How Can I Get This Degree?

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree offered through Saint Leo University was designed with future law enforcement leaders in mind. Students in this program receive training in ethics, legal issues, forensics and the social impacts of criminal justice. While the MSCJ is a two-year program, it can be accelerated to less than two years on a case-by-case basis. To get this degree, MSCJ graduate students must complete 36 total credit hours, consisting of 18 hours of core classes and 18 hours of elective courses. Included in the core courses is an applied project in criminal justice administration. Core courses for this path of master’s study include Public Policy Making in Criminal Justice and Leadership Applications in Criminal Justice. Elective courses are varied, including topics like hostage negotiation, terrorist attack prevention, and crime scene investigation and management. Students can choose to study generally or concentrate their studies in critical incident management or forensics. The cost of tuition per credit hour for the MSCJ program is $382 per credit hour, with the full cost of tuition for the 2010-2011 semester adding up to $4,584.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

After earning a MSCJ degree, many graduates with relevant experience are equipped for top-level administrative work in law enforcement. Graduates may seek out law enforcement positions that require strong decision-making capabilities and leadership skills. Possible career paths include positions with state and local law enforcement as well as positions in federal law enforcement, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations or the Department of Homeland Security. Job titles might include sheriff, deputy, police officer, detective, investigator, border patrol agent and special agent. Average employment growth of 10 percent is expected for police and detectives in the 2008-18 decade, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. Job opportunities will be most favorable in local police departments, but competition is expected to be heavy for state and federal law enforcement positions, the Bureau notes. The average annual salary for police and detective supervisors was $75,490 as of May 2008, the Bureau states.