This graduate degree provides coursework for a professional program focused on the social and practical problems surrounding the creation and implementation of law and justice policy in local, national, and international environments. This program allows graduate students to focus their studies in the areas of communities, health, and justice, socio-legal policies and practices and transnational crime and justice. Students pursuing a graduate degree in Applied Criminology work closely with faculty mentors on research and projects that interest them.
If you have a passion for helping others and want to explore the relationships between law and society, this graduate degree in Applied Criminology might be for you. You'll have the opportunity to learn about how justice is applied specifically to juveniles, women, and ethnic groups. Required coursework will also engage you in the study of how cultural and political issues are related to criminal justice around the world.
This professional program focuses on the social and practical problems surrounding the creation and implementation of law and justice policy in local, national and international environments. You can focus your studies in the areas of communities and justice, socio-legal policies and practices, and transnational crime and justice.
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University Requirements:
| Minimum Units for Completion | 36 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Emphasis Required | An emphasis is required for this degree. |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Thesis | Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Comprehensive Exam | Comprehensive Exam may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Oral Defense | Oral Defense may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Research | Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
Purpose Statement
The core of the educational mission of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is to provide both undergraduate and graduate students with the theoretical, methodological, and analytical skills to think critically and systematically about the nature of crime, the meaning of justice, and the efficacy of crime control policies and practices.
The Master of Science in Applied Criminology is an integrated program of study designed to provide graduate students with the theoretical perspectives, substantive knowledge and practical research skills needed to engage in independent, critical investigation of social justice and criminal justice issues, problems, and policies. The MS degree prepares students for professional employment in applied local, national, and international justice contexts or to pursue further education at the doctoral level.
The program’s core courses are designed to ensure that students acquire a graduate-level understanding of advanced theory and methods in criminology, justice system processes, and contemporary policy debates regarding crime and crime control. The graduate curriculum examines justice-related issues from a variety of criminological, social justice, and global perspectives and emphasizes three broad substantive areas of specialization: transnational crime and justice, communities, health, and justice, and law, policy, and social change. Throughout the curriculum, students are expected to apply their core methodological and theoretical knowledge to analyze real-world justice challenges
The applied nature of the MS program is particularly emphasized in the diverse completion options available to students. Depending upon their career goals, our program facilitates experiential learning and the development of subject area expertise via a student designed project focused on research, teaching, or an internship in a justice agency. The opportunity to complete an independent project offers student-centered flexibility while also preparing students for their chosen professional career within the field of criminology. Applied Criminology graduates are critically informed citizens who value diversity and social justice and apply their methodological and theoretical knowledge to advance the cause of justice.
Student Learning Outcomes
The Master of Science in Applied Criminology provides students with the ability to apply graduate-level knowledge of criminological theory and advanced research skills to real-world problem solving in the areas of social and criminal justice. Our program produces criminal justice practitioners, researchers, and human rights advocates who have a broad understanding of social justice-related issues and who have the advanced theoretical and methodological skills to work toward fostering healthy and sustainable communities that prioritize harm prevention.
Upon completing the MS in Applied Criminology, students will be able to:
More Information
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
Admission requirements include the following:
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.
International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
This Master’s degree requires 36 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 36 units:
Foundation Courses (9 units)
*Elective Units (3 - 12 units)
Capstone Project (6 units)
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice and start a Master of Science in Applied Criminology at NAU.
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
Major Requirements
This Master’s degree requires 36 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 36 units:
*Elective Units (9 units)
Capstone Project (6 units)
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.