Professionals in law enforcement who want to learn about the psychological aspects of crime to transition into roles at the federal level can develop the expertise they seek with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Criminology degree. The online M.A. in Criminology program from St. Thomas University (STU) is open to students with diverse academic backgrounds and bachelor’s degrees.
The flexibility of the online format and multiple start dates make this an ideal program for working professionals. The curriculum consists of 36 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 12 months.
What You Will Study in This Research-based Program
Understanding criminology and the underlying factors that contribute to criminal behavior, both domestically and internationally, will equip you to pursue leadership roles in criminal justice. You will gain expertise in qualitative and quantitative research and experience with SPSS statistical software for data analysis.
Courses in identifying and assessing international crime prevention methods provide an enhanced understanding while also exploring morality and ethics within the criminal justice system. The core courses in this program also cover juvenile crime and justice, advanced criminology and legal aspects relevant to criminal justice administration. Specialization courses cover globalization and terror, economics of crime, problems and issues in criminal justice and cybercrime.
Career Options With a Master’s Degree in Criminology
Professionals who work in criminology study why crime happens and how to prevent it from happening again. Research and data gathering are critical to determining the causes of illegal behavior, where most crimes are committed, the impact of crime on victims and their families and more.
Career opportunities for those with a master’s degree in criminology include criminologist, forensic examiner, FBI agent, police detective, private investigator, intelligence analyst and security specialist. Some of the most lucrative professions in the criminology field pay as much as $141,000, and ZipRecruiter reports an average annual salary in criminology at $81,173. Criminalists and counterterrorism analysts are among the higher-paying specializations.
Careers with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State, include a wide variety of specializations, including physical and technical security, emergency and operational planning, and policy analysis and development. In addition to a variety of domestic career paths, the DS recruits foreign service jobs like special agent, diplomatic courier, security engineering officer and security technical specialist.
Considering the Opportunity Cost of Online Learning
Essentially, the opportunity cost is what you give up to get what you want. When looking at pursuing an advanced college degree, it’s helpful to know if the cost in terms of time and money will be worth it and will result in more job satisfaction, higher-level job opportunities and higher salaries.
Working professionals typically can’t stop working to study full time and earn an advanced degree with in-person classes on campus. This is what makes earning a degree online the ideal solution. With online programs, you control how and when you spend time on your studies, and you can complete your degree program in your off hours at your own pace. This allows for balance between academic work and personal obligations. An advanced degree allows you to pursue leadership roles in criminology that might not be available with just a bachelor’s degree. These higher-level roles also pay higher salaries.
According to a Gallup poll of college students, the consensus is that their degree is worth the cost. While master’s degree programs in general can be expensive, the online program from STU is very affordable, making the return on investment (ROI) easy to calculate. Professional degrees in law and criminology are lucrative and the higher salary helps recoup the investment quickly.
Preparing for Your Career in Criminology
New developments in technology, such as artificial intelligence, offer both more opportunities for cybercriminals to target businesses and individuals as well as more opportunities for cybersecurity professionals to rise through the ranks to combat these attacks. Join the ranks of these professionals through an advanced degree in cybersecurity.
Take advantage of the flexibility offered by the online Master’s degree in Criminology program from St. Thomas University. The supportive faculty will prepare you to compare legal systems worldwide and provide you with heightened knowledge of cybercrime, terrorism and political crime.
Learn more about St. Thomas University’s online M.A. in Criminology program.
