Online MS in Criminal Justice—Strategic Management

At a Glance

Completion Time

8–16

Months

Credits Required

Tuition

$25,452

Part-Time*

*Based on 2025–2026 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.

Learn to Lead through Strategic Management

The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) concentration in Strategic Management offers an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to provide the skills needed to face contemporary criminal justice challenges and lead reforms—not only domestically, but internationally.

Effective leadership in the increasingly complex field of criminal justice requires a strong footing in ethics, business, and analysis, as well as the ability to keep pace with issues that include the realities of terrorism, the emergence of cybercrime, questions of police legitimacy, and stagnant correctional outcomes in terms of recidivism among offenders. The Strategic Management concentration develops valuable skills that enhance the ability to analyze diverse problems and develop sound, sustainable policies that are guided by logic and planning—making it the ideal credential for experienced, mid-career criminal justice professionals who seek to advance to the ranks of policy-making, upper management, or executive-level positions in their agencies.

Curriculum

The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice concentration in Strategic Management consists of a total of eight courses (32 credits): four required courses and four concentration requirements.

The Boston University online Master of Science in Criminal Justice will provide you with an in-depth examination of crime and justice, including theories, trends, and policies, in less than two years of study. Online students pursuing a concentration in Strategic Management must satisfy the MS in Criminal Justice core requirements and the concentration requirements.

Core Courses

MET CJ 570 Criminology and Crime Policy

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course explores potential answers to complex and important questions about criminal behavior by drawing on the social science of criminology. Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of the development of law, criminal phenomena and societal responses to crime. The course has two primary focuses: 1) to explore and evaluate major explanations or theories of crime and 2) understand and evaluate the policy implications of major crime problems. Because criminology is interdisciplinary, students will examine theories that are grounded in a range of academic perspectives, including sociological, biological, political, psychological and economic explanations for crime. These theories will be centered on important public policy debates about a host of contemporary problems, including: firearm violence, high post- incarceration recidivism, opioid use disorder crisis and human trafficking. Course lectures and discussions focus on the historical development of the theories, their major assumptions and propositions, their relevance for public policy and practice. As the course progresses through each explanation for crime, students will have the opportunity to critically evaluate the validity of different explanations for crime as well as criminal justice policies and practices that they support.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Thomas	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B33

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Thomas	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 571 Criminal Justice Administration and Ethics

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course introduces students to the concepts of criminal justice administration and ethics. Students learn about: the management of justice system organizations, and the various debates as to how best operate the organizations making up the system. Topics covered include: organizational theory and structure, professional ethics, leadership and management styles, organizational deviance and socialization, employee motivation, and management responses to stress and burnout. The course helps students understand the characteristics of effective leadership and policy implementation in the field of criminal justice. Students also have the opportunity to analyze ethical dilemmas commonly confronted in criminal justice work.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Cadigan	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B33

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Cadigan	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 590 Research and Evaluation Methods

4 credits. Fall and Spring

The skills used in research method have become central to many positions within criminal justice administration and related areas. Not only are professionals required to understand and critically evaluate the program and policy science in their field to make decisions, they often employ methodological skills in program and policy development, implementation, management and assessment. This course takes students through the research process from question development to administration and reporting. It emphasizes applied research situations and settings and specifically program evaluation and assessment. After examining various research design models, the course focuses on specific techniques that inform both quantitative and qualitative evaluation studies. These include sampling procedures, survey design, interview techniques, participant observation and case studies and process evaluations.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Ballou	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	PSY B53

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Silver	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 591 Applied Analytical Methods

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Evidence-based and data-driven approaches to crime problems are the industry standard among criminal justice agencies and non-governmental organizations. This course will cover a variety of statistical "tools" from three broad areas: (1) descriptive statistics, (2) inferential statistics and hypothesis testing, and (3) measures of association. Students will learn how to develop research questions, describe and draw conclusions from quantitative data, and interpret statistical research findings, and be able to present these findings to a variety of audiences in a clear and accurate way -- to be able to "tell a story" with numbers. In addition, students will develop a proficiency working with large data sets and conducting analysis with a critical lens, using the analytical software -- Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) -- commonly used in criminal justice and related fields.

