The Criminal Justice Masters Program at MSU provides students with analytic skills, an interdisciplinary knowledge base, and both classroom and practical understanding of the settings where correctional, law enforcement, and security policies are implemented. The program integrates theory and application through case materials and classroom guest speakers, as well as internship opportunities.
Individuals who wish to pursue a career in criminal justice research and teaching will have a strong foundation for advanced graduate studies based on the program’s combined emphasis on research, critical issues, and interdisciplinary theory.
For further information regarding the Masters Program, contact Melissa Christle at burrier@msu.edu or 517-353-7133.
Applications for the Criminal Justice Masters program are screened for fall semester entry only. All application material must be received before February 1 for consideration. Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions within 6-8 weeks of the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Please note while a criminal justice undergraduate degree is not required for admission to the program, applicants must have a background of education and occupational experience appropriate to the successful pursuit of graduate work in the School of Criminal Justice. Applicants that aren’t sufficiently prepared for graduate studies in criminal justice may be required to complete collateral coursework or pursue individualized study.
Questions? Please contact graduate secretary Melissa Christle at burrier@msu.edu or 517-353-7133.
Masters in Criminal Justice Requirements
List of all Criminal Justice Courses
Students must participate in 16 hours of RCR activities their first year, and three hours for each subsequent year. Information about applicable workshops, classes, activities, and reporting can be found through the links below.
Responsible Conduct of Research Requirements
Responsible Conduct of Research Verification Form
Security Management Specialization Requirements
The School of Criminal Justice offers study abroad opportunities in the Caribbean, Australia, Madagascar and the Philippines.
In 1998, the School of Criminal Justice began offering its Masters of Science in Criminal Justice program on the internet – the first online degree program offered by MSU.
The program is designed to add new dimensions to the skills of career people in various areas of criminal justice and security. A number of online support services are available to assist students as they progress through the program.
Students enrolled in the program may choose to follow the general requirements for the Masters in Criminal Justice, specialize in Security Management or follow an international focus. Learn more.
Courses are offered entirely online, and are taught by the same faculty members who are involved in the on-campus program. Many students complete the program within a year and a half to two years; however, it is also common for students to take three years to complete the program due to work and personal commitments.
Michigan State University has long been recognized as a premier institution for research and education in forensic science, and is home to a number of excellent resources for the study of forensic science.
The School of Criminal Justice maintains modern laboratory facilities containing equipment and instrumentation for the analysis of virtually any type of physical evidence, from chromatography equipment for drugs, explosives, and arson evidence, to microscopy techniques for trace evidence analysis, to genetic analyzers for the analysis of DNA.
The Forensic Science Masters program at Michigan State University is designed to give students a broad theoretical and practical background in the scientific, legal, and investigative aspects of forensic science while providing the opportunity to study one of the major disciplines in depth.
The Masters Program in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis was designed to meet the needs of the nation’s federal, tribal, state, and local policing agencies as well as private sector security officials. The School expects this applied degree to be pursued by intelligence analysts, law enforcement and security professionals, and prospective analysts seeking scholarship and advanced training in the emerging field of intelligence analysis.
The program is taught entirely online. MSU faculty oversee the curriculum; instruction is provided by MSU faculty as well as law enforcement professionals brought in as part-time instructors. Learn more.
View each academic year's important dates and deadlines.
Please inform MSU of any address changes as soon as possible at the Registrar's Office website. Click on the Student Services tab and select Address Change.
MSU offers a convenient, economical, and environmentally friendly way to get around campus.
Schedule for approximate bill dates.
Offers 24/7 operations on MSU's campus during Fall and Spring semesters.
Interactive and printable maps. Driving directions.
Once you are enrolled in credits, you can self-register for Students Getting Started with D2L, which walks new students through the online learning platform. You will not have access to this until you are enrolled, but once you are, go to D2L and log in. You'll see a Self Registration heading in the upper left side of the page. Click on that and then Students Getting Started with D2L.
Students have specific enrollment periods, and will be sent notification by the Registrar’s Office when the enrollment period is approaching. Students typically enroll in Fall and Spring semester at the same time (enrollment period usually early April) and Summer semester separately (enrollment period usually mid-March).
As a newly admitted student, you will be able to enroll in classes as soon as your admission is processed and your NetID and password established.
You can enroll in classes on the Schedule of Courses website. Click on Schedule Builder to search for classes and add them to your schedule. Follow the screen instructions to enroll. If you have difficulty enrolling in a course, you may need an override issued. Please contact Graduate Secretary Melissa Christle at burrier@msu.edu if you have difficulty enrolling in a Criminal Justice course.
Information about financial aid, link to FAFSA form. Phone number is 517-353-5940.
MSU Housing
MSU Off-Campus Housing Service
DTN Management
Hidden Tree Apartments
MTH Management
Prime Housing Group
You will use your NetID to enroll in courses, check your MSU email, and log onto D2L (MSU's online learning platform). Your PID and PAN will be sent to you from the Office of Admissions once your admission is processed. When you have your PID and PAN, please visit the link above to establish your NetID and password.
All vehicles and bicycles parked on campus need to be registered.
Graduate Assistants are eligible to park at a discounted rate for the semester(s) in which they are appointed. You will need to take a copy of your appointment form to the Department of Police and Public Safety in order to get this discounted rate.
Health, wellness, safety. Culture and identity. Living, learning, leading.
Once enrolled, you may get your student ID card at 170 International Center (427 N. Shaw Lane). Please bring government issued photo identification such as a driver's license, passport, state or federal ID.
If you hold a graduate assistantship, please contact Melissa Christle at burrier@msu.edu to provide the numbers and digits on the lower right rear of the card, below the magnetic strip. These numbers are used to ensure you have building access when Baker Hall is closed. The sequence should appear as follows: 123456 12345678-1A
Check your enrollment date, grades and grade reports, student account details, etc.
Find out what books will be required at Schedule of Courses. Search for your class and then click on the section number (typically 001). Once you have the ISBNs, you can order your books at a number of sites:
Spartan Bookstore
Collegeville Textbook Company
Amazon
MSU Graduate School
City of East Lansing
City of Lansing
State of Michigan
MSU Federal Credit Union