Criminal Justice (M.S.)
色情论坛 interdisciplinary Criminal Justice program combines courses in policing, corrections and procedure with studies in the social sciences to introduce you to the theory and practice of criminal law and the moral complexity of the criminal justice system.
Format
Hybrid (Bristol) or Fully Online
Schedule
Hybrid, evening courses
Asynchronous, fully online option
Credits Required
36
Time Commitment
1 to 3.5 years
Cost
Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026
$1,176/credit
Fees
2025-2026 Academic Year
$490/semester (full-time students)
$165/semester (part-time students)
$145/semester (online students)
Ways to Save
Limited merit-based scholarships
15% discount for first responders, active duty military, and veterans
Apply By
Fall: March 1 (Priority), April 1 (Regular), August 15 (Final)
Spring: November 1 (Priority), December 15 (Regular), January 6 (Final)
Summer: March 1 (Priority), April 1 (Regular), April 15 (Final)
Upcoming Events
Earn your M.S. in Criminal Justice in just one year.
Undergraduates (at RWU or other institutions) in criminal justice, psychology, and related majors may participate in a special 4+1 M.S. Criminal Justice program.
How does it work?
You鈥檒l begin the M.S. Criminal Justice program by taking one graduate course in each semester during your senior year. For RWU students, each course will count for both undergraduate and graduate credit, subject to advisor approval. Once you graduate, you will complete six credits of online coursework in the summer and then complete the remainder of your studies on campus at RWU in the fall and spring.
Curriculum
Senior Fall
1 Required Course (e.g., CJS 501 Criminal Justice System Overview)
Senior Spring
1 Required Course (e.g., CJS 509 Crime and Public Policy)
Summer (Online)
1 Required Course
1 Required or Elective Course
Fall (12 credits)
2 Required Courses (e.g., CJS503 Survey of Research Methods; CJS505 Legal Issues in the United States)
2 Approved Electives
Spring (12 credits)
2 Required Courses (e.g., CJS511 Criminological Theory; CJS513 Analysis of Criminal Justice Data)
2 Approved Electives
How to Apply
The preferred application deadline for consideration is March 1st in the second semester of your junior year.
To apply, please submit the following items to the Office of Graduate Admission:
- Completed application form online at
- Letter of Intent (two double-spaced pages maximum) describing your interest in the Criminal Justice program, career goals, and how you can positively contribute to the graduate program at 色情论坛
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from professional sources or academic faculty attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school
- Please note that your academic transcripts will be obtained by the Office of Graduate Admission from the University Registrar. Do not request your transcripts.
Your letter of intent and letters of recommendation may be emailed directly to us at gradadmit@rwu.edu. Emailed letters of recommendation must come directly from your recommenders.
Offered with the RWU School of Law.
Drawing on the strengths of the 色情论坛 School of Law as well as the School of Justice Studies, RWU offers a concentrated joint degree program for students interested in criminal justice. The dual degree program allows matriculated students to complete the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) in an accelerated period of study. To earn the degree students must complete 78 credits at the School of Law and 24 credits in the School of Justice Studies. The School of Law and the School of Justice Studies will each accept 12 transfer credits from the other. The effect of these credit transfers between the School of Law and the School of Justice Studies reduces the overall time needed to complete both degrees from four and a half years to three and a half years, assuming full-time study.
How to Apply
Applicants applying for the Joint JD/MBA degree must be in good standing at the end of their first year of study in the RWU School of Law. Prior to starting the application through the RWU Office of Graduate Admissions, students should meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Colleen A. Brown. Applications should be submitted sufficiently in advance of the application deadline to assure adequate processing time at both Schools. Student transcripts will be obtained from the School of Law. Applicants must apply to and earn acceptance into both programs separately. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis and using a portfolio approach, wherein all aspects of the application are considered by the admission committee in the Gabelli School of Business.
Course Requirements
Required School of Justice Studies courses that are transferable to the Law School:
CJS 503 Survey of Research Methods (3 credits)
CJS 509 Crime and Public Policy (3 credits)
CJS 511 Criminological Theory (3 credits)
CJS 513 Analysis of Criminal Justice Data (3 credits)
Remaining required School of Justice Studies courses to earn MS:
CJS 501 Criminal Justice System Overview (3 credits)
CJS 505 Legal Issues in the U.S. Justice System (3 credits)
CJS Elective or Thesis (2 courses, 6 credits total)
Up to a total of 12 credits of the below Law School courses listed below are transferable to the School of Justice Studies:
LAW 623 Criminal Law (3 credits)
LAW 627 Criminal Procedure - Investigation (3 credits)
LAW 682 Criminal Procedure - Adjudication (3 credits)
One Elective from the following: LAW 631 Administrative Law (3 credits), LAW 860 Criminal Defense Clinic (8 credits), or LSM 890 Seminar in Domestic Violence (2 credits)
For a full listing of juris doctor courses, visit the site.
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
Sean Varano, 色情论坛; Pamela Kelley, PhD, Stonehill College; Laurie Becker (RWU Class of 2021)
Perceptions and Attitudes of Police Toward Treatment-Focused Approaches to the Opioid Crisis
Paper session
American Psychology-Law Society
Melissa B. Russano, 色情论坛 and Kate A. Houston, Texas A&M International University
Modeling and Understanding Confession Decisions in Interpreter-Facilitated Interrogations
Poster presentation
Melissa B. Russano, 色情论坛; Atkinson Dominick, University of Idaho; and Christian A. Meissner, Iowa State University
Evaluating a Science-Based Interrogation Training Program Using a Between-Participants Design
Poster presentation
Brett Lowder (RWU B.S. Class of 2020); Melissa B. Russano, 色情论坛; Christian A. Meissner, Iowa State University; and Dominick Atkinson, University of Idaho
Disparate Effects of Accusatorial Techniques During Real-World Interrogations
Poster presentation
Application Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program, applicants must hold an earned Bachelor鈥檚 Degree from an accredited college or university (4+1 students must be enrolled and in good standing in an undergraduate program.)
To apply, submit the following:
- Completed application form and $50 application fee. An application fee is not required for RWU students.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. The Office of Graduate Admission will obtain transcripts on behalf of RWU students.
- Letter of Intent (two double-spaced pages maximum) describing your interest in Criminal Justice, relevant past experiences and career goals
- Two letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school
- If your first language is not English, an official report of TOEFL or IELTS results
The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is not required for admission. Applicants with an overall GPA below 3.0 are strongly encouraged to take either the GRE or MAT. Applicants for the Joint M.S./J.D. must apply separately to the School of Law, and must submit an LSAT score. International applicants should also read additional requirements for non-U.S. residents.
Each application will be reviewed using a portfolio approach - all parts of the application will be considered, inclusive of grades and trend of grades, letters of recommendation, the letter of intent, and other information that candidates for admission may wish to submit.
Where appropriate, documents should be submitted via email to gradadmit@rwu.edu. Any official documents that must be mailed (i.e. transcripts) should be sent directly to:
Office of Graduate Admission
1 Old Ferry Rd.
Bristol, RI 02809
Have questions about the application process? Visit the from the Office of Graduate Admission.
Community Researcher
Sean Varano ProfessorSean Varano considers himself a community researcher, and for good reason. He has years of experience developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based approaches to crime and public health programs in the local community.
Read full storyTuition Discounts for First Responders, Active Duty Military, and Veterans
If you are a first responder (police/fire/EMS), active duty U.S. service member, or a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you qualify for a 15 percent tuition discount on graduate programs in the School of Justices Studies.