Master of Science in Criminology
A Research-Driven Approach to Crime and Justice.
Launching Fall 2026.
Criminology is not what most people think. It is not courtroom drama or crime scene investigation. It is the scientific study of crime, behavior, victims, and the systems that shape justice outcomes.
Earn your Master of Science in Criminology online from Norwich University and develop an advanced understanding of criminal behavior, prevention strategy, policy analysis, and justice systems.
Through a rigorous, research-driven curriculum, you will examine crime in its social, legal, psychological, and environmental context. You will learn how theory informs prevention, how data drives policy, and how justice systems function within constitutional and ethical constraints.
The MS in Criminology emphasizes:
- Advanced criminological theory
- Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research
- Legal foundations and justice policy
- Violent behavior and trauma-informed systems
- Applied capstone research or policy analysis
Students graduate prepared to analyze complex justice issues using evidence, systems thinking, and critical evaluation.
Tailor Your Degree
Electives allow you to specialize in areas such as:
- Terrorism and state-sponsored violence
- Cybercrime and digital risk
- Cyber law and emerging legal frameworks
- Environmental criminology and place-based prevention
- Victimology and trauma-informed systems
- Comparative international justice systems
- Crime prevention and policy design
- Ethical leadership and technology
This flexibility allows working professionals to align coursework with operational, investigative, policy, intelligence, or community-based roles.
Norwich Plus and Accelerated Master’s Options
Qualified Norwich undergraduate students may reduce their time to completion through the following pathways:
- CRIM 515 to replace CRIM 316 (Criminal Violence)
- CRIM 530 to replace CRIM 410 (Senior Seminar)
To meet graduate program requirements, a student must earn a 2.75 or higher in CRIM 515 and CRIM 530.
These pathways reward academic momentum and reduce the total number of graduate credit hours required for completion.