Master of Science in Criminal Justice with an Emphasis in Legal Studies

Overview

Gain Real-World Preparation for Career Advancement

Legal experts hold an important role in every society; established crime prevention, punishment and restorative justice systems are essential for a healthy community to preserve a sense of safety and security. Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) application-based Master of Science in Criminal Justice with an Emphasis in Legal Studies program focuses on building legal-related contemporary and practical skills in crime analysis and strategic planning to meet current community demands. Students develop skills necessary to consult in criminal justice organizations with an emphasis on real-world preparation, which may lead to networking, internship and career opportunities.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers this advanced masters in legal studies degree program to help professionals in law enforcement and other decision makers address issues in public policy, social research and justice administration in the public sphere. Expand your specialized skills in order to move into positions of greater responsibilities and leadership, or gain essential information if you are law school-bound.

A capstone class concludes this masters in legal studies online degree and focuses on professional portfolio development and a final written proposal. The portfolio contains your curriculum vitae, examples of writing from graduate courses, a statement of criminal justice philosophy, a five-year plan for professional goals and a research topic paper and written proposal.

Degree Outcomes

Gain Expertise in Contemporary Legal Issues

As a student in this masters in legal studies degree, you will examine current legal topics, including research and methodological evaluation of criminal justice policy; historical and contemporary questions of constitutional criminal law; legal research; organization behavior; leadership; and law and public policy.

What You Will Learn

Serve Your Community as a Legal Expert

Students in the masters in legal studies online program will delve further into crime analysis, statistical analysis, critical reasoning and practical application beyond theory. Throughout learning experiences, students create artifacts to serve as a writing or analytical sample in preparation for career advancement. The highly rigorous curriculum also covers community correctional and legal program development, locating funding, grant writing and driving resources in different ways for diverse sectors.

Areas of study include:

• Relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system
• Interrelatedness of law and socioeconomic concerns
• Ethics in context of criminal justice settings and situations
• Criminal justice-related analysis of research and methodological evaluation
• Contemporary law enforcement management
• Comprehensive study of the constitutional system
• Legal research and communication

Career Outcomes

Lead in a Legal Career

Since legal issues are encountered in nearly every profession, the masters degree in criminal justice may help you seek employment in a variety of fields. Law enforcement officers and individuals in government positions may pursue this degree in order to gain the skills necessary for management or leadership positions. The curriculum and coursework in this legal studies degree also helps prepare you for law school or expand your career with the independence to pursue self-employment or entrepreneurial goals.