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Criminal JusticeDegrees
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Washburn University

Master of Criminal Justice

Master'sMCJDedicated degreeOnline

Overview

A 30-credit-hour Master of Criminal Justice offered 100% online with asynchronous coursework and a thesis or capstone option.

Official program name
Master of Criminal Justice
Awarded degree
Master of Criminal Justice · major: Criminal Justice
Source: washburn.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: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School
Location
Topeka, KSFor 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 — core of the degree (“Criminal justice administration”)
Required credits
30 credit hours
Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration
approximately two years (typical graduates)
Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Why this program is listed

Dedicated 100% online MCJ.

Degree title names criminal justice; courses in criminal justice systems, research methods, ethics, criminological theory and administration.

Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026

We 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, online delivery, campus visits, internships and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the school states it.
Formats offered
Online
Source: washburn.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: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Campus visits (online option)
Campus visits: not verified
Class schedule (online option)
Asynchronous
Source: washburn.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

Thesis and non-thesis options

  • Students choose a thesis or capstone project (6 credit hours) after 15 hours of core classes and 9 hours of electives.
    Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Accelerated options

  • Fast track: BCJ and MCJ in five years; dual JD + MCJ option (108 credit hours).
    Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Other

  • Optional communication and leadership graduate certificate (18 credit hours).
    Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Careers and licensure

An academic degree and an occupational licence are different things.

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

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.
Minimum GPA
RequiredMinimum 3 — Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in the last two years (60 hours) for unconditional admission; case-by-case probationary admission otherwise.
Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Statement / essay
RequiredPersonal statement on philosophy of the criminal justice system and reasons for entering the program.
Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation.
Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Transcripts
RequiredOfficial transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Source: washburn.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

Dates are shown with the term the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.
  • Priority deadline

    April 1 (preferred) · for Summer or Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
    Year not printed
  • Priority deadline

    November 1 (preferred) · for Spring

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: washburn.edu · verified October 24, 2026
    Year not printed

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Scholarships and funding

Awards published by the school for this program or for its level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; service scholarships require government service after graduation. Graduate funding guide

Program-specific scholarships: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Accreditation

Two different things: the school's institutional accreditation, and FEPAC accreditation of this exact forensic science program.

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)

Not verified — check the school's state authorization page before applying from outside Kansas.

International applicants

Not verified for the online option.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 24, 2026.

Similar programs at other schools

Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Format: Online
Location: Charles Town, WVSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Online attendance requirements not verified
Duration: Duration not verified · 30 credits
Tuition: $470 per credit · All students — Standard rate, master's level
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: HLC
Subjects: Criminal Justice
View program
Bellevue University logo

Bellevue University

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Master'sMSDedicated degreeMaster of Science
Format: Fully online
Location: Bellevue, NESchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Fully online as published (no separate campus-visit statement)
Duration: Duration not verified · 30 credits
Tuition: $680 per credit · All students — Online master's in criminal justice, per credit hour
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: HLC
Subjects: Criminal Justice · Criminal Justice Administration
View program
Format: Campus · Online
Location: Richmond, KYSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Online attendance requirements not verified
Duration: Duration not verified
Tuition: $600 per credit · All students — Online, per credit hour
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: SACSCOC
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
View program

Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Washburn University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.