MS in Criminology (Online)
Earn your master's degree from anywhere!
The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a fully online Master of Science (MS) degree in criminology. With supportive faculty and an asynchronous learning model, you can complete the program on your own time, from anywhere.
Quick Info
Rolling Admission
Start in fall or spring!
Next Deadline
12/15/2024
Next Start Date
01/22/2025
Total Credits
30
Minimum Time to Complete
2 semesters
Coursework
The MS degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of master’s-level courses, including 12 credit hours of mandatory core coursework and 18 credit hours of sociology and criminology electives. You can read more about credit requirements here.
- SOC 515 - Life Course Sociology
- SOC 522 - Urban Sociology
- SOC 525 - Race and Ethnicity
- SOC 551 - Social Stratification
- SOC 552 - Sociology of Poverty
- SOC 613 - Sociology of Gender
- SOC 553 - Neighborhoods and Crime
- SOC 530 - Crime and Public Policy
- SOC 526 - Race, Crime and Criminal Justice
- SOC 529 - Sociology of Punishment
- SOC 536 - Families and Crime
- SOC 562 - Sociology of Law
- SOC 584 - Sociology of Social Policy
- SOC 607 - Multiple Linear Regression
- SOC 531 - Qualitative Research Methods
- More to come!
The MS degree also requires the completion of a Master's Portfolio. The portfolio summarizes and displays the student's criminological and sociological knowledge, skills, and problem-solving capabilities beyond an academic audience. It includes a statement of professional goals, a resume, a public-facing professional profile, and a written product, such as 2-3 policy briefs, a white paper, or a short research paper based on informational interviews with 2-3 people working in an industry or field of interest to the student.
Complete the program in as little as one academic year!
Semester 1: Social Statistics, Social Research Methods, Criminological Theory, one criminology elective, portfolio guidance.
Semester 2: Sociology elective, three criminology electives, portfolio guidance.
We accept students for fall and spring admissions!
I enjoyed the program being online so I can have a good balance with work, school, and motherhood.
- 2024 graduate, MS Criminology inaugural cohort
Are you an Undergraduate or a Graduate in another department?
You can start taking graduate coures while completing your bachelor's, or for credit towards a different graduate degree! Contact Iris Lu at yunmeilu@buffalo.edu for more information.
Contact us
We encourage prospective students to get in touch with us directly by requesting more information via our information request form. You may also email Susie Sheron, our graduate coordinator, Iris Lu, our Director of Criminology MS, or Ashley Barr, our Director of Graduate Studies. Current UB students may also contact their faculty advisor.
