers, forensic scientists, victim advocates, criminal investigators, researchers, policymakers, advocates and teachers in community colleges and universities.

From Our Student

Brenna Fain

Brenna Fain, ‘25

“My experience in the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics has been fantastic. Thanks to the small class sizes and caring faculty, I have always felt like more than just a number. I have had the opportunity to get to know my professors on a personal level, and I am currently working with one of them as a research assistant. This program has helped me build connections and skills to thrive in postgraduate and professional settings in the criminal justice field.”

BA in Criminal Justice, Forensic Psychology

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Get in Touch

If you have any questions about the program or application, we’re here to help.

Destiny Ledesma

Senior Admissions Counselor

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