The mission of the Department of Criminal Justice is to offer quality undergraduate and graduate educational programming that provides students with valuable insights into the criminal justice system through a diverse and inter-disciplinary curriculum, experiential learning, and faculty-led research opportunities.
The department supports and encourages scholarly, experiential, and applied research endeavors, including those involving collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies dealing with crime, law enforcement, corrections, justice studies, law, juvenile justice, social justice, immigration, punishment, and the borderlands.
Explore the Master of Criminal Justice degree program
The NMSU Online Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) degree program is designed to provide students with training in research methods and policy analysis as well as a theoretical foundation in our discipline. The curriculum seeks to balance theoretical inquiry with applied knowledge. The program includes an internship option for field experience and students take comprehensive exams to fulfill the degree requirements.
Students are prepared for careers in the criminal justice system, the juvenile justice system, victim services, not-for-profit organizations connected with criminal justice and social justice, careers in research, as well as for continued study in law school and doctoral programs in criminal justice and criminology. Coursework covers research methods, data analysis, criminological theory, ethics, juvenile justice, punishment, women and crime, and race, crime and justice.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
NMSU helps to keep your tuition costs affordable. But if you need financial help, NMSU is ready to work with you to determine the best ways to finance your education to earn your Master of Criminal Justice degree.
Financial assistance includes loans, grants, and scholarship opportunities. To apply, use NMSU’s convenient Scholar Dollar$ one-stop scholarship application, which serves all students in the NMSU system.
NMSU Online students are also eligible for loans and grants. The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more about financial aid opportunities at NMSU.
Contact Financial Aid
Phone: 1-888-729-6678
Email: onlineFA@nmsu.edu