From Supporting Role to Front Stage: Shining a Spotlight on the Programmatic Features and Experiences of Master’s Degree Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice

While criminology and criminal justice (CCJ) undergraduate programs serve the bulk of our students, much research within the field pays attention to Ph.D. programs and their faculty. Such focus at the polar ends of educational opportunities for those seeking higher education in CCJ leaves a gap in information on master’s degrees in the discipline. This research note describes the programmatic features and experiences of 34 programs and paints a picture of current master’s level education to guide program refinement and development and assist undergraduate students applying to CCJ master’s programs. Findings suggest there are a set of core courses offered across programs that often align with faculty expertise and students have varied culminating experience opportunities. There is also much productivity among graduate students who conduct research and publish and/or present their findings. The paper describes gaps in the literature and discusses suggestions for future research directions.