Master of Science in Criminal Justice & Public Safety

Earn a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (MSCJPS) is a 36 credit hour graduate degree that prepares students with the analytic skills, theoretical understanding, empirical knowledge, and practical applications related to the law enforcement, courts, correctional, and private security environments.

The MSCJPS program enables students to gain advanced research skills needed to prepare them for careers as criminal justice practitioners, as well as continuing their education in doctoral programs in criminology and/or criminal justice. The MSCJPS program also offers a thesis option for students seeking advanced research careers or a doctoral degree.

The MSCJPS leverages the expertise of the O’Neill School faculty that are actively engaged in research with local and national organizations, the urban location of the university, established partnerships with the community and local criminal justice organizations, and the social, demographic and economic trends that are attracting greater numbers of students to study, live, and work in metropolitan areas.

The criminal justice field is continually evolving

New criminal justice-focused organizations are emerging at a rapid pace. Traditional police and correctional agencies are becoming more reliant on personnel with critical thinking, discretionary, and evidence-based problem solving skills. Moreover, organizations that deliver community supervision, diversion, and social services are becoming more prevalent and in demand of persons with education in the varying fields of criminal justice.

The MSCJPS curriculum not only positions student for success in these fields, but also provides a gateway for students to pursue further graduate education in the social sciences.

Police officers meet and talk in a group.

Pursue a master’s thesis

The MSCJPS program also offers a thesis option for students seeking advanced research careers or a doctoral degree.

MSCJPS grad student Katie Heinz analyzed the toxicology reports of nearly 1,200 overdose victims in Marion County and compared that data with records from the Marion County Jail and Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to identify intervention points for treatment.

Read more on the blog

Attend full time or part time

You can earn your degree in two to four years with full-time and part-time options. Coursework is offered in the evenings to allow students to work full-time and earn a degree. 

78%of O’Neill Indianapolis graduate students choose to pursue their degree part time

Career opportunities

  • Federal, state, and local law enforcement
  • Federal, state, and local corrections
  • Judicial system
  • Private security
  • Emergency management
  • Crime and intelligence analysis
  • Further pursuit of graduate education

Solve problems at the crossroads of policy, management, and science.