| Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership
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What to expect in UIW's Criminal Justice Administration & Leadership Program
Do you enjoy helping others and want to make a difference in your community? Take the next step in your career with a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership (CJAL) degree from UIW School of Professional Studies. The CJAL program is an accelerated graduate criminal justice program of applied instruction designed to teach students leadership skills relevant to criminal justice organizations.
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership
The UIW School of Professional Studies Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership program (CJAL) is designed to develop, enhance and advance professionals in the field of Criminal Justice. It is a synthesis of traditional and contemporary crime studies that is designed to equip students with an in-depth understanding of the functions of the United States Criminal Justice System. The coursework in critical operations, policy analysis and emergency response will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to advance a career in the many fields of criminal justice.
Criminal Justice students will:
- Complete 30 hours of graduate coursework and a significant research project.
- Learn in small class sizes with 1-on-1 faculty support.
- Tailor your education with electives in cyber crime, women in criminal justice and more.
Career Outlook and Opportunities
To fulfill the CJAL degree program requirements, each student must complete 30 hours of graduate coursework and a significant research project. A minimum of 24 credit hours of courses for the master’s degree must be taken at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Major Curriculum (30 hours)
- CRIJ 6301 The Psychology of Criminal Justice Leadership
- CRIJ 6302 Managing Controversies: The Courage to Lead
- CRIJ 6303 Ethical Decision Making: Understanding Biases and Public Perception
- CRIJ 6304 Assessing Crime, Criminal Justice and the Community
- CRIJ 6305 Public Personnel Management and Practices
- CRIJ 6306 Crisis Communication in Critical Operations
- CRIJ 6307 Leadership Coaching: Principles and Practices
- ORGD 6355 Organizational Change
- ADMN 6375 Strategic Planning and Policy
- CRIJ 63CS Leadership Capstone Project
With so many career opportunities in the criminal justice field, students can find their passion and make a mark in the industry such as a law enforcement officer, crime scene investigator or an attorney.
Criminal Justice Earning Potential:
- The annual salary for a forensic science technician was $59,150 in May 2019, and is projected to grow 14 percent from 2019-2029.
- The annual salary for police and detectives was $65,170 in May 2019, and is projected to grow five percent from 2019-2029
- The annual salary for a probation officers was $54,290 in May 2019, and is projected to grow four percent from 2019-2029.
- The annual salary for a lawyer was $122,960 in May 2019, and is projected to grow four percent from 2019-2029.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Criminal Justice graduates may find employment working in prisons, police stations, law offices, forensics labs and other industries.
Examples of Criminal Justice careers in law enforcement and more:
- Police officer
- Probation officer
- DEA agent
- Computer forensics investigator
- Security guard
- FBI agent
- Forensic science technician
- Crime scene investigator
- Correctional officer
- Attorney
- State trooper
- Parole officer
- U.S. Marshal
- Private detective
- Fish and game warden
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Featured Faculty
Dr. Hieu "Jack" Phan, Associate Professor
Dr. Hieu "Jack" Phan currently serves as an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Program Chair at the School of Professional Studies. Dr. Phan has over 15 years of applied field experience in law enforcement, forensic science, corrections, probation, and crime scene investigations and uses this experience in instructing undergraduate and graduate courses. He has also developed and implemented online criminal justice associate and bachelor degree programs at previous institutions. Dr. Phan is a graduate of the Kansas law enforcement officer and correctional officer academies and has completed over 3,000 hours of specialized training in such diverse areas as Asian Gangs, Asian Organized Crime, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response, Advanced Fingerprinting Analysis and Identification, Advanced Detective and Criminal Investigation, and Crime Scene Forensic. He enjoys camping, fishing, skeet shooting, collecting antique toy soldiers, and traveling to Asia.
Dr. Thomas M. Evans
President, University of the Incarnate Word