A Criminal Justice Master's Degree Designed to Fit Your Schedule

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Master of Arts degree program is designed for working professionals in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole, victim advocacy, and the judiciary environment, but is also a great fit for students who want to continue their studies directly after their undergraduate degree while they begin their criminal justice careers.

This master's program will provide you with...

Practical application and knowledge of criminal justice and criminological theories.
Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for effective leadership and policy-making.
Opportunities to design original research and complete projects with real-world applications for criminal justice agencies and non-profit organizations.

Most students choose to focus on applied research skills that allow them to assist their agencies immediately, though some choose to pursue research that advances the overall body of knowledge in criminology and criminal justice. Our experienced faculty will mentor you as you choose your individualized path of study and research.

Career Options for Graduates

Employment advancement: Many criminal justice agencies require a graduate degree for advancement. This master’s degree will provide you with the professional, practical training in leadership, policy and best practices, which will allow you to move up in the field and better serve your community.

Doctoral study: This program also prepares you for doctoral study in Criminology & Criminal Justice and related fields. Many of our master's program graduates have been admitted to the top doctoral programs in the field, including SUNY-Albany, Rutgers University, Penn State University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

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Credits Required:
30

Time to Completion:
Less than 2 years

Tuition:
$722/credit hour

Delivery Option & Start Term:
Greeley + Online: starts each Fall term

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APPLICATION & LOCATION INFO

Request Information

MEET WITH ENROLLMENT COUNSELOR

Program Coordinator

Kyle Ward, Ph.D.
kyle.ward@unco.edu
970-351-1072

Select from the tabs below for more program information.

Convenient Hybrid Delivery

This hybrid program is based at main campus in Greeley, Colorado, with some course requirements completed online.
This program can be completed in less than two years (6-9 credits per semester, including electives).
We will assist all students in pursuing internship opportunities for elective or project credits.

Coursework (30 Credit Hours)

Core Coursework: 16-week Fall and Spring term courses with hybrid delivery. Each course will meet once per week on a weekday evening. The number of evenings per week that you are in class each term will depend on the number of courses for which you enroll.
Elective courses: you will take electives that bests suits your career needs. Elective courses are 8-week online courses that can be offered in Fall, Spring or Summer. Non-CRJ electives can be considered based on availability and prior approval from the graduate coordinator.
You will be able to choose between a thesis or comprehensive exam option.

For an example of upcoming courses, visit the Current Students page for this program.

For full program requirement details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.

Online Course Tutorial

If you do not have recent experience taking classes online, you will have the chance to complete our online course tutorial. This tutorial will help you learn our Canvas course platform, and prepare you to succeed in your online courses!

Admission Requirements

Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 point scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.
GRE scores are NOT required for this program.

International Student Eligibility

International students can attend UNC Extended Campus programs. Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency, or enroll in the UNC Intensive English Program, in order to be considered.

This program is delivered in the United States. You will need to submit financial documentation to demonstrate that you can pay for the cost of tuition and living expenses for the days that you will be in the U.S.

In some countries, the scholarships and government support available to you for U.S. education may have additional restrictions on how many credits you can take online and count towards your degree program. If you have a sponsor for your U.S. educational experience, please check with them when applying to a program that has a portion of the courses offered only online. Some also have restrictions on the area of study you choose.

Please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page for details about English proficiency requirements, financial documentation and applying as an international student.

Transferring Credit

UNC graduate school accepts applicable graduate credit with a grade of C or higher from accredited institutions. Please note that if your chosen program has a higher grade minimum for any program coursework, that minimum would apply to transfer requests for those courses. Graduate program faculty are responsible for reviewing any proposed transfer credit to ensure that course content and objectives match program content.

Students must complete at least 50% of their graduate program credits at UNC, not including research, capstone, seminar, internship/externship/practicum, thesis, dissertation proposal, dissertation and any credits graded with S/U (P/F).
Courses requested for transfer must not be more than five years old for master's degree credit, and cannot have been used to fulfill requirements for a previously awarded degree. See the full Graduate Transfer Credit Policy.

Tuition

This is an Extended Campus program, which means:

We charge a flat per-credit tuition rate for all students (in-state or out-of-state).
There are no added student fees or technology fees. However, certain courses may carry specific course fees to support additional services and materials.

Program tuition for the 2025-26 academic year (which runs Fall, Spring, and Summer terms) is $722 per credit hour. Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be determined mid-June 2026.

Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC's official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.

Financial Aid

Graduate Assistantships

Limited graduate assistantship opportunities are available to offset program costs. Multiple factors are involved in awarding these positions, but the earlier you apply for your chosen start term the greater your chance of full consideration. Contact the Program Coordinator with any questions about assistantships.

Federal Financial Aid

Degree-seeking students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC FAFSA/financial aid page for graduate students has key dates and support, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).

Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted throughout the school year but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid. If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.

Master's degree students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.

To apply for federal financial aid assistance

Fill out the FAFSA form at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

For more specific help, contact the Office of Financial Aid: ofa@unco.edu, 970-351-4862 or via the UNC Financial Aid website.

Students can also find helpful information such as the Guide to Federal Student Aid at https://studentaid.gov/resources. Most of the resources are available in English, Spanish and Braille.

Student Health Insurance

The University of Northern Colorado offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to all degree-seeking students who enroll in courses on our main UNC Campus, an Extended Campus Center, or Online.

Degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours will automatically receive this benefit each term. SHIP premiums will appear on your semester bill. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you must opt out of this plan each Fall via an online waiver process.

Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information about the insurance plan.

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What Our Students Say...

Had it not been for the UNC master's degree, I would not be in the position I am in today. The skills I acquired played a key role in my promotion and continue to help me in my current job assignment.

As a result of the knowledge, research, and contacts from the program, I am a stronger leader and manager at my current police organization.

– Program Graduate Adam Turk,
Chief of Police, Greeley Police Dept.

Photo of Adam Turk, Criminology and Criminal Justice Master's Graduate

I soon realized if I wanted to advance in the criminal justice system, I needed to further educate myself. My experience with the master’s program was a very good one. All of the professors made themselves available for any questions that arose.

I put my degree to use daily. In fact, we just started a new intake unit, and we now receive the new people coming from court after sentencing.

– Program Graduate Saara Alakoski,
Probation Officer, 18th Judicial District (CO)

Photo of Saara Alakoski, Criminology and Criminal Justice Master's Graduate

The Master of Arts program allowed me to gain invaluable experience. The curriculum prepared me to advance my career in the criminal justice field working as a Victim Services Coordinator and running the Juvenile Diversion program out of Eagle County, Colorado.

The professors tailor the classes to be relevant to working professionals as well as expand the student’s academic prowess and understanding. The format, classwork, professors and overall program are top notch, allowing professionals to advance their careers in any area of criminal justice that they choose.

– Program Graduate Kamille McKinney,
Victim Services / Juvenile Diversion Coordinator, 5th Judicial District (CO)

A Criminal Justice Master's Degree Designed to Fit Your Schedule

This master's program will provide you with...

Career Options for Graduates