Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Montana

Montana has one of the lowest population densities in the United States! While this may mean that crime is less common than it is in large metropolitan areas, it also means it can be tough for victims in rural areas to get justice. With a master’s degree in criminal justice in Montana, you may have the expertise that remote communities in Montana require.

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

Criminal justice is an excellent choice for graduate-level study, since criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field that can help you in many industries. Learn more about your educational options by contacting criminal justice master programs in Montana.

Featured Online Criminal Justice Programs

Like many other states, Montana is in the middle of serious criminal justice reform. The state government has ordered a complete review of the criminal justice system, with a long-term goal of saving the state $82 million over the next nine years (Missoulian, 2015). This is called for partially because the prison population increased 7% between 2008 and 2014.

Increasing prison populations are a problem in many different states. This is a particularly severe problem in Montana because the overall crime rate has decreased, and experts would expect the prison population to decrease at a similar rate (Billings Gazette, 2015).

A graduate degree may increase your earning potential. Police supervisors in Montana earn an average salary of $81,460 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Job openings may swell 9% through the year 2030 (CareerOneStop, 2022).

Those who work as private detectives claim a median annual salary of $71,290 in Montana, and demand is expected to increase 6% nationwide in this timeframe (CareerOneStop, 2022).

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

There are many factors to keep in mind as you prepare to earn a Master of Science in criminal justice in Montana. Financial differences may play a role in your school decision, particularly since there are a wide range of tuition rates in this state. Reported graduate tuition rates in Montana can range from $350 per credit to $1100 per credit.

Do not forget to account for scholarships in your financial plan. The Montana Police Protective Association is one of many local organizations that provides funding for graduate students.

To graduate with a degree in Master of Science criminal justice in Montana, you need to complete 36 credits at the graduate level. Most of your credits may come from seminars, research courses, and in-depth procedural courses. However, many schools also require the completion of a thesis. If you choose a non-thesis option, you may need to take a rigorous written test at the end of your degree instead.

The curriculum for any program you choose is meant to help you analyze the justice system from many different angles. Through your two years in school, you may enroll in courses like:

Criminological Theory: Theories regarding the cause of crime, why some people commit crime while others do not, and how research in this field affects policy decisions
Seminar in Criminology: A look at the current issues in criminology; includes student discussion and analysis
Inequality and Social Justice: How differences in social class and other measures can lead to inequality in the justice system

If you want to use your experience to usher in a new era of justice and equality, a master’s degree in criminal justice can help. Use our list below to contact criminal justice master’s programs Montana.