Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Tennessee

Tennessee, like many rural states, has a justice system which spans many remote communities and counties. Yet, everyone deserves justice, from those who live in metropolitan areas to those in rural farming communities. To improve standards and ensure that professionals are working within their scope of practice, the industry utilizes the knowledge of researchers, managers, and analysts.

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

You can use your critical thinking skills and education to delve into new opportunities in criminal justice. Reach out to criminal justice graduate programs in Tennessee below for more information.

Featured Online Criminal Justice Programs

If you want to succeed in Tennessee criminal justice, a grasp of state-specific justice issues is essential. The state of Tennessee recently established a Drug Court (WMC Action News 5, 2015). The purpose of this court is to reduce recidivism rates by providing addiction treatment to drug addicts rather than moving immediately to incarceration, which often starts a cycle of reoffending.

Your education may also help you influence societal change in criminal justice. Experts in this field have concluded that Tennessee appellate courts need more diversity if they are to be fair to offenders and victims in minority groups (The Tennesseean, 2015).

The future appears to be bright for many criminal justice jobs. By 2022, criminal justice professors may see a 12% increase in job openings and demand for probation officers may increase 3% (O*Net, 2015).

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

If you want to earn your master’s degree in criminal justice in Tennessee, you must first meet the admission requirements for your school of choice. At minimum, you need a GPA of 3.0 at the undergraduate level. A higher GPA or relevant coursework may help your financial aid opportunities or your school options.

Some grasp of basic criminal justice themes and topics is recommended, as you must have the capacity to develop strong communication skills, think critically about a variety of issues, understand the role of globalization in justice, and utilize moral reasoning in your decisions.

Although expenses may be part of your school decision, you may want to focus more on which school fits your educational needs, as there are quite a few financial aid programs throughout the state. In general, tuition ranges from $500 per credit to $1500 per credit. Financial aid is available through many different institutions, including the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police.

Not only are there multiple schools to choose from, there are different types of graduate programs. A criminal justice master’s degree in Tennessee may cover many different parts of this industry, but a specialized degree may offer courses that you cannot take in a general program.

Some of the options at Tennessee schools include:

Forensic psychology
Criminology
Criminal justice administration
Emergency preparedness and response
Homeland security
Justice and security

On average, Tennessee graduate programs include 36 credits of coursework. This is often divided into 18 core credits and 18 elective credits. You may choose your electives from an approved list of high-level criminal justice courses. Depending on the degree path you choose, you may write a thesis at the end of your program or you may sit for an exam.

Your journey to a new career begins here. Contact local schools below to request information on earning a Master of Science in criminal justice in Tennessee.