
Sacred Heart University · College of Arts & Sciences
Master of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice (MCCJ)
Overview
A 30-credit online Master of Arts combining criminology and criminal justice, with a thesis or comprehensive exam option.
- Official program name
- Master of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice (MCCJ)
- Awarded degree
- Master of Arts · major: Criminology and Criminal JusticeSource: sacredheart.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: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- School
- Sacred Heart University — College of Arts & SciencesSource: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Location
- Fairfield, CTFor 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
- Criminology — core of the degreeCriminal Justice — core of the degree
- Required credits
- 30Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- 10-12 months (full time) (full time)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Why this program is listed
Dedicated MA in Criminology & Criminal Justice delivered fully online.
Degree title names criminology and criminal justice; courses cover crime causation theory, law and ethics, research methods and victimology.
Source: sacredheart.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: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Online delivery
- Fully onlineAll coursework is online and the institution states no required campus attendance for the online option.All coursework is online and the institution states no required campus attendance for the online option.Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Campus visits (online option)
- Campus visits: not verified
- Class schedule (online option)
- Mixed (live + self-paced)Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- 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
Curriculum
- Required courses include CJ 501, CJ 503, CJ 519, CJ 520 and CJ 581, with elective courses (select five).Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Thesis and non-thesis options
- Students complete either a thesis or a comprehensive exam at the end of the program.Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Accelerated options
- A 4+1 dual degree program lets Sacred Heart undergraduates earn a bachelor's and master's degree in five years.Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Careers and licensure
Career and licensure statements for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
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
Technical preparation
- Work experience
- Not requiredProfessional experience in criminal justice or related fields is not required.Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Prior degree
- RequiredBachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, psychology or a related field; other disciplines may be considered.Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Minimum GPA
- RequiredMinimum 3 — Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for full admission; conditional admission may be considered below 3.0.Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Statement / essay
- RequiredStatement of interest (1-2 pages).Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required2 letters — Two letters of recommendation for students external to Sacred Heart.Source: sacredheart.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
- Rolling
Application deadline
Rolling admission · for Current
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Tuition and fees
Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Scholarships and funding
Graduate assistantships and other support options listed for criminology & criminal justice students Assistantship
Eligibility: Students may qualify; the page lists graduate grant-in-aid, veteran benefits, graduate assistantships and residence hall director positions.
Source: sacredheart.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) — 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 Connecticut.
International applicants
Not verified for the online option.
Sources and verification
- DAPIP — NECHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
- sacredheart.edu/majors--programs/criminology-and-criminal-justice---ma/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
- sacredheart.edu/majors--programs/criminology-and-criminal-justice---ma/admission-requirements/ — Official admissions page, verified October 24, 2026
- sacredheart.edu/majors--programs/criminology-and-criminal-justice---ma/curriculum/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
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Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Sacred Heart University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.