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Bring hope to a world in need of truth by earning your Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree online at Franciscan University of Steubenville. We designed our flexible program with working professionals like you in mind, ensuring it offers career-focused education that prepares you to serve in forensic science, law enforcement, corrections, and many other fields in as little as one year.
Join us to explore justice through the lens of natural law and our Judeo-Christian heritage. Bring light into a world of darkness by putting faith into action.
Through Franciscan’s online criminal justice master’s program, you’ll strengthen your:
Ethical leadership and moral reasoning: Grounded in the Catholic moral tradition, our program helps you build strong critical thinking skills and an ethical base by studying human and natural law and nurturing your spiritual growth.
Specialized expertise: The online MS in Criminal Justice offers a broad range of elective courses in vital topics like cybersecurity, forensic sciences, and investigative methods, so you can customize your focus and excel in ever-evolving and complex practice.
Robust understanding of criminology and justice system operations: By exploring the formation, evolution, and ethos of our nation’s justice system, our program emphasizes how the many functions of the justice model work, the efficacy of programs and policies, and how the proper implementation of policies ensures tranquility in the common good.
At Franciscan, we keep the graduate admissions process simple. We accept applications on a rolling basis, which means there is no formal deadline, and you can begin your online criminal justice program in the fall, spring, or summer.
To ensure you have enough time to prepare, we recommend submitting your application at least one month before your intended start date.
1. Admission Requirements
When applying to the master’s in criminal justice online program, you must have a bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from a regionally accredited university or college in any discipline. If your undergraduate GPA was below 3.0, you may be admitted on a conditional or probationary basis.
At Franciscan, we do not require you to take a Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Additionally, while a basic knowledge of criminal justice operations is helpful, it is not mandatory for acceptance into the program.
2. Free Online Application
Your journey to Franciscan begins by submitting an online application.
If you have questions about applying to Franciscan, please contact our Graduate Admissions Office for more information.
2. Submit Documents
Along with your completed online application, please submit:
All official college or university transcripts (sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the issuing institution).
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) results (if you are an international applicant whose first language or the country’s official language is not English).
Supplemental materials should be emailed to the Graduate Admissions office or sent to:
Graduate Admissions Office
Franciscan University of Steubenville
1235 University Boulevard
Steubenville, OH 43952
Shape your future with an online MS in Criminal Justice degree from Franciscan. Aligned with the Center for Criminal Justice, Law, and Ethics, our graduate program delivers a one-of-a-kind graduate education and cultivates professional excellence—all from a Catholic spiritual and philosophical tradition.
Gain a deep understanding of our nation’s justice system—its historical roots, foundational principles, and contemporary structures—while becoming well-versed in natural law reasoning. Along with acquiring practical career skills, you’ll explore timeless concepts like truth, justice, and goodness to develop a reliable moral compass for navigating modern challenges and leading with virtue.
Inspired by the Gospel, you graduate equipped to serve in diverse criminal justice fields, bringing restoration and dignity wherever you are called.
Review the catalog to explore available criminal justice courses.
Core Courses (9 Credits)
CRJ 600: Law, Ethics, and the American Justice System
CRJ 601: Crime, Justice, and Morality
CRJ 602: Natural Law as the Foundation for Just Society
Applications in Criminal Justice (21 credits)
To tailor your graduate education to your unique career goals, you can choose seven courses to customize your skill set:
CRJ 610: Criminalistics and Forensic Science
CRJ 615: Criminal and Civil Investigative Protocols
CRJ 620: Fraud and Forensic Accounting
CRJ 625: Cybercrime and Cyber Security
CRJ 630: Protection of Children in the Justice System
CRJ 635: Community Initiatives in Criminal Justice
CRJ 640: Privatization and the Justice System
CRJ 675: Independent Study in Criminal Justice
CRJ 699: Special Topics in Criminal Justice
CRJ 700: Thesis Option in Criminal Justice
Tuition for the online Master of Science in Criminal Justice is $620 per credit hour, with a total program cost of approximately $18,600. Many students see a return on investment within 1.5 years. Eligible members of select associations receive a 15 percent tuition discount, and highly experienced justice professionals may qualify for the Franciscan Fellow Program, which offers an additional $3,000 in financial support.
Pursuing your online Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Franciscan University of Steubenville prepares you for a life and profession dedicated to service and leadership. Here, you undergo robust professional development and immersive training to spark your passion for justice and create restorative solutions for real-world problems.
Whether leveling up your career or seeking a new path, you’ll be prepared to lead with virtue in today’s complex criminal justice landscape.
“
Franciscan’s Master of Science Program in Criminal Justice will stand alone as a unique offering. What sets this program apart is the commitment to a moral and ethical approach to law enforcement, firmly rooted in the principles of Judeo-Christian and Catholic natural law doctrine.
— Major Shaun Klucznik, MA, CJM
Judicial Services
Bureau Commander, Jail Administrator
You’ll be mentored by criminal justice leaders who understand today’s evolving legal and investigative landscape. Our faculty ground advanced justice training in natural law and the Catholic moral tradition.
Will students be expected to participate at specific, scheduled times (synchronously)?
No. The online criminal justice master’s program is asynchronous, enabling you to complete coursework when your schedule allows. This format offers maximum flexibility for working professionals and students balancing other commitments.
How are the online criminal classes structured?
At Franciscan, the courses in our online MS in Criminal Justice program are delivered in eight-week sessions. You can take four courses during the fall and spring terms and up to two during the summer, making it possible to finish the degree in as little as one calendar year. You are also free to follow a pace that works best for you, giving you more flexibility to learn on your own schedule.
What makes a good MS degree program?
When investing in a master’s degree, choose a program that aligns with your academic and professional goals and integrates well into your life.
Franciscan’s online MS in Criminal Justice program blends theory and practice, forming a strong academic foundation while remaining grounded in real-world application. You'll engage in advanced research, examine and critique professional standards, and emerge as a competent, ethical, and morally grounded leader in the justice system.
What can you do with a criminal justice degree?
Equipped with a criminal justice master’s degree, you can pursue work in the justice system at the local, state, and federal levels. Career paths include policing and law enforcement, legal and court-related professions, corrections and rehabilitation services, human services, and criminological research or policy development. This degree may also prepare you to continue your advanced education and attend law school.
Whichever path you choose, Franciscan’s criminal justice program delivers transformative training and empowers you to leave a lasting impact in your community and worldwide.