
Overview
Online master's in criminal justice leadership, administration and policy with a two-part capstone. The page prints 33 credit hours in the degree requirements and 36 in the program-at-a-glance box.
- Official program name
- Master in Criminal Justice Leadership
- Awarded degree
- Master in Criminal Justice Leadership · major: Criminal Justice LeadershipSource: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Degree level
- Master's
- Subject focus
- Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science or a closely related justice subject.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- School
- Location
- San Diego, CAFor the online option this is where the school is located — not a residency requirement, and not a guarantee that you may enroll from your state.
- Subjects
- Criminal Justice Administration — core of the degree (“Criminal Justice Leadership”)Criminal Justice — core of the degree
- Required credits
- at least 33 semester credit hours of graduate work (the program-at-a-glance box prints 36)Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- In as few as 12 months (conditional minimum; average completion time is printed as 24 months)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Start terms
- January, April, JulySource: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Why this program is listed
Dedicated online master's in criminal justice leadership and administration.
Degree title names criminal justice leadership; core courses in CJ theory and policy, leadership, legal issues, ethics, criminological theory and a capstone.
Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026We list associate, bachelor's, master's and research-doctorate programs in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science and related subjects at institutionally accredited US schools — degrees in the subject and formal concentrations, never certificates or one-elective degrees. Eligibility rules
Format and attendance
- Formats offered
- OnlineSource: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Online delivery
- Online delivery type not verified
- Campus visits (online option)
- Campus visits: not verified
- Class schedule (online option)
- Not verified
- Internship
- Internship requirement: not verified
- Study intensity
- Not verified
The program page does not say whether the online option requires campus visits. Ask the school before you apply — missing information is not “no requirement”.
Curriculum
Capstone
- Two-part capstone project (Capstone I and II).Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Accelerated options
- Pathway from the BS in Criminal Justice Administration waives two graduate CJ elective courses taken in the bachelor's degree if a B or higher is earned.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Other
- A variant, the Master in Criminal Justice Leadership with Emphasis in Conflict Resolution, swaps three leadership electives for conflict resolution courses.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Careers and licensure
- Career and licensure statements. The university states its degrees do not lead to automatic licensure, employment or certification.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
A degree does not guarantee police academy admission, sworn officer certification, federal employment, a security clearance, a position with a named agency, a forensic laboratory job or eligibility to practice as a psychologist. Those have separate training, scientific prerequisites, examinations or hiring requirements set by the agency, state or licensing board. Academic degrees vs police academy training
Admissions
- Transfer credit
- OptionalUp to 6 semester credit hours of equivalent graduate work from another institution may be granted.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Application fee
- Not required$0 application fee; no essays or exams.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Tests
Entrance and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.
Start dates and deadlines
Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Tuition and fees
| Category | Amount | Basis and year |
|---|---|---|
| All students — Master in Criminal Justice Leadership, base rate per creditFrom the school-wide rate table for this level | $716 | per creditCalculated tuition$23,628 = 33 credits × $716 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026 |
Other published fees
- Course material fee (per course)
- $5 per courseSource: nu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Scholarships and funding
Program-specific scholarships: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026
FEPAC program accreditation
This program does not appear in FEPAC's accredited-program list. FEPAC accredits forensic science programs only and is optional; its absence is not a sign that a program is illegitimate, and the school's other programs or institutional accreditation do not imply it.
State authorization (online students)
Not verified — check the school's state authorization page before applying from outside California.
International applicants
Not verified for the online option.
Sources and verification
- DAPIP — WSCUC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
- nu.edu/admissions/tuition/ — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 24, 2026
- nu.edu/degrees/professional-studies/programs/master-of-criminal-justice/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
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Similar programs at other schools
Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with National University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.