Introduction to Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice 

The criminal justice field offers professional opportunities in legal services, corrections, law enforcement, community corrections, probation and parole, government, social work, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and more. 

While there are entry-level opportunities for individuals with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree is required for many leadership roles.

If you are comparing criminal justice master’s programs, this guide will help you understand what factors you should consider. 

At a 2023 press conference announcing a partnership between the Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections at Russell Sage College and New York State’s Albany County, County Executive Daniel P. McCoy cited changes in the criminal justice field and a critical need for professionals prepared for the changes:

“Over the last several years, there has been a significant shift of the probation workload in light of Bail Reform and Raise the Age Legislation. As such, the Probation Department is supervising and monitoring offenders they have not seen in the past, those who have committed more serious, violent offenses. This has been coupled with a challenge nationwide to find qualified people to fill vacancies across various fields. We are looking forward to this collaboration helping us build a stronger workforce.”

Individuals with a master’s degree in criminal justice and expertise in community corrections are needed to lead best practices for rehabilitation, reintegration, and alternatives to incarceration in New York State and across the country, contributing to safer communities for all. 

There are numerous career paths within the criminal justice field, and there are numerous options for criminal justice master’s programs. 

Keep reading for some of the factors to consider as you research the best master’s programs in criminal justice for you. 

Here are some key factors to consider as you make a graduate school selection for criminal justice.  

While you will find slight differences in the curricula when you are comparing criminal justice master’s programs, most programs contain a mix of courses in institutional corrections, community corrections, program evaluation, psychology, and addiction; the opportunity to choose specialized electives; and a culminating research project or externship. 

Some programs are known for expertise in a certain area. For example, Russell Sage College’s Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections is the first online master’s degree in the county to focus on the shift from incarceration to community corrections. 

Russell Sage College is also the home of the Criminal Investigation Resource Center, one of fewer than 12 such centers in the country. CIRC works with law enforcement agencies to provide training to students interested in unresolved case investigation and analysis. 

The top criminal justice master’s degrees include opportunities to build your professional network and your resume as you collaborate with faculty mentors and other experts on a research project or at a professional experience like an externship. 

The best master’s programs in criminal justice are led by faculty with real-world experience and solid academic credentials. 

Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections classes at Russell Sage are led by attorneys, credentialed counselors, and other professionals from local, state, and federal agencies with decades of experience in probation, parole, community corrections programs, substance abuse and counseling services, law, forensic mental health, reentry programs, and restorative justice. They hold doctorates or other advanced degrees and have published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at major conferences, and hold leadership roles in professional associations.  

The best master’s degrees in criminal justice will give you an opportunity to apply what you are learning in the classroom via an externship or a research project. 

If you choose an externship, you will work with a faculty member to select a location where you can gain professional experiences related to your career goals. You’ll complement this fieldwork with course assignments and forum discussions with classmates who are also completing an externship.  

If you choose a research project, you will work with a faculty advisor to design and complete a research project related to your interests. 

Either option — an externship or a research project — is a great achievement to highlight on your resume, along with your master’s degree.

If you will be balancing graduate school with work and family responsibilities, you will want to carefully consider the options for scheduling your coursework around your other commitments as you make a graduate school selection for criminal justice.  

Traditional in-person programs — as well as some online programs — require you to participate in class at the same time every week. 

Russell Sage’s online Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections is asynchronous. This means you will watch lectures, contribute to online discussions, and complete other assignments on your own schedule. You will not be required to be in a class at the same time every week, giving you a lot more flexibility when something unexpected pops up at work or at home.  

Comparing criminal justice master’s programs means comparing options for full-time and part-time enrollment. Attending full time means you finish your degree quicker, while attending part time is less taxing on your schedule. 

By taking advantage of summer semesters, Russell Sage makes it easier to earn a Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections efficiently, yet at a manageable pace. Russell Sage’s 36-credit master’s in criminal justice is designed to be completed in two years, by taking two courses per semester during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.  

The shift away from institutional corrections and toward probation, parole, and other community-based programs — is a nationwide trend. 

While individuals with expertise in community corrections are needed across the country, Russell Sage’s Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections is the first criminal justice graduate program focused on community corrections. 

But you don’t have to be within commuting distance of Russell Sage’s campuses in Troy and Albany, New York, to enroll! Its Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections is online and asynchronous, making it accessible wherever you are.

Of course, geographic location and other circumstances like commuting time will influence your choice of externships to some degree. That said, graduate faculty advisors — including those at Russell Sage — have contacts across the country as a result of their involvement in professional organizations. They’ll brainstorm opportunities, share leads, and offer other guidance as you identify externship sites relevant to your location and career goals. Remote externships are sometimes possible, too. 

Since 2011, New York State has closed 24 correctional facilities, and the state’s prison population dropped by 44% according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

At the same time, more people are serving sentences through probation; being released on parole; or participating in other alternative-to-incarceration programs. All of this drives a need for criminal justice professionals with expertise in best practices for rehabilitation, reintegration, and alternatives to incarceration.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlooks shows similar trends nationwide: it indicates that opportunities for correctional officers will decline through 2032, while opportunities for probation officers will grow. This suggests that individuals with special expertise in community corrections are likely to stand out for leadership opportunities in the field. 

The diverse backgrounds and expertise among faculty and students in graduate programs create an invigorating environment for building professional relationships and exchanging ideas. 

You’ll also build your professional network during your research project or externship.

When you begin to compare the costs of different criminal justice master’s programs, you might be surprised to find that Russell Sage College — a private college — has a cost-per-credit that is very competitive with public institutions. 

And on top of that, RSC offers a 10% discount to employees at New York’s Albany County Department of Probation and dozens of other Workforce Development partners. 

By now, you probably have a clearer idea of the differences among the top criminal justice master’s degrees, and what programs would be a good fit for you. 

Don’t forget to review the application requirements. For example, is a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice required? Will you have to take the GRE before you can apply?

Russell Sage makes it very easy to apply to its Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections program. 

A bachelor’s degree is required, but it does not have to be in criminal justice. You do not have to take the GRE, and only two letters of recommendation are needed. The program offers rolling admission, so you can apply anytime and start in the fall or spring semester.

The best master’s program in criminal justice for you will be the one that integrates with your other responsibilities and prepares you for your specific career goals. We’ve already suggested several factors to consider when you are comparing master’s programs in criminal justice. 

Our blog posts titled “Exploring a Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections: Your Path to a Rewarding Career” and “Why Pursue a Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections” are other good resources as you consider pros and cons. 

As you are comparing criminal justice graduate programs don’t forget to reach out to some faculty members at the schools you are considering. They might be able to connect you with current students and recent alumni who can answer any questions you still have. 

If you’d like to learn more about the Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections at Russell Sage College, reach out to a graduate admission counselor or program director Jeffrey Golden today.