Lander Launches New Master’s in Criminology, Criminal Justice

GREENWOOD, S.C.—State and local government employees, and law enforcement officers now have a convenient path to an affordable master’s degree thanks to Lander’s new online Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice. The new degree program recently received full approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

This master’s degree is designed for the working criminology and criminal justice professional. Graduate students will take courses in crisis communication, crisis leadership, mental health and first responders, research methods, and theory and policy. Students will take six core courses, along with four elective courses of their choosing, for a total of 30 credit hours. The entire program can be completed online, at an ideal pace for working adults, and can be completed in two years or less.

“Students will learn about the legal and social problems they will face in the workforce, including addiction, domestic violence and human trafficking,” said Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. “Our graduates will be primed for increased leadership responsibilities in their careers.”

McMillan also noted that the program’s curriculum was developed through strategic collaborations with law enforcement, and government and security-related organizations, with the goal of teaching students exactly what they need to know for success as criminologists and criminal justice professionals.

“Lander University has a strong tradition of providing online education for working adults, and this new program is an outstanding addition to our catalog of online programs,” said Dr. Lloyd Willis, dean of the College of Graduate and Online Studies. “The South Carolina law enforcement community was instrumental in our development of this program, and we look forward to serving its members as they return to school to advance their careers.”

For more information, visit http://www.lander.edu/ms-cj.