Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois

What Can I Do With My Master’s in Criminal Justice in Illinois?

A Master of Science in criminal justice Illinois degree may give you the opportunity to look at these issues critically and develop practical solutions. Learn more by contacting Illinois criminal justice schools.

Criminal justice professionals in Illinois have many admirable goals in coming years. State leaders hope to lead the country in criminal justice reform. Through legislation and a change in culture, leaders want to change the focus of this industry from recidivism to rehabilitation (State Journal-Register, 2015).

Agencies throughout Illinois have already started making positive progress. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has started working with available data, but experts note that they need more data to really create change in Illinois (Chicago CBS, 2015).

Consider your long-term career goals when choosing a school. Throughout Illinois, the demand for private investigators may jump 12% through the year 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). The average salary in this career is $66,540 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Emergency management directors claim an average salary of $106,030 per year (BLS, 2022), and the state is expected to add about 60 new jobs per year through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Illinois contained here reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2023.

What Will It Take to Earn My Criminal Justice Graduate Degree in Illinois?

A master’s in criminal justice in Illinois is comparable to a master’s degree in most other fields. You may expect to graduate in roughly two years, although some schools offer summer classes. This option may help you complete your education even more quickly.

On average, Illinois schools require graduate criminal justice students to earn between 30 and 36 credits by graduation. This requirement often includes an internship. Your internship may be part of your course load one semester, or you may choose to complete a summer internship and treat it like a full-time job. Students get assigned to internships in many different settings, including prisons, justice agencies, courtrooms, and research facilities.

Illinois has a huge variety of schools that offer this degree, which may mean that you have plenty of options to consider.

Some of the specialized degree programs in this field include:

• Political and Justice Studies: A degree that ties together political studies and changes in the criminal justice system
• Organizational Leadership: Intended to prepare you for the multifaceted job of managing criminal justice organizations, departments, and agencies
• Criminal/Social Justice: The balance between fair and ethical treatment of prisoners and the rights of residents
• Homeland Security: Safety issues that occur at the nation’s borders, airports, and other ports of entry
• Forensic Psychology: The use of psychological principles to understand offenders, prevent crime, and solve crime
• Applied Forensic Psychology Services: Practical uses of forensic psychology in various criminal justice settings

Curriculum requirements are based on the school you choose and the degree you select. You may enroll in classes like Trial Interaction, The Problem of Justice, Organized and White Collar Crime in the United States, Victimization, Application of Science to Law, Topics in Legal Studies, and Classical Theories of Rule Breaking.
If you want to make a difference in criminal justice in Illinois, the first step is earning a master’s degree in criminal justice in Illinois. Request information from local schools today.