(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, the University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in the University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Degrees Offered

Master of Science

Master of Science

The IU Online MS in Criminal Justice and Public Safety focuses on the intersection of these two exciting fields. The program will appeal to individuals interested in the fields of policing, homeland security, and emergency management. Students may complete coursework in a variety of special topics, including crime mapping, geographic information systems, and cybersecurity, among others. The flexible online program also meets the needs of individuals currently working in criminal justice and security careers. 

As a student in the program, you:  

• Examine criminal justice and public safety system actors, agencies, and processes 
• Explore the underlying operations of police, emergency management, courts, and corrections agencies 
• Identify the major policy issues in criminal justice and public safety systems 
• Learn to communicate effectively with individuals working in the complex and diverse criminal justice or public safety sectors 
• Explore the philosophical underpinnings and development of law, and critically evaluate how criminal justice and public safety policies balance individual rights and public order 
• Analyze criminal justice and public safety policies using a variety of tools, including quantitative research methods and statistical techniques, to improve criminal justice and public safety agencies 
• Identify and critically analyze current criminal justice and public safety policies using available research and empirical evidence to discuss the strengths and limitations of various approaches 

The program allows you to choose from one of two concentrations: public safety or criminal justice.

Public Safety Concentration 

As a student in this concentration, you assess public safety risks using various analysis tools and develop plans to prepare, manage, and mitigate natural and human-made crises.  

Criminal Justice Concentration   

As a student in this concentration, you analyze the nature and extent of crime, critically evaluate major theories of crime, and assess the effectiveness of criminal justice systems, non-criminal justice programs, and other policies and practices that respond to crime. 

Participating Campuses

IU Bloomington, IU East, IUPUI, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, and IU Southeast

Admissions  

To be accepted to this program, you must have a bachelor's degree and a 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale.

Requirements

To graduate with the MS in Criminal Justice and Public Safety, you must complete 33 credit hours. 

Requirements are broken down as follows: 

• Core courses (15 credit hours) 
• Concentration courses (18 credit hours)

Courses 

Core Courses 

• Theory Requirement (3 credits)
  • Criminal Justice Concentration: SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy I OR CJUS-P 502 Proseminar: Criminal Justice II.
  • Public Safety Concentration: SPEA-J 528 Risk Analysis for Public Safety 
• CJUS-P 501 Proseminar: Criminal Justice I OR SPEA-J 582 Criminal Justice Systems (3 credits)
• CJUS-P 619 Crime and Public Policy OR SPEA-J 666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Safety OR CJUS-P 594 Introduction to Research Methods (3 credits)
• SPEA-J 586 Public Safety in the U.S. (3 credits)  
• SPEA-V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making OR CJUS-P 595 Data Analysis in Criminal Justice (3 credits) 

Electives

• CJUS-P 512 Corrections (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 515 Police in Society (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 517 Juvenile Justice (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 519 Probation and Parole (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 602 Courts and Criminal Justice (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 623 Violent Behavior (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 627 White-Collar Crime (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 629 Victimization (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 634 Sentencing Theory and Practice (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 671 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 680 Seminar: Issues in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (3 credits) 
• CJUS-P 682 Seminar on Law Enforcement and Minorities (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 520 Mapping and Analysis (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 520 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 524 Crisis Management for Public Safety (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 531 National and Homeland Security in America (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (1-3 credits)  
• SPEA-J 581 Public Safety Law (3 credits)  
• SPEA-J 587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 588 Law and Control in Society (3 credits) 
• SPEA-J 682 Planning and Management (3 credits) 
• SPEA-V 560 Public Budgeting and Finance (3 credits) 
• SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 credits)