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Online Criminal Justice and Security Studies Degrees

UMass Lowell criminal justice student at commencement

Online Criminal Justice and Security Studies Degrees

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Stacy Deveau
Master's in Criminal Justice
Find Your Program Apply Now

Online Criminal Justice and Security Studies Degrees and Certificates

Learn to address emerging issues in the criminal justice system with UMass Lowell's online criminal justice degrees and certificate programs. With 6-, 8- and 10-week courses, you can accelerate your studies and finish your program quickly.

On-Campus and Online Criminal Justice and Security Studies Programs

  • Paralegal Studies
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Security Management & Homeland Security
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Criminal Justice, B.S.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Criminal Justice: Paralegal Option, B.S.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Criminal Justice, M.A.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Security Studies: CBRNE Security Concentration, M.S.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Security Studies: Critical Infrastructure Protection Concentration, M.S.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Security Studies: Cybersecurity Concentration, M.S.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Security Studies: Homeland Defense Concentration, M.A.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Security Studies: Industrial & Economic Security Concentration, M.A.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Security Studies: International Security Concentration, M.A.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online
  • Criminal Justice & Criminology, Ph.D.
    On Campus | Hybrid | Online

Criminal Justice Degree Careers

UMass Lowell's criminal justice graduates move into public safety and investigative fields, including law, homeland security, forensics, police work and more.

17,593
Jobs
+6.7%
% Change (2015-2023)
$91.8K/yr
Median Earnings
1,791
Annual Openings
Source: Lightcast, 2022

Top Companies Hiring UMass Lowell Criminal Justice Graduates

  • Allied Universal
  • Army National Guard
  • BAE Systems
  • CACI International
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Fidelity Investments
  • Massachusetts State Police
  • Massachusetts Trial Court
  • Raytheon Technologies
  • U.S. Army
  • United States Air Force

Real Faculty. Real Research. Real Campus.

You will benefit from UMass Lowell's small class sizes and leading research centers. Whether you study online or on-campus, you'll learn from UMass Lowell's world-class faculty at the School of Criminology and Justice Studies, experts who are conducting cutting-edge research.

You may explore:

  • Criminal Justice Leadership and Policy
  • International Security
  • Forensics
  • Homeland Security
  • Policing
  • Cybersecurity
Our programs strive to innovate and solve real-world challenges as a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research.

Faculty Profiles

Arie Perliger, Ph.D.

Arie Perliger is an authority on political violence and extremism, security policy, politics in the Middle East and far-right political movements in the U.S., Europe and Israel. His research includes analyzing how terrorism networks operate how extremists recruit members to their ranks, the political and social climate in which far-right ideologies take hold and the factors behind politically motivated assassinations.

Arie Perliger

Xinwen Fu, Ph.D.

Xinwen Fu is an international expert on Internet security and forensics and spearheads efforts to help protect the United States' national cyberinfrastructure. He not only has invented technology to prevent cyber-related crime, but he is also a leader in digital forensics education and research supported by the National Science Foundation. His team's research into how Google Class can be used to track passwords and steal other personal information has been featured on CNN and in major news and technology publications.

Xinwen Fu

Student Stories

Upon graduation, you may take advantage of the worldwide network of UMass alumni.
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The Value of a Criminal Justice Degree

Understanding how the criminal justice system works will help you achieve and advance your career goals. Your vast knowledge of the criminal justice system will help protect citizens and manage offenders in an impactful way.

Discover the Value of a Criminal Justice Degree.

Highest Lifetime ROI

UMass Lowell has the highest lifetime return on investment for public research universities in Massachusetts. Our online tuition is among the lowest in the U.S. Additionally, substantial scholarships, grants and other financial aid opportunities are provided.

Stackable Credits

Take a class, earn a certificate or pursue a degree. Our programs build upon themselves. You may apply the credits you earn toward the next step in your journey.

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Certificate Program in Security Management and Homeland Security
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Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
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Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
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Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice and Criminology

Frequently Asked Questions

  • An online criminal justice degree will open the door to many job opportunities, career advancement and salary increases. Pursuing a degree online allows excellent flexibility for working professionals. You can also save on additional expenses, including transportation and childcare costs. As remote learning continuously increases in popularity, many consider online degree programs the most affordable, flexible and convenient method to further their education.
  • UMass Lowell's online programs meet the same academic standards as our on-campus programs. All UMass Lowell students who earn a degree receive the same diploma, whether they complete their degree on campus or online.
  • If you enjoy helping others and your community, a criminal justice or security studies career may be for you. Additionally, a criminal justice degree may be ideal if you seek a promotion within a law enforcement agency.
  • Criminal justice studies the justice system, which includes laws and agencies such as the police, lawyers, courts and prisons. By contrast, criminology is the study of crime and criminals. A degree in criminal justice will prepare you to work on the front lines, whereas a degree in criminology concerns profiling and researching illegal activity.
  • If your goal is to work for the FBI, a degree in Criminal Justice is one of several applicable majors. FBI agents must earn a minimum of a bachelor's degree. An educational background in criminal justice will improve your critical thinking and communication skills and help you better appreciate law enforcement's complex role in our democracy.

Begin Your UMass Lowell Journey Today

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