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Holt	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

Concentration Requirements

MET CJ 640 Performance Management Analytics

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Data analysis informs administration, management and accountability processes within criminal justice and related organizations. While traditional crime analysis often narrowly seeks to improve the organization's effectiveness towards public safety outcomes, management and accountability analysis seeks to also ensure fair, efficient, transparent, and accountable practices as well. This course examines contemporary management and accountability practices with an emphasis on the ways in which data can be employed to improve these practices. Students will learn skills to work with real data sources across justice-system domains, from policing to corrections, as well as community-based organizations. Contemporary challenges, such as disparate treatment, abuse of force, 'overpolicing,' frame discussions and assignments. Students will understand the strengths and limitations of data-informed approaches. The course is valuable to students seeking careers in analytical roles, other practitioners, non-profit managers, and those interested in justice reform more broadly.

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Malcolm	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 711 Planning and Implementation

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course will introduce you to the concepts of criminal justice policy, planning and implementation. You will be introduced to major theories of planning and implementation and apply them to criminal justice organizational settings. Additionally, you will learn the techniques for analyzing problems, developing programs and policies resulting from problem analysis, along with program and policy monitoring and evaluation.

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Cronin	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

Plus two electives from the following list:

MET AD 612 COO-Public Emergency Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisites: MET AD610 - This course examines emergency management from national, state, local, and family perspectives of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The course encompasses knowledge of the specific agencies, organizations, and individual behaviors in emergency management as well as the interlinking partnerships between/among these groups. Areas of discussion include: responsibilities at federal, state, community and individual levels; guidelines and procedures for operations and compliance such as the National response Plan; Incident Command Systems (ICS); exercises; plan development, command, and control; communication; partnership development and maintenance; leadership; and numerous other elements related to effective emergency management. The unique and critical roles of private and public partnerships are reviewed and particular attention is paid to the interplay and interdependency among national, state, community, business (public and private), and the individual. 4cr.

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Morash	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 511 Rehabilitation and Re-Integration

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Community re-integration following imprisonment has long been recognized as a significant challenge. Longer sentences and rapid changes have created new problems for both formerly incarcerated people and those who provide services both inside and outside the criminal justice system. This course will examine rehabilitation philosophy in theory and practice. Lectures and seminars will address such issues as: the special problems in providing rehabilitation and education in the correctional system, the effect of inmate subculture on rehabilitation, and balancing demands for custody and rehabilitation.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Matesanz	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	SOC B63

MET CJ 512 Sexual Violence

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course will engage the topics of sexual deviance and sexual trauma through multiple lens. These lenses will include psychological, sociological, criminal justice, public health and social justice perspectives. The course will explore multiple facets of understanding sexual deviance and sexual trauma including legal and philosophical perspectives, historical activism, understanding and treatment of sexual offending, and survivor responses. The roles of multiple systems including the media, mental health organization and the criminal justice system will be taken into account. This course includes ongoing group work that will engage critical inquiry, addressing relevant topics in sexual trauma in practical ways. Students will utilize knowledge of theory and research methodology to pursue real world responses to issues of sexual violence and trauma.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Rousseau	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	PSY B37

MET CJ 520 Violence and Trauma

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Violence and Trauma examines the psychological impact of crime, terror and disasters on society and the individuals who are members of it. The class is geared toward students in the social sciences including Psychology, Urban Affairs, Criminal Justice, and Sociology. A variety of traumas will be examined (e.g., childhood abuse, domestic violence and crime, war combat, terrorism, and natural disasters). The course examines the social, cultural and political environments in which trauma, trauma research and treatment occur. This course provides an introduction and overview of the field of traumatic stress studies including the nature of trauma, responses to trauma and treatment for disorders of traumatic stress.

MET CJ 610 Cybercrime

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course is designed to help students understand and apply the nature of computer crime in the criminal justice field. Several theories (both micro-level and macro-level) will be presented and will be analyzed in depth and applied to computer crime cases both past and present. Students will see how major theories have been re-developed to be applied to computer crime, and by using these theories, students will both develop and explore different strategies for future law enforcement. Students will be presented with common types of fraudulent schemes, as well as several laws that have been enacted and developed specifically for computer crime. In addition, causes, victimization, legal issues, control strategies, and societal costs regarding the cybercrime problem will be explored and evaluated.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Choi	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS B20

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Choi	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 612 Crime and Intelligence Analysis

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Contemporary law enforcement agencies regularly employ crime and intelligence analysis to develop and inform effective responses to crime. This course provides an in-depth examination of crime and intelligence analysis techniques. It also explores the role of the crime and intelligence analyst within law enforcement organizations and processes, the historical evolution of this approach, key legal and policy issues, and challenges to implementation. Students have the opportunity to apply these skills to case study simulations involving an array of common crime problems and cases using real-world examples and sources of information.

