Advance Your Career in Criminal Justice. Preparing Ethical Professionals to Meet Contemporary Challenges in the Criminal Justice Field.
º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice program (MS in Criminal Justice) is one of Illinois’ most respected graduate programs for criminal justice professionals and aspiring leaders. Rooted in the Lasallian values of ethics, service, and justice, this program goes beyond theory to develop the analytical, leadership, and decision-making skills you need to serve and protect your community according to the highest ethical and professional standards.
Whether you’re a working professional looking to advance your career, a criminal justice practitioner ready to deepen your expertise, or a recent graduate preparing to make your mark, this program is designed to equip you to excel in your chosen field.
Program Snapshot
Degree - Master of Science (M.S.)
Format - 100% Asynchronous Online
Benefits – 20% First responder tuition discount; Tuition payment deferral
Memberships and Affiliations
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Higher Education Partner
Cook County, IL Sheriff’s Office Preferred Educational Provider
National Fraternal Order of Police FOP University;
FBINAA Academic Alliance Â
Honoring our Veterans - Yellow Ribbon Program - Unlimited Participants
Recognition
- U.S. News and World Report, consistently ranked among the best online Criminal Justice M.S. programs in the country.
- #1 Best for Vets School in Illinois.
Why Lewis University Is One of the Best Graduate Schools for Criminal Justice
When searching for the right graduate school for criminal justice, the difference between programs comes down to this: who are you learning from, and where do their graduates end up?
At Lewis, the answer is clear. Our faculty bring real-world experience from law enforcement, courts, and corrections directly into the classroom, and the results speak for themselves.
More than 100 Lewis University alumni currently serve as public safety chief executives across the country. Our graduates hold high-level positions in local, state, and federal public safety agencies.
What sets Lewis apart:
- Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Higher Education Partner - º£½ÇÉçÇø is a Higher Education Partner of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, helping to equip law enforcement executives at the highest levels to meet their educational and professional goals.
- Cook County, IL Sheriff’s Office preferred Educational Partner – º£½ÇÉçÇø is proud to serve as a preferred educational partner for the nation’s second largest sheriff’s office.
- FBI National Academy Alliance member - Lewis University is a member of the Academic Alliance of the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. (FBINAA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the highest standards of law enforcement training and education.
- National Fraternal Order of Police University () member - Lewis is proud to serve members of the National FOP with award-winning graduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Leadership and Administration.
- #1 Best for Vets in Illinois - Recognized by Military Times as the top-ranked private school for veterans in Illinois, and ranked in the Top 2 nationally among private schools.
- - Unlimited participants. Qualified Post-9/11 veterans can enroll in Lewis’s approved programs tuition free, with no lottery and no deadline to worry about.
- 100% online – To meet the scheduling needs of today’s criminal justice practitioner.
- Accelerated course format – 8-week accelerated course format allows you to earn your master’s degree in 1-2 years.
What You’ll Study in the M.S. in Criminal Justice Program
The curriculum blends theory with practice, giving you a sophisticated understanding of the issues criminal justice professionals face, along with the critical thinking and ethical
reasoning skills to address them.
Core Curriculum areas include:
- Criminal Procedure
- Criminal Law
- Criminology
- Research Methods in Criminal Justice
- Ethics and Integrity
Sample Graduate Elective Courses
- Violent Crime
- Terrorism
- Drugs Distribution and Impact
- Diversions from Incarceration
- Police Civil Liability
- Public Safety Data Analysis and Response Strategies
- Criminal Justice Administration and Management
- Public Safety Leadership
- Organizational Behavior
Elective courses allow you to tailor your degree to your specific professional interests, whether that’s law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, homeland security, or the courts.
100% Online
For working professionals with demanding schedules, Lewis offers a 100% online M.S. in Criminal Justice to meet students where they are.
The online format is built for people with demanding careers and schedules. M.S. in Criminal Justice students build lasting professional relationships with faculty and peers through collaborative learning experiences that a graduate degree should provide.
Where a Lewis M.S. in Criminal Justice Can Take You
Graduates of Lewis’s criminal justice graduate program are equipped to lead at every level of the field.
