Graduate criminal justice education does not have to follow a single path. Depending on your experience and goals, you may choose a full Master’s degree or begin with a focused Post-Baccalaureate Certificate.

Xavier University offers two 100% online options:

• Master of Science in Criminal Justice
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration

The full Master of Science in Criminal Justice can support broader graduate preparation in criminal justice leadership, administration, research, policy, and systems-level practice. The Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration can offer a shorter, more focused way to build graduate-level knowledge in a specific area.

This guide compares the programs’ scope, admissions requirements, time commitment, and potential professional uses so you can decide which path fits your next step.

Key Takeaways

• Xavier University offers an online MS in Criminal Justice and an online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration.
• The MS is a full graduate degree and may be a better fit for students seeking broader preparation, long-term advancement, or deeper study.
• Xavier’s Certificate is a 9-credit-hour program focused on administrative leadership in the criminal justice field.
• Neither credential replaces role-specific experience, licensing, academy training, or agency promotion requirements.

The right option depends on what you need the credential to do for you.

A Master of Science in Criminal Justice is a graduate degree focused on the systems, policies, organizations, and leadership issues connected to criminal justice.

A Master’s program may help students build knowledge in areas such as:

• Criminal justice administration
• Leadership and supervision
• Corrections and correctional systems
• Probation, parole, and community corrections
• Law enforcement leadership
• Policy and justice-system reform
• Research and evidence-informed decision-making
• Program evaluation
• Ethics and professional responsibility
• Public safety systems
• Interagency collaboration

The program is also designed to serve both experienced professionals and students preparing to begin a new path in criminal justice.

Best for: Students who want a full graduate degree and broader criminal justice preparation.
Potential fit: Professionals seeking leadership, administration, policy, research, public safety, or long-term advancement opportunities.
Next step: Review the online MS in Criminal Justice program page.

A Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is a graduate-level credential designed for students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree and want focused study in a specific area.

Xavier’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration is an online 9-credit graduate credential.

Through three courses, students examine:

• Organizational leadership and ethical decision-making in criminal justice settings
• Government and nonprofit accounting, including fraud detection and auditing
• Human resources and strategic personnel management

The Certificate may be a strong choice if you want to sharpen a specific administrative skill set, prepare for greater responsibility in your current field, or begin coursework that can later be applied toward Xavier’s MS.

Best for: Students who want a shorter graduate credential focused on criminal justice administration.
Potential fit: Individuals who want targeted administrative knowledge, professional development, or a possible bridge toward future graduate study.
Next step: Review the online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration.

There is no universal “better” option. The right choice depends on your professional goals, educational background, timeline, and how you want to use the credential.

If your goals are broad or long-term, the MS may provide more room to build depth. If your goals are specific, immediate, or administration-focused, the Certificate may be more efficient.

The MS in Criminal Justice may be the better option if you want the depth, recognition, and breadth of a full graduate degree.

Consider the MS if you want:

• A full graduate degree
• Broad study across criminal justice administration, management, and research
• Preparation for long-term leadership or continued academic study
• A more complete foundation for entering or transitioning within the field

A Master’s degree may be especially useful if your goal is to move from frontline work into broader leadership or administrative responsibility, or seek a more complete graduate credential in criminal justice.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration may be the better option if you want a shorter and more focused graduate credential.

Consider the certificate if you:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree
• Want targeted preparation in administration, accounting, and human resources
• Need a shorter graduate credential that fits alongside your current work
• May want to continue into Xavier’s Master’s program in the future

Rather than introducing the full criminal justice field, the Certificate focuses on the administrative responsibilities of leading organizations and programs.

The requirements for the MS and Certificate are identical.

Admissions requirements can change, so applicants should confirm the current details before applying.

Questions to ask:

• Do I meet the GPA requirements?
• Do I need criminal justice work experience, if not meeting the 2.7 GPA requirement?
• Are recommendations required?
• Are test scores required if I do not meet GPA criteria?
• Do I need official transcripts from all previous institutions?
• Which pathway is best aligned with my current background?
• What application deadline applies to my intended start term?

Both the MS and Certificate serve different professional purposes.

A full MS in Criminal Justice may be better aligned with broader career paths such as:

• Criminal justice administration
• Law enforcement leadership
• Corrections leadership
• Probation or parole leadership
• Policy or research roles
• Program management
• Public safety leadership
• Investigations or analysis-adjacent work
• Justice-system improvement
• Future graduate or doctoral study

A Post-Baccalaureate Certificate may be better aligned with more focused goals such as:

• Building administrative knowledge
• Strengthening management skills
• Supporting current criminal justice responsibilities
• Preparing for increased responsibility in a current role
• Exploring graduate study
• Adding a focused credential after a Bachelor’s degree

Neither program guarantees a promotion or specific position. Employers may also consider prior experience, agency requirements, sworn status, licensing, and specialized training.

If you are new to the criminal justice field, Xavier’s MS is generally the relevant option of the two. The program is designed both for professionals advancing in criminal justice and students starting a new path. It may also be more appropriate if you are making a significant career change and need a fuller academic foundation.

Xavier’s Certificate is intended for applicants looking to build administrative knowledge rather than people using graduate study as their first introduction to the field.

Academic preparation alone may not qualify you for every criminal justice position. Depending on your intended role, you may also need academy training, licensing, a civil service process, sworn status, or relevant work experience.

If you already work in criminal justice, your decision comes down less to whether graduate study is relevant and more to the scope of growth you want.

Consider the MS if you want to:

• Broaden your understanding of criminal justice systems
• Prepare for long-term leadership
• Build research, policy, or administrative skills
• Move into higher-level supervisory or management roles
• Strengthen your qualifications for future advancement

Consider the Certificate if you want to:

• Add focused administrative knowledge
• Build management-oriented skills
• Support your current role
• Complete a shorter graduate credential
• Explore graduate study before committing to a full MS

The MS vs. Certificate decision applies mainly to students comparing Xavier’s standalone criminal justice programs. Nurses may have another option.

Xavier University’s Dual Degree – MSN in Forensics and MS in Criminal Justice is designed for registered nurses who want to connect forensic nursing and criminal justice graduate study. It may be a fit for nurses interested in forensic care, investigations, legal contexts, correctional healthcare, victim advocacy, or public safety-adjacent work.

If you are a nurse comparing criminal justice options, ask whether your goal is:

• A standalone criminal justice credential
• Forensic nursing graduate preparation
• A dual nursing and criminal justice pathway
• Criminal justice administration without a nursing focus

Before choosing between the MS and Certificate, ask yourself:

1. Do I want focused administrative study or a full graduate degree?
2. What education and experience does my intended role require?
3. How much time and financial commitment can I make now?
4. Do I want the option to begin with 9 credit hours and continue into the MS?

The best choice begins with an honest look at where you are now and what you want to take responsibility for next.

Xavier University offers online graduate criminal justice pathways for students who want to build administrative, leadership, and systems-level knowledge.

Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Xavier’s online MS in Criminal Justice may be a fit if you want a full graduate degree and broader preparation for criminal justice leadership, administration, policy, research, or advancement.

Online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration

Xavier’s online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration may be a fit if you want a shorter graduate credential focused on administrative leadership in criminal justice settings.

Dual Degree – MSN in Forensics and MS in Criminal Justice

Xavier’s online dual degree may be a fit for registered nurses who want to combine forensic nursing and criminal justice graduate study.