Earn your Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Take that next step to further your career and make a significant impact in the field of criminal justice with a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) from the University of Cincinnati. Our program is designed to provide you with advanced analytical skills and in-depth knowledge in justice administration, positioning you for leadership roles and pioneering research opportunities in corrections, policing, criminal justice, crime prevention and related fields. Join a community of professionals dedicated to driving change and advancing justice.
Request Information about the MSCJ Program
Complete the following form and a senior admissions counselor will contact you!
Where will you go?
Upon graduation, you will leave the program with a broad understanding of crime as well as different parts of the justice system. You will gain research-based knowledge from an interdisciplinary perspective that prepares you for careers such as crime analysts, social science research assistants, fraud examiners and investigators, and a wide variety of law enforcement and corrections professionals. The program emphasizes the role of research in policymaking and practice as well as theoretical and research skills.
7.4%
Increase in Demand
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)
$80,700
Average Earnings
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)
About the Faculty
The faculty in the School of Criminal Justice are well-renowned researchers committed to the student research experience. Students can expect to learn in an interdisciplinary format drawing insights from sociology, law, public administration and criminal justice fields.
JC Barnes
School Director and Professor
JC Barnes joined the University of Cincinnati’s School of Criminal Justice in 2014 as an Associate Professor. Earning his PhD in 2010 from Florida State, Barnes continues his research in two areas: identifying how genetic and environmental factors combine to impact criminological phenomena and offender decision-making process to gain insight into the way in which offenders choose their targets. Barnes was named the school director in 2023.
Ben Feldmyer
Professor and Graduate Programs Coordinator
Ben Feldmeyer started his teaching career at the University of Tennessee in 2007 in the Department of Sociology. In 2013, Feldmeyer joined the University of Cincinnati’s School of Criminal Justice, and he serves as the School's PhD Graduate Program Director. His research focuses on criminal behavior and criminal sentencing across demographic groups, social class, and social context. His work pays particular attention to the effects of structural conditions and immigration on community patters of drug overdoses and violent crime.
Joe Nedelec
Associate Professor
Joe Nedelec began teaching at UC in 2013 as an assistant professor. Dr. Nedelec's background includes undergraduate degrees in criminology and psychology and a master’s degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, a doctoral degree in criminology from Florida State University, and several teaching assistant, research assistant, and instructor positions. His research interests include life-course developmental criminology, biopsychosocial criminology, corrections, terrorism, and cybercrime.
The criminal justice master's program was structured to prepare me for challenges using critical thinking and analytic skills. As a result, I applied my academic knowledge to fieldwork generating productive results. –
Christopher Mason-Warren School of Criminal Justice