American Public University System

Overview
A 30-credit online master's degree with a 21-credit criminal justice core and a 9-credit specialization in administration of justice or forensic science, ending in a capstone sequence.
- Official program name
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Awarded degree
- Master of Science · major: Criminal JusticeSource: salemu.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: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Forensic type
- Criminal justice with a forensic focusA criminal justice degree with forensic courses, a track or a concentration. It is not equivalent to a laboratory-intensive forensic science degree.Source: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- School
- Location
- Salem, WVFor 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 — core of the degreeCriminal Justice Administration — formal concentration / track (“Administration of Justice specialization”)Forensic Science — formal concentration / track (“Forensic Science specialization”)
- Tracks / concentrations
- Administration of Justice · Forensic ScienceSource: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Required credits
- 21 core semester credits and one 9-credit specializationSource: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- approximately ten months (administration of justice specialization) (average for a full-time student)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.Source: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Why this program is listed
Dedicated MS in Criminal Justice with administration of justice and forensic science specializations, offered online.
Degree title names criminal justice; 21-credit criminal justice core plus a 9-credit specialization (administration of justice or forensic science).
Source: salemu.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: salemu.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: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- 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
- Coursework ends with a capstone sequence: a research project tailored to the specialization and a portfolio review.Source: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Natural-science content
- Forensic science specialization topics include analytical chemistry for body fluid analyses, pharmacology and toxicology, and biological data from crime scenes.Source: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Academic calendar
- The program follows a one-course-a-month schedule.Source: salemu.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
- Prior degree
- RequiredDomestic master's applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited US college or university.Source: salemu.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 Rolling monthly starts
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Tuition and fees
| Category | Amount | Basis and year |
|---|---|---|
| All students — Graduate: MBA, MSCJ, MSIT, MSHHPFrom the school-wide rate table for this level | $650 | per credit · 2026-2027Calculated tuition$19,500 = 30 credits × $650 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: salemu.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
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — 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)
- Salem is approved to participate in NC-SARA for distance education. Official pageSource: salemu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
International applicants
Not verified for the online option.
Sources and verification
- DAPIP — HLC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
- salemu.edu/degrees/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
- salemu.edu/degrees/master-administration-of-justice/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
- salemu.edu/degrees/master-criminal-justice-forensic-science/ — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
- salemu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-2027_Tuition_Rates.pdf — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 24, 2026
- salemu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-2026-Academic-Catalog-WEST-VIRGINIA-July-2026-web.pdf — Official catalog / bulletin, 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 Criminology & Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Salem University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.