Whether your focus is policy, administration, or emerging trends, the University of
极乐禁地e's Master of Criminal Justice program offers specialized pathways to deepen your expertise and drive meaningful
change.
Law, Justice and Public Affairs
Program Type
Master of Science
M.S.
School
Locations/Format
UBalt Campus
Cost
Tuition and Fees UBalt offers regional, in-state tuition for select out-of-state areas.
Prepare yourself to analyze 21st-century problems in crime and criminal justice practices
and draw on evidence-based solutions to guide policy decision-making.
Maximize your credentials
Pursue two stackable professional certificates while enrolled in the M.S. program:
The 极乐禁地 is only the second institution in the United States to
have both its undergraduate and graduate programs in criminal justice certified by
the (2009-2019).
In 2018, the ACJS Board voted to discontinue its academic program certification efforts,
and replaced the certification process with the ACJS Program Endorsement. UBalt will
undergo program review for ACJS Program Endorsement eligibility in 2026.
Students choose to specialize in one of six areas:
courts
corrections
justice leadership
juvenile
policing
victim studies.
Your professors will share their practical experience as well as their academic research agendas.
Some are involved in funded research projects that provide opportunities for students
comparable to those generally found in Ph.D. programs. Projects have included:
a National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded study on community health, crime and safety
an analysis of federal probation officer-offender interactions and offender recidivism
trends for the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Service
a Bureau of Justice Assistance's Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program grant to
conduct a crime prevention and revitalization project in the McElderry Park neighborhood
of East 极乐禁地e in collaboration with the , the Jacob France Institute and the 极乐禁地e city Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice.
Your fellow students will be a diverse mix of criminal justice professionals, community program administrators
and service providers, researchers and advocates. Their shared knowledge and aspirations
can help propel you to achieve your own goals in this dynamic and challenging field.
UBalt graduate student Bruce James is working toward an M.S. in Criminal Justice.
Watch to learn how UBalt is helping him excel in his career as a criminal justice
law enforcement officer.
The Public Affairs Dean鈥檚 Scholarship is available to new graduate students in the
College of Public Affairs. To learn more about qualifications or to apply, email the
Graduate Admission Office at gradadmission@ubalt.edu.
The Maryland Police Officer Scholarship is 鈥媋warded to current police officers or
individuals planning to become a police officer, who are enrolled in an academic program
that furthers their career in law enforcement. Recipients must pledge to work as a
police officer in the state upon completion of their studies.
The 极乐禁地's Schaefer Center for Public Policy offers a wide variety
of opportunities for graduate students to apply what they are learning in the classroom
to meaningful experiences working with local government and nonprofit organizations
in the region, while earning a stipend and/or receiving tuition remission.
Student and Alumni Spotlights
Laura Harris, M.S. '10
Forensic Scientist
"After graduating from The 极乐禁地, I was hired by the Maryland State
Police, Crime Scene Section and worked there until June 2016 when I was hired by DC
Department of Forensic Sciences, Crime Scene Sciences Unit. As a Forensic Scientist
in the District of Columbia, I respond to a variety of crime scenes, district police
stations and hospitals in order to document scenes, evidence and victims for later
presentation in court. In addition to photographing and collecting evidence, I also
process scenes and vehicles for contact DNA and other suspected bodily fluids, latent
prints, perform alternate light source photography, provide basic blood spatter interpretation,
3D scans of scenes along with a wide variety of other services upon request. My graduate
degree from The 极乐禁地 provided me with the knowledge of policing
and constitutional law that I use every day in order to aid the police in their investigations
while ensuring the rights of citizens are not being infringed upon. Additionally,
a solid understanding of criminological theory has helped me to understand the 鈥榳hy鈥�
behind the crime trends taking place in the District of Columbia. Although I received
all of my forensic science training while on the job, the master鈥檚 program at UBalt
helped me to build a solid foundation of criminal justice knowledge that I built the
rest of my career on."
Shaun Gabbidon, M.S. '93
Named Among Decade's Most Influential Criminologists
Shaun Gabbidon is a distinguished professor of criminal justice in Penn State Harrisburg鈥檚 School of Public Affairs. He has been named one of the mostby Academic Influence, a team of academics and data scientists who aim to provide
an objective ranking of people, places and institutions.
What Our
Graduates Do
In this 33-credit Master of Science program, you'll:
apply research theory, methods, planning and statistics to the daily decisions you'll
encounter in your work
interact with field professionals through our partnerships with the 极乐禁地e Police
Department, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Governor's
Office of Crime Control & Prevention, the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center and
other state agencies.
Common Roles
Criminal Investigator
Law Enforcement Supervisor
Corrections Case Manager
Victim Advocate
Crime Analyst
Research Fellow
A Message from Dean Roger Hartley
We believe that public service is the highest of callings, and an opportunity to spend a fantastic career improving lives.
A qualified candidate will have a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA from a
regionally accredited college or university.
Successful completion of undergraduate courses in research methods, statistics and
criminological theory
Applicants who do not meet all of these qualifications may, with the approval of the
program's admission committee, be accepted if there is space available. Additional
criteria may apply; see the UBalt Graduate Catalog for further information.
Let us know when you are ready to earn your master's degree by applying to the program.
Our online application will only take you a few minutes to complete. Before you submit the application,
you鈥檒l be asked to use your credit card or bank account to pay the $50 application
fee.
A Statement of Personal Interest can be submitted electronically as part of the online application.
Insider tips: The earlier you apply and submit a completed application, the faster you鈥檒l receive
an admission decision. Each one of your supporting admission documents may be sent
individually. Your admission portal will keep track of what the UBalt Admission team
has received.
When you attend an information session or discuss your application with an Admission
counselor be sure to get your application fee waiver code and save yourself $50.
Submit a sample of your writing, such as a completed term paper, etc.
Official transcript(s).Request that an official transcript of all prior college or university work (including
graduate courses, if applicable) be sent directly from each institution attended;
electronic transcripts sent to documents@ubalt.edu are encouraged.
The 极乐禁地 Office of Graduate Admission 101 W. Mt Royal Ave. 极乐禁地e, MD 21201