Section A1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Cronin	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CDS 264

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Cronin	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 620 Cyberterrorism and Cyber Defense

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Cyber-terrorists continuously leverage sophisticated techniques in efforts to attack the nation's critical infrastructures by damaging their functionalities and stealing highly sensitive intellectual property, private information, and valuable assets. This course is designed to explore a new explanatory angle for studying cyberterrorism issues from a cyber- intelligence perspective. Major cyberterrorism cases will be empirically analyzed and applied into a lab environment for gaining hands-on-experience and to develop defensive strategies and counter measures. This course aims to examine three main types of cyberterrorism 1) Information Attacks, 2) Infrastructure Attacks, and 3) Technology Facilitation for building both technical capability and a set of policy recommendations to counter these potential threats.

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Choi	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 632 White-Collar Crime

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course introduces students to the concept of white collar crime as an area of scientific inquiry and theory formation. It critically examines the latest scholarship on the subject by looking at white collar crime through a multiplicity of perspectives and reference points. These range from focus on the offense, offender, legal structure, organizational structure, individual, and organizational behavior, to victimization and guardianship, with special attention on the interaction between these components. The course also assesses the nature, extent, and consequences of white collar crime nationally and internationally. To enhance the understanding of white collar crime in today's Information Technology development, the course will pay special attention to roles of IT including fintech and cryptocurrency connections within white collar crime. It will also introduce rapidly emerging cybercrime issues while discussing various challenges of cybercrime investigation and limited digital forensics tools. Finally, the course examines current criminal justice system efforts at controlling white collar crime. Given the relative ineffectiveness of traditional criminal justice responses, alternative systems of control will be examined, ranging from compliance and regulations, private security, and public opinion, to prevention. Students will visit the websites of various government agencies or professional organizations to explore their functions and their current efforts to fight white collar crimes. Finally, many tangible research- based suggestions will be made regarding actions that organizations and businesses can take to reduce losses accrued due to white collar crime.

MET CJ 705 Threat Assessment

4 credits. Spring

Threat assessment is a systematic strategy for identifying, assessing, and preventing potential violent incidents. Using an interdisciplinary approach combining insights from criminology, law enforcement, psychiatry, and psychology, behavioral threat assessment is designed to provide alternatives to violence before an attack occurs. In this class, students will learn the principles of behavioral threat assessment and explore ongoing developments in the field by reviewing case examples and studies of school shooters, mass murderers, lone actor terrorists, as well as more common offender types such as domestic violence offenders. The course is intended for a wide variety of law enforcement officers, mental health practitioners, school administrators, workplace managers, and public officials who are charged with maintaining community safety.

Section O1, FALL 2025 Sep 2nd to Oct 20th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Silver	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 720 Trauma and Crisis Intervention

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Trauma and Crisis Intervention examines the psychological impact of trauma on individuals and society. This course will address the important role trauma plays in criminal justice settings, providing a practical understanding of trauma and trauma informed care. This understanding will serve to benefit practitioners in this field. The course will cover key issues in trauma and crisis intervention, addressing both theory and practice. The course examines the social, cultural and political environments in which trauma, trauma research and treatment occur. This course provides an introduction and overview of the field of traumatic stress studies including the nature of trauma, responses to trauma and treatment for disorders of traumatic stress. A variety of traumas will be examined (childhood abuse and neglect, ongoing and complex trauma, interpersonal trauma, international trauma, etc.) In addition, trauma will be explored in a variety of contexts. Students will gain an understanding of the impact of trauma and crisis intervention both within the United States as well as globally. The capacity to foster resilience in survivors as well as the importance of self-care in reducing vicarious trauma will be stressed. This course is designed to provide an understanding of trauma and crisis response for students who may work in a variety of criminal justice settings. The course will be geared toward and benefit both mental health practitioners as well as those working in law enforcement and correctional settings. The field of criminal justice more generally is clearly moving toward recognition of the importance of trauma informed care and services. The course will address trauma theory and practice in a practical way. The course will be interactive in nature and derive course work and material from real world examples.

