Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Kentucky

Kentucky’s criminal justice industry functions like a well-oiled machine. Those with physical training and ability to respond to intense situations work the front lines, de-escalating problems and keeping the streets safe. With experience and higher education, professionals may move on to conducting research, creating policies, and supervising those who work on the lines every day.

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

Furthering your education can be a great way to expand your career options in this industry. Contact schools near you today to learn how to get a master’s degree in criminal justice in Kentucky.

Featured Online Criminal Justice Programs

The skills and knowledge you gain at this level may give you a better overall understanding of the justice system. Those who reach this high level of education may take on management roles and create plans to achieve long-term systemic goals. In Kentucky, leaders noticed that animal control officers did not have the authority they needed to fully carry out their job duties (Courier Journal, 2015). With this information, they were able to empower animal control officers.

You may also use your criminal justice education to work in social justice. The Kentucky Innocence Project aims to bring justice to those who have been wrongfully imprisoned and bring true offenders to court (The Marshall Project, 2015).

A master’s in criminal justice in Kentucky can be the perfect choice for you if you are interested in working in management. Police supervisors in Kentucky earn a median salary of $62,720 per year, and job openings are expected to increase 7% through 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022). Emergency management directors claim a median salary of $44,340 per year in the state and may see a 3% increase in jobs nationwide (CareerOneNet, 2022).

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Kentucky 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 Kentucky?

There are many different colleges and universities that give you the chance to earn a Master of Science in criminal justice in Kentucky. If you work full-time in the field, you may wish to select a program that allows you to take some or all of your classes online. This may allow you a bit more flexibility in your schedule.

Expenses will likely play some role in your school decision. Generally, graduate tuition rates in Kentucky range from $490 per credit to $1300 per credit. Spend some time looking into financial aid opportunities, such as those offered by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation.

If you want to work in a specific setting or position, consider earning a specialized degree that focuses solely on your areas of interest.

Some of the programs offered in Kentucky include:

Homeland security
Fire/emergency services
Corrections
Occupational safety
Juvenile justice studies
Administration of justice and security
Criminology

Curriculum requirements are quite different from program to program. Studying the courses in each program may give you a good idea of what you are expected to learn and how you can use your skills after graduation. In a Master of Science in criminal justice in Kentucky that focuses on criminology, you may take courses like Survey of Criminal Justice Studies, Juvenile Delinquency, Neighborhoods and Crime, Victimology, Advanced Social Statistics, Environmental Criminology, and Life-Course Criminology.

Programs like criminology may be centered on analysis, research, and statistics. Other programs, such as juvenile justice and corrections, may involve more front-line work.

The people of Kentucky deserve to feel safe and know that safety issues are being properly handled. By earning a Master of Science criminal justice in Kentucky, you can influence change. Contact schools below for more information.