Criminal Justice
ECU's MS in criminal justice - North Carolina’s #1 program - builds research, leadership and applied skills through expert faculty and flexible, 100% asynchronous online courses designed for working professionals.
Criminal Justice Program Overview
Become a leader in service, safety and community transformation with East Carolina University’s online Master of Science (MS) in criminal justice.
Ranked North Carolina's #1 online criminal justice master’s by U.S. News & World Report, our 100% asynchronous online, no-GRE program is designed for working professionals and motivated graduates. Study with award-winning, internationally recognized faculty across criminology, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, victim services and justice administration.
The curriculum blends theory, research methods and applied practice, and you will build career-ready skills through classes, faculty-mentored projects, and independent research addressing real agency challenges and community needs. Graduates advance into leadership roles in law enforcement, intelligence, courts, community and institutional corrections, juvenile justice, victim services and asset protection, or continue to doctoral study.
ECU Advantage
ECU's Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology's Master of Science in criminal justice offers:
- Flexible Format: 100% online coursework; no GRE required — ideal for working professionals.
- Top-Ranked: #1 online criminal justice master’s in North Carolina (U.S. News & World Report).
- Expert Faculty: Award-winning, internationally recognized scholars across criminology, policing, courts, corrections and more.
- Applied Learning: Faculty-mentored projects, independent research, and practice-focused coursework that tackle real agency challenges.
- Proven Outcomes: Alumni serve as chiefs of police, judges, federal agency leaders and correctional administrators.
- Stackable Credentials: Graduate certificates in security studies; public management and leadership; criminal justice education; and adult and higher education.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Michele Stacey (245 Rivers Building; 252-328-5559; mscj@ecu.edu)
The master's program in criminal justice prepares students to become highly skilled and competent professionals who are equipped to seek advancements in the criminal justice profession, teach on the community college level, or pursue a terminal degree in criminal justice or a closely related field. Students must complete 19 s.h. of core courses, 18 s.h. of electives, and can choose to obtain certification in security studies, public management and leadership, criminology, or criminal justice education. To obtain certification in criminal justice education students must complete 19 s.h. of required core and elective courses. To obtain certification in criminology students must complete 15 s.h. of required core and elective courses. A professional paper is required for completion of the master's degree in criminal justice.
A minimum of 37 s.h. of credit is required as follows:
Core Requirements:
1. Core - 19 s.h.
- CRIM 6000 - Criminal Justice Principles
- CRIM 6001 - Seminar in Research Methods and Statistical Interpretation
- CRIM 6003 - Criminal Justice Proseminar
- CRIM 6201 - Seminar in Criminal Behavior
- CRIM 6300 - Principles of Criminal Justice Administration and Management
- CRIM 6615 - Criminal Justice and Society OR
- CRIM 6700 - Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice
- CRIM 6991 - Professional Paper
2. Electives - 18 s.h.
Select 18 s.h. of Criminal Justice and Criminology (CRIM) courses.
Admission Requirements
Each applicant is reviewed individually by the admissions committee. One criterion does not determine acceptance or rejection. A bachelor's degree from an accredited academic institution with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale is required. Transfer credit must be established at the time of admittance.
Applicants must submit 1.) official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work since graduating high school, 2.) three current letters of reference from professional or academic sources , and 3.) a statement of purpose that describes the applicant's relevant work experience, short- and long-term goals, and specific interests in the master's in criminal justice degree program (500-750 word, single spaced, typewritten).
A student may elect to attend the program on a part-time basis. In order to qualify for part-time status for financial aid purposes a student must take a minimum of two courses per semester. It is recommended that at least one core course be taken each of the semesters that the student is enrolled in the program.
Comprehensive Assessment Requirement
All graduate programs at ECU require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The Criminal Justice, MS requires a professional paper in lieu of a thesis or examination.
Discipline Related Certificate Programs
1. Criminal Justice Education Certificate
The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Criminal Justice Education Certificate. Contact the program coordinator for more information.
2. Criminology Certificate
The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Criminology Certificate. Contact the program coordinator for more information.
3. Higher and Adult Education in Criminal Justice Certificate
The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Higher and Adult Education in Criminal Justice Certificate. Contact the program coordinator for more information.
4. Public Management and Leadership Certificate
Up to 15 s.h. of courses required for the graduate Public Management and Leadership Certificate can be transferred as electives for the master of science in criminal justice. Contact the program coordinator in the Department of Political Science for more information.
5. Security Studies Certificate
Up to 15 s.h. of courses required for the graduate Security Studies Certificate can be transferred as electives for the master of science in criminal justice. Contact the program coordinator in the Department of Political Science for more information.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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