

Department of Sociology
Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Course Delivery
Total Credits
Approximate Cost per Credit
$686 out of state
Time to Completion
Program Overview
Help stop crimes before they occur. In Kent State’s online Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice program, you’ll cultivate your understanding of social behaviors and your expertise in crime prediction, prevention and response. With your degree, you’ll be equipped to influence informed policy decisions rooted in humane treatment and reason.


Program Details
Kent State’s online Criminology and Criminal Justice program is designed for busy working professionals and students seeking graduate education.
- 30 credits, consisting of 10 courses
- 7-week-long courses, with two courses taken sequentially each semester
- Three concentrations:
- Global Security
- Policing
- Victimology
- To keep class sizes small and maximize collaboration, we offer multiple sections of each course
- Graduate in as few as 24 months
Global Security
This concentration focuses on issues related to global security, U.S. national security policy and strategy, transnational issues and the concerns of other countries and regions. You’ll gain a strong foundation to confront the ever-changing, fast-paced and challenging international security environment.
With an emphasis on traditional and emerging transnational security threats, the program prepares you for analytical, operational and leadership careers in global security in the public and private sectors.
Global Security Program Outcomes
Our students graduate with a comprehensive foundation for understanding Intelligence and Counterintelligence (IC) as concepts, processes and careers. They’re versed in multiple topics related to global security, including:
- Economic and industrial espionage
- Trade secret thefts
- Law, technology and cyber-crimes
- Intellectual property theft
Career Outcomes in Global Security
This concentration is designed to produce a new generation of analysts, policymakers and scholars knowledgeable about the wide range of international and national security problems and foreign policy issues of the twenty-first century.
Our graduates often pursue careers as:
- U.S. Border Patrol Agents
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents
- Drug Enforcement Administration Agents
- U.S. Marshals
- Special Agents
- Analysts
- Policymakers
Learn more about potential careers in criminology and criminal justice.
Policing
In the Policing concentration, you’ll examine the historical ideas of police service and the lessons that can be learned from them. You’ll explore the research that has challenged traditional ideas and the implications of that research for revision. Further, you’ll analyze the implications of contemporary research to guide new innovations in policies, management, strategies and tactics of police service delivery.
Policing Program Outcomes
Graduates of the MA with a concentration in Policing will have expertise in:
- Various theories and research on police service
- The nature of coercion in human interaction
- The legitimate use of force by police
- Various philosophies and research on the Standard Model of policing, Community-Oriented policing, and Problem-Oriented policing
- Theories of police administration and the research corroborating or refuting their validity
Career Outcomes in Policing
This concentration is designed to help you learn to direct new policing policies, management, strategies and improvement tactics. Prepare to redefine policing by guiding departments through transition and transformation, with an emphasis on open-mindedness and community engagement.
Our graduates often pursue careers in:
- Police Departments
- Sheriff's Departments
- Private Security
- Departments of Corrections
- City Governments
Learn more about potential careers in criminology and criminal justice.
Victimology
The concentration in Victimology provides specialized knowledge of the scientific study of crime victims, their treatment within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, their legal rights, and victim assistance and restorative justice programs. You’ll prepare to develop and lead initiatives that help prevent victimization, engage in victimological research and evaluation, and respond to victims in culturally appropriate ways.
Victimology Program Outcomes
Graduates will have fluency in:
- The physical, emotional, and financial harm people suffer because of criminal activities
- The impact of crime on victims
- Measuring crime through victimization
- Patterns of victim-offender relationships
- The role of the victim within the criminal and juvenile justice systems
Career Outcomes in Victimology
Become a force for victim assistance and restorative justice. In the Victimology concentration, you’ll learn to ensure humane, equitable justice by internalizing the specifics of culturally appropriate responses and interactions.
Our graduates often pursue careers in:
- Victim Advocacy
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Restorative Justice
Learn more about potential careers in criminology and criminal justice.
Admissions Requirements
- Completed online application
- Complete bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), from an accredited university
- Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers
- Application fee: $45
- Official transcripts
- Goal statement
- Resume/CV
- The requirement for GRE scores has been temporarily waived
The application process is simple and we’re here to guide you through it.
Our Admissions Advisors are available to answer your questions regarding admissions requirements for the program. If you have questions, please email us at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.
Important Dates
Application Resources

