University of Nevada, Las Vegas Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
Master of Arts - Criminal Justice
Paradise, USA
MA
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: The Criminal Justice Master of Arts at The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is a broad, research-based programme grounded in social and behavioral sciences and legal approaches. It offers two tracks: a Traditional M.A. for doctoral study and community-college teaching, and a Professional M.A. that builds applied skills in criminology, criminal justice institutions, policy, research methods, statistics, and programme evaluation.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move into policy analysis, programme evaluation, research, community-college teaching, law enforcement leadership, corrections administration, probation and parole and roles in public safety, criminal justice agencies, nonprofits, think tanks, and local or state departments and community safety.
The Criminal Justice Master of Arts degree is a broad-based graduate program. The program addresses issues of crime and criminal justice within an analytical framework and emphasizes theory and research and their implications for social policy. The curriculum is grounded in the social and behavioral sciences and in legal approaches to crime and social control. It draws from contemporary research and theoretical developments across a spectrum of academic disciplines. There are two M.A. degree options. The traditional master’s degree is designed to prepare students for doctoral studies in the field and in related areas of the social and behavioral sciences. Those who obtain this degree may also assume teaching positions at the community college level. The professional master’s degree is designed to serve the needs of professionals currently working in justice-related agencies by providing the knowledge and skills to enhance their performance in current positions and/or prepare them for career advancement.
Available Options
Traditional Track
The Traditional Master of Arts degree program is designed to improve students' understanding of the nature, causes, and consequences of crime and crime control. Based on the tradition of the liberal arts, the program emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between crime and the structure of society and the interplay between criminal justice theory and practice.
These relationships are explored through course work in criminological theory, law and social control, the administration of justice, and crime and public policy. By completing the requirements for this program, students will be prepared for teaching at the community-college level and doctoral study in criminology and criminal justice.
Professional Track
The Professional Master of Arts degree is designed to serve the needs of professionals currently working in justice-related agencies by providing the knowledge and skills to enhance their performance in current positions and/or prepare them for career advancement. The curriculum provides students with advanced knowledge of the nature of the crime; criminal justice institutions and processes; current criminal justice policy; and training in research methods, statistics, and program evaluation.
