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Criminology and Criminal Justice M.A. Online

University of Houston-Clear Lake's (UHCL)'s online Criminology and Criminal Justice Master of Arts was designed for students seeking to enhance their criminal justice career or to transition into the criminal justice field from another industry. This online degree program provides the knowledge and training for a wide range of professions. These include policing or law enforcement positions, corrections officers, investigators, crime analysts, probation officers, juvenile counselors, and victim services specialists, among others.


33-36
Total Credit Hours
100%
Online Courses
Jan, Jun, Aug
Start Dates


With both a criminology and criminal justice component, this degree will help you deepen your understanding of why crime occurs and how it's measured. You'll also learn about the criminal justice system and how the public response to crime involving communities. Through carefully crafted coursework, you'll examine the many layers of contemporary crime and delve into topics like corrections, courts, ethics, juvenile justice, race and justice, terrorism and homeland security, victimology, and more.

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Master of Arts requires 36 credit hours for students completing a thesis and 33 hours for students who choose the internship or additional coursework option. It is available for any student with a bachelor's degree in any academic field.

Criminology and Criminal Justice, M.A.


Why You Should Choose the Criminology and Criminal Justice Master of Arts at UHCL

Flexible Class Format

Although the online Criminology and Criminal Jutice Master of Arts is available 100% online, additional course formats are available. These include face-to-face, greater than 50% online hybrid, and less than 50% online hybrid modes. In addition, the 100% online classes are asynchronous while the hybrid classes can be either asynchronous or synchronous.

Faculty Expertise

The professors who teach coursework for the program come from diverse backgrounds, and many have expertise in both criminology and criminal justice. Some also have real-world criminal justice experience, including holding positions as law enforcement officers. 

Alumni Job Prospects

Many graduates of the program, like alum Troy Finner, have gone on to land careers as police chiefs and administrators, proving that the program focuses on creating criminal justice leaders. 

Faculty Involvement in True Crime

UHCL has had faculty involvement in true crime as well as media reporting to help guide crime and justice policy and practices in the real world. For example, Assistant Professor Hae Rim shared her expertise on the Netflix series, "I Am a Stalker" in 2022.

Range of Career Options, with Lucrative Salary Possibilities

Whether you want to pursue a career as a forensic science technician, correctional officer, or detective, UHCL's online Criminology and Criminal Justice Master of Arts can prepare you for a variety of criminal justice/criminology careers. First-line supervisor of police and detectives can make more than $100,000 a year.


Invest a Little For a Big Return

Fee Schedule Calculator

*Students receive a tuition and fee break by taking more courses per semester. Use the tuition calculator to compare how tuition and fees vary the more courses you take per semester. The calculated tuition and fee total is an estimate and may be subject to change. Excludes special fees that do not affect all students.

Contact

  • Office of Admissions

    Phone: 281-283-2500
    Fax: 281-283-2522
    Email: admissions@uhcl.edu

    SSCB 1.101
    2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 13
    Houston, TX 77058-1002

    Office Hours:
    Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.