Section O2, FALL 2025 Oct 28th to Dec 15th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Rousseau	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CJ 750 Policing in a Democratic Society

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Police agencies play a critical role in a democratic society. While seeking to maintain order, enforce the law and deliver services effectively, police agencies are held accountable to a wide-variety of values by a number of powerful stakeholders. Police leaders, managers, and other personnel must understand the complexities of the police role in society, the political and legal constraints placed on them in addition to being experts in effective, evidence-based approaches to dealing with crime problems in the community. By applying theory, policy, and evaluation literature to the cutting-edge practices in the field, this course provides students with an advanced understanding in the field of police leadership, management, strategy, and accountability within a democratic society. 4 cr.

Dates & Deadlines

View BU MET’s academic calendar for online programs, including important dates and deadlines.

Application Requirements

Learn about application requirements for BU MET graduate degree and certificate programs.

How You Benefit from a
Boston University Education

A BU credential can help lay the foundation for career advancement and personal success.

Benefit from an average 24:1 student-to-instructor ratio
Study under leading criminal justice faculty with extensive field experience and scholarship in law enforcement, corrections, cybercrime investigation and digital forensics, research and policy, forensic mental health, the judicial system, strategic management, and many other areas.
Learn through case studies, simulations using real data, and hands-on problem solving to develop practical skills you can immediately apply on the job.
BU MET has offered criminal justice education since 1973, introducing its Master’s degree in criminal justice in 1980, which became BU’s first fully online program in 2002.

All graduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the application process and nominated based on eligibility. Learn more.

Rankings & Accreditations

U.S. News & World Report - Best Online Programs - Criminal Justice 2025

#6 in 2025, and top 6 since 2015

MET’s online master’s degree in criminal justice is ranked #6 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.

U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs - Veterans - Criminal Justice 2025

#10, Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans

MET’s online master’s degree in criminal justice is ranked #10 in the nation for veterans and active-duty service members by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.

Graduate with Strategic Management Expertise

In addition to the knowledge gained in the MSCJ core, students who complete the Criminal Justice master’s degree concentration in Strategic Management will be able to demonstrate:

Familiarity with organizational structures of the criminal justice system along with the classical and contemporary theories of organization, planning, and change.
The ability to learn and apply planning skills related to criminal justice policymaking and program design.
Knowledge of policy monitoring and program evaluation techniques.
Proficient comprehension of quantitative and qualitative practices that enhance organizational decision-making, evaluation, and accountability.
An understanding of the nature of public emergency management and preparedness across public and private jurisdictions.

“MET’s MS in Criminal Justice was the perfect one-year opportunity to expand my knowledge about a field that interested me. These professors kept me engaged in learning and showed me firsthand how to have an impact. The drive their dedication inspired was one of the most important ingredients to my success. My coursework throughout this program has shown me there are so many opportunities to make a mark on policy and practice in the criminal justice system and beyond.” Read more.

Bridget Bishop (MET ’22)
Law Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School
MS, Criminal Justice, concentration in Strategic Management

Advance Your Career in Criminal Justice

The Strategic Management concentration of BU MET’s MS in Criminal Justice is built on the foundation that effective leadership in the increasingly complex field of criminal justice requires a strong footing in ethics, business, and analysis, as well as the ability to keep pace with issues that include the realities of terrorism, the emergence of cybercrime, questions of police legitimacy, and stagnant correctional outcomes in terms of recidivism among offenders.

The MSCJ concentration in Strategic Management is the ideal program of study for experienced, mid-career criminal justice professionals who seek to advance into policymaking, upper-management, or executive-level positions in their agencies.

Recent graduates have found job opportunities and career paths in organizations such as:

Louisiana State Police
Pennsylvania State Police
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
Wilmington Police Department
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Capital One
Roger Williams University

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
United States Army
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC)
United States Department of Justice (DOJ)
United States Department of State (DOS)

Take Advantage of Career Resources at BU MET

You will find the support you need in reaching your career goals through MET’s Career Development office, which offers a variety of job-hunting resources, including one-on-one career counseling by appointment for online students. You can also take advantage of tools and resources available online through BU’s Center for Career Development.

Criminal Justice Faculty

Shea W. Cronin

Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice

Chair, Applied Social Sciences

Kyung-shick Choi

Professor of the Practice, Criminal Justice

Director, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity

Danielle Rousseau

Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice

James M. Silver

Visiting Associate Professor, Criminal Justice

View All Faculty

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Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Strategic Management Concentration

At a Glance

Learn to Lead through Strategic Management