American Public University System

Virginia Commonwealth University
Criminal Justice, Master of Science (M.S.)
Overview
Thirty-credit Master of Science in Criminal Justice with six core courses and 12 elective credits.
- Official program name
- Criminal Justice, Master of Science (M.S.)
- Awarded degree
- Master of Science · major: Criminal JusticeSource: bulletin.vcu.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: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- School
- Location
- Richmond, VA
- Subjects
- Criminal Justice — core of the degree
- Required credits
- A minimum of 30 graduate credit hoursSource: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- Not verified
Why this program is listed
Dedicated Master of Science in Criminal Justice in the Wilder School.
Dedicated Master of Science in Criminal Justice in the Wilder School.
Source: bulletin.vcu.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
- On campusSource: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Internship
- Internship requirement: not verified
- Study intensity
- Not verified
Curriculum
Internship
- A three-credit criminal justice internship is encouraged for students without at least one year of professional-level experience.Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Accelerated options
- Qualified undergraduates may earn bachelor's and master's degrees in a minimum of five years.Source: bulletin.vcu.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
- Minimum GPA
- RequiredMinimum 2.7 — Undergraduate GPA that exceeds 2.7 overall.Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Statement / essay
- RequiredPersonal narrative on professional goals.Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required2 letters — Two letters of recommendation.Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Résumé / CV
- RequiredA resume or curriculum vitae.Source: bulletin.vcu.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
- Year not printed
Application deadline
Feb 1 (early admission); Apr 1 (priority deadline); May 1 (final deadline) · for Fall
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026 - Year not printed
Application deadline
Oct 1 · for Spring
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: bulletin.vcu.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
Program-specific scholarships: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — 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.
Sources and verification
- bulletin.vcu.edu/graduate/school-government-public-affairs/criminal-justice-ms/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
- DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 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 Virginia Commonwealth University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.