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 East, IU Indianapolis, 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, students must complete 33 credit hours.

Requirements are broken down as follows:
Core MSCJPS courses – completed by all students in the program (18 credit hours)
Concentration – students choose either Criminal Justice or Public Safety (15 credit hours)

1. Core Courses

Introduction to Public Safety: SPEA-J586 Public Safety in the US (3 cr)

Introduction to Graduate Study in Criminal Justice (3 cr)
Choose one: CJUS-P501 Proseminar: Criminal Justice I –OR–
SPEA-J582 Criminal Justice Systems

Research Methods (3 cr)
Choose one: SPEA-J502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Safety –OR–
CJUS-P594 Introduction to Research Methods

Statistics (3 cr)
Choose one:
SPEA-V 500 Quantitative Tools For Public Affairs –OR–
SPEA-V506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making –OR–
CJUS- P595 Data Analysis in Criminal Justice

Capstone (3 cr)
Choose one: CJUS-P619 Crime and Public Policy –OR–
SPEA-J666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation

Theory Requirement (3 cr)
Criminal Justice Concentration—
Choose one: SPEA-J501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy I –OR–
CJUS-P502 Proseminar: Criminal Justice II

Public Safety Concentration—
SPEA-J528 Risk Analysis for Public Safety

2. MSCJPS – Concentration

Students complete one concentration in Criminal Justice or Public Safety (15 cr)

Criminal Justice Concentration
Students complete five classes selected from the following list:

CJUS-P512 Corrections
CJUS-P515 Police in Society
CJUS-P517 Juvenile Justice
CJUS-P519 Probation and Parole
CJUS-P602 Courts and Criminal Justice
CJUS-P623 Violent Behavior
CJUS-P627 White-collar Crime
CJUS-P629 Victimization
CJUS-P634 Sentencing Theory and Practice
CJUS-P671 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
CJUS-P680 Seminar: Issues in Criminal Justice and Public Safety
CJUS-P682 Seminar on Law Enforcement and Minorities
SPEA-J520 Mapping and Analysis
SPEA-J550 Topics in Criminal Justice and Public Safety
SPEA-J588 Law and Control in Society
SPEA-J587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics
SPEA-J682 Planning and Management

Public Safety Concentration
Students complete five classes selected from the following list:

CJUS-P680 Seminar: Issues in Criminal Justice and Public Safety
SPEA-J581 Public Safety Law
SPEA-J520 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety
SPEA-J524 Crisis Management for Public Safety
SPEA-J531 National and Homeland Security in America
SPEA-J550 Topics in Criminal Justice and Public Safety
SPEA-V560 Public Budgeting and Finance
SPEA-V561 Public Human Resources Management