CASL Graduate Programs

Advance in Your Criminal Justice Career

3 students working around a table in RUCOur master’s degree program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn offers maximum flexibility for busy criminal justice professionals and others who want to boost their careers:

  • Personalize your degree and specialize your expertise with courses that interest you
  • You can complete all of your courses in person, online, or a combination of both
  • We offer a non-thesis option

Although a broad range of students can benefit from the program, we’ve designed it primarily for three groups:

  • Working criminology and criminal justice professionals who want to advance to a policymaking or upper-level management position
  • Students pursuing an academic career in criminology and criminal justice who plan to continue their studies in a doctoral program
  • Students interested in pursuing law school or careers in the field of law

Public safety professionals from partnering organizations may qualify for a Community Service Personnel Scholarship that covers 20 percent of tuition and fees.

Where Will an MS in Criminology, Law, and Criminal Justice Take Me?

It will give you the knowledge, skills, and credential you need to move up to a leadership position in a criminal justice organization, a role where you may even set and guide policy. Or it will give you a strong boost on your way to a law degree or a Ph.D. in the field. 

Career and Salary Outlook

The information in this table is meant to give you an idea of career opportunities with this degree. All information is pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is meant to be averages across the United States for 2022. Please note that these figures reflect overall averages and may not represent entry-level salaries.

$74,910 Median Salary

Police and Detectives

Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 64,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$61,800 Median Salary

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 7,400 openings for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$64,940 Median Salary

Forensic Science Technicians

Employment of forensic science technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 2,600 openings for forensic science technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$145,760 Median Salary

Lawyers (law degree required)

Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 39,100 openings for lawyers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

$60,970 Median Salary

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 38,000 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Program Details

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Tuition

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Application Deadline

This program operates on a rolling admission basis. It is advised to submit all documents by the advisory deadline to ensure consideration for your preferred term and to facilitate pre-term planning. Advisory deadlines differ for domestic and international students.

View Advisory Deadlines

Graduate Scholarships

Learn about scholarship opportunities for new and continuing graduate students.

View Scholarships

Criminology and criminal justice today is no longer just being a beat cop. Criminology and criminal justice is about educated law enforcement and public safety professionals in our society.

DR. DONALD SHELTON

How to Get Involved

Students working in the library

There are many ways to get involved at UM-Dearborn. You can join the Criminology and Criminal Justice Collective or the Pre Law Association, participate in the Inside-Out Prison Exchange program, attend the annual Criminal Justice Exposition to meet recruiters from local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies, check out general student organizations devoted to a wide range of interests and topics, and much more.

Next Steps

Become a part of the UM-Dearborn community and put your dreams to work for you.

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