Our step-by-step application checklist will help ensure the success of your application submission.
Application FAQs
Each applicant is required to create an account in the online application system, which allows people to save their applications and track the progress of materials submitted via the application system.
I am a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
Graduate Admissions
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio 44242
Please be sure to include your full name and Kent State ID (9-digit number starting with 8) on all submitted documents. For questions, contact Graduate Admissions at +1 330-672-2661 or gradapps@kent.edu.
I am not a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
Office of Global Education
Kent State University
106 Van Campen Hall
625 Loop Rd.
Kent, OH 44242
USA
For questions, contact International Admissions at +1 330-672-7970 or intladm@kent.edu.
Courses
The degree is comprised of three major components:
- Six required courses, consisting of “breadth” classes and one course from each of the three concentration areas (21 credits)
- Three additional courses from your chosen concentration (9 credits)
- One required capstone project (3 credits)
By completing the MA degree, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a practical understanding of criminological theory
- Use that theory to gain understanding of crime and criminal behavior, pose and attempt to answer research questions and see its connection to crime policy
- Demonstrate:
- Mastery of the significant empirical findings in the major areas of criminology and criminal justice
- Appreciation for the use of the scientific method in the study of crime
- Practical understanding of research methods used in the field and statistics in social science research
- Basic skills in planning and conducting research projects, including evaluation research in particular
- Describe the roles of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and social class as they relate to crime and victimization
- Effectively communicate criminological knowledge
- Write a clear and concise analysis of issues, policies and research in the field
CCJ Core Courses (7 Courses, 21 Credits)
CRIM 56705 COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
CRIM 56800 INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY
CRIM 66761 LAW, JUSTICE, AND SOCIETY
CRIM 66763 THEORIES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY
CRIM 66766 INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
CRIM 66768 RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRIM 66770 JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS
CRIM 66772 VICTIMOLOGY
CRIM 66875 PROSEMINAR CAPSTONE: ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY JUSTICE
Global Security Concentration Courses (3 Courses, 9 Credits)
CRIM 56801 HOMELAND SECURITY
CRIM 56802 TERRORISM AND COUNTER-TERRORISM
CRIM 56803 INFORMATION AND CYBER SECURITY
Policing Concentration Courses (3 Courses, 9 Credits)
CRIM 66767 JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION
CRIM 66773 CONTEMPORARY POLICING
CRIM 56904 ISSUES IN POLICE WORK
Victimology Concentration Courses (3 Courses, 9 Credits)
CRIM 57002 HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES AND THE LAW
CRIM 57003 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE
CRIM 57004 LEGAL PERSPECTIVES AND RIGHTS IN VICTIMIZATION
Course Requirements
To participate in this online program, you will need a computer and broadband Internet connection. Your program may have further requirements that include the ability to record video and audio. If you have questions regarding technology requirements for the program, please contact your Admissions Advisor at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.
Once you are admitted to the program, your Admissions Advisor will craft your personalized degree plan, giving you a clear course sequence and path to graduation.
Exclusive Opportunity for KSU Undergraduates: The Accelerated MA in CCJ Degree Option
Launch your career sooner than you expected to. In Kent State’s criminology and criminal justice program, juniors and seniors with qualifying GPAs can apply up to 12 credit hours of coursework toward the CCJ bachelor’s and master’s degrees. By earning double credits, you’ll earn your online MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice earlier than anticipated, save money on tuition and fees, and be prepared to dive into your career ahead of your classmates and ahead of schedule. For more information, please contact an Admissions Advisor at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Ohio Residents | Out of State | ||
Per Credit Hour | Approximate Program Cost | Per Credit Hour | Approximate Program Cost |
$676 | $22,308 | $686 | $22,638 |
An additional distance learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $12 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change. For comprehensive tuition information, please refer to the tuition rates posted on the Bursar’s website.
We recognize that pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment. Your Admissions Advisor can answer your questions on program costs, discuss how a Kent State degree compares to others and connect you with financial aid representatives when you are ready to discuss your financial options.
Please contact an Admissions Advisor for more information on tuition and fees either by email at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or toll-free at +1 844‑234‑4073.