Overview

The Criminal Justice programme at Purdue University offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for high-level supervisory and administrative roles. This Master of Science degree focuses on developing the critical thinking and leadership abilities necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of modern public safety.

Students engage with a curriculum that balances theoretical knowledge with practical application. The programme is delivered entirely online, allowing professionals to maintain their current career commitments while pursuing advanced academic credentials from a respected institution.

The faculty consists of experienced practitioners who bring real-world insights into the virtual classroom.

Why Criminal Justice at Purdue University?

Purdue University is recognised as one of the largest providers of public safety programmes in the United States. This scale provides students with access to a vast network of professionals and a wealth of institutional resources dedicated to the field of protective services.

The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the education provided meets rigorous academic standards. Students benefit from a supportive community that includes a graduate resource center, professional memberships, and dedicated career services.

A distinctive feature of this programme is the applied research project, which allows students to analyse real-world issues. Additionally, graduates may be eligible to fast-track further legal studies at the university's law school, potentially saving significant time and tuition costs.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 420 per credit
National fee: USD 420 per credit
Local fee: USD 485 per credit

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum comprises nine total courses, including seven core subjects and two electives. Modules may include:

Criminological Theory
Organizational Behavior
Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
Socially Responsible Leadership in Public Safety

Careers with Criminal Justice

Graduates are prepared for a variety of leadership positions within the protective services sector. The programme develops essential skills in investigation, crime prevention, and project management that are highly valued by diverse employers.

Potential career paths include roles within federal, state, and local government agencies. Graduates may also find opportunities in courtrooms, police departments, regional loss prevention units, or within postsecondary educational institutions and academia.

The degree is particularly suited for those aiming for positions involving budgeting, policy-making, and program management. Many alumni transition into senior administrative or supervisory roles where they can influence the future of the criminal justice industry.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Criminological Theory

Organizational Behavior

Critical Issues in Criminal Justice

Academic and Professional Communications in Public Safety

Applied Research in Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 18 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-04 00:00:00
Starting 2026-12-04 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-11-20 00:00:00

More details

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Language

English

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

37 SCH

Delivered

Online

Continuous support with feedback on request

Campus Location

Indianapolis, United States

Disciplines

Criminal Justice View 203 other Masters in Criminal Justice in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a master’s degree program.

You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process.

Be at least 18 years old.

Proof of sufficient funds

Submit applicable fees

Visa requirements

Proof of secondary completion

English Language Requirements

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

10360 USD / year

≈ 10360 USD / year
Out-of-State

10360 USD / year

≈ 10360 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

11963 USD / year

≈ 11963 USD / year

Additional Details

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Criminal Justice.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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