Career settings for M.S. in Criminal Justice graduates include:
- Federal, State, county, and local public safety agencies
- Courts and corrections systems
- Juvenile justice agencies
- Homeland security and intelligence roles
- Private sector security and risk management
- Nonprofit and community justice organizations
Lewis alumni have gone on to serve as police chiefs, federal agents, corrections administrators, and protective service leaders across the country. When you earn your master’s degree in criminal justice at Lewis, you’re joining a network that reaches the highest levels of the profession.
Fast Track Option: º£½ÇÉçÇø undergraduate criminal justice majors can earn both their B.A. and M.S. in Criminal Justice through an accelerated 4+1 Fast Track program, completing the graduate degree in less time than the two programs would require separately.
Admission Requirements
º£½ÇÉçÇø’s M.S. in Criminal Justice program welcomes applicants from a variety of backgrounds. Admission requirements include:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with one of the following:
- Major in social or behavioral science
- Be currently serving as a criminal justice practitioner
- Applicants may also successfully complete two criminal justice courses selected by the program director with a grade of B or better prior to admission as a degree candidate.
- Official academic transcripts from each institution attended.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0, calculated on the most recent 60 semester hours. Provisional admission status may be granted to a student applicant who has applied for full admission but did not achieve an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Obtain acceptance by the Graduate Council.
- Submission of a personal statement.
Please visit the Office of Graduate Admission for application requirements and specific next steps.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Lewis University M.S. in Criminal Justice will be equipped to:
- Critically analyze complex criminal justice issues using theory, research, and practical knowledge
- Apply ethical reasoning to real-world decisions in law enforcement and public safety
- Lead criminal justice organizations with strong administrative and management skills
- Evaluate intelligence, policy, and behavioral evidence to inform professional judgment
- Advance equity, human rights, and social justice within the field.
- Contribute meaningfully to their agencies, communities, and the profession at large
Related Programs
FAQ
What is the M.S. in Criminal Justice at º£½ÇÉçÇø?
º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice is an advanced graduate degree program available 100% online. It prepares students for leadership roles in federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, courts, corrections, and other protective services through a rigorous curriculum that blends theory, ethics, and practical skill development.
Is º£½ÇÉçÇø a good graduate school for criminal justice?
Yes. º£½ÇÉçÇø is recognized as one of the top criminal justice graduate programs in Illinois. The university is a Higher Education Partner with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, a preferred educational provider for the Cook County, IL Sheriff’s Office, a member of the FBI National Academy Associates Academic Alliance, a member of the National Fraternal Order of Police University (NFOPU). º£½ÇÉçÇø was ranked the #1 Best for Vets school in Illinois by Military Times. More than 100 Lewis alumni serve as chief executives in a variety of public safety careers.
Can I earn my master’s in criminal justice online?
Yes. º£½ÇÉçÇø offers a 100% asynchronous online M.S. in Criminal Justice to allow students to continue their education while working in the criminal justice field. We recognize that public safety professionals need a flexible learning environment to meet their scheduling needs. Instructors in the Criminal Justice, M.S. program strive to create an interactive, collaborative online learning environment that fosters the connections students make in face-to-face classrooms. Â
What are the admission requirements for a criminal justice master’s program at Lewis?
Applications need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a background in social or behavioral sciences (or current criminal justice employment), a 3.0+ undergraduate GPA, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and a personal statement.
Does º£½ÇÉçÇø offer veteran benefits for the criminal justice graduate program? Yes. º£½ÇÉçÇø is a Yellow Ribbon Program partner and was named the #1 Best for Vets private school in Illinois. Qualified Post-9/11 veterans can attend Lewis tuition free through the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, with unlimited participant slots and no lottery.
How long does it take to complete the M.S. in Criminal Justice?
Graduate students can complete their M.S. in Criminal Justice in 1-2 years. Lewis also offers a Fast Track option for undergraduate criminal justice students at Lewis, allowing them to earn both a B.A. and M.S. in an accelerated timeframe.
Need more Information?
Share ➤