Criminal Justice Student attending online class from home

First-of-its-kind program

Our criminal justice master’s program is the first graduate program of its kind in the country focused on the shifting direction from corrections toward community corrections.

  • Online and asynchronous: You will not be required to be in a class at the same time every week. You will watch lectures, contribute to online discussions and complete other assignments on your own schedule, while following course deadlines.
  • More affordable: Our tuition is competitive with even public universities, plus employees of our strategic partners, such as Albany County Department of Probation, receive a 10% tuition discount. Ask about our employer partnerships to see if your agency/organization can also qualify.
  • But still personal: Students who begin the program together take the same courses at the same time, and get to know others in their cohort.
  • An opportunity for learning residency:  Online and in-person learning residencies at the beginning of every academic year are a great opportunity to meet classmates and faculty.

Course Requirements

Credits and Completion

This 36-credit master’s degree includes courses in institutional corrections and offender rehabilitation, offender reentry and reintegration, community corrections, restorative justice, abnormal psychology, substance abuse vulnerabilities, dynamics, and problems, forensic mental health, and more. Students design a culminating project with a faculty member or complete an externship in consultation with their academic advisor.

View Program Catalog

Master’s in Criminal Justice & Community Corrections CurriculumCredits
Crime, Law and Courts
Crime and Criminal Behavior
Intro to U.S. Law for Forensic Mental Health
Intro to Forensic Mental Health		3
3
3
Institutional Corrections
Institutional Corrections and Offender Rehabilitation
Alcoholism/Drug Addiction: Vulnerabilities, Dynamics, Problems
Abnormal Psychology		3
3
3
Community Corrections
Reentry and Reintegration of Offenders
Community-Based Corrections
Restorative Justice in the Community		3
3
3
Program Support
Program Evaluation and Evidence-Based Practice
Culminating Project or Externship		3
3
Elective3
TOTAL CREDITS36

Graduate and Undergraduate Equivalent Credit

Students who have earned prior graduate credit may request a transfer of up to six credits that meet the equivalency for courses in the master’s in Criminal Justice & Community Corrections. Students who have received undergraduate credit for courses that are equivalent in content to the required graduate courses may request a waiver up to six graduate credits. Graduate courses that are waived through undergraduate credits must be replaced with electives bearing graduate credit.

Transfer credit and waivers must be approved by the program director.

Upcoming Graduate Visit Events

Learn about the exciting opportunities Russell Sage College has to offer with a campus visit, open house, or virtual program informations session.

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Spotlights Pattern

Meet Our Students and Alumni

Student
Demaxia Wray

Why did you choose to enroll in the M.S. in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections program at Russell Sage College? …

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Student
Tori Reinhard

What attracted you to Russell Sage and your academic program? I was attracted to Russell Sage because it is local …

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“From restorative justice to best practices in handling alcohol and drug addiction in correctional institutions and community corrections, this degree is on trend with what is happening now in my field.”

Delta Barometre
Superintendent, Otisville Correctional Facility, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

Easily Apply

We offer rolling admission, so apply anytime, and you can start when you are ready — fall or spring semesters.

Applicants should have completed a bachelor’s degree. (It is preferred, though not required, that the degree be in criminal justice or a related area like sociology, psychology, or social work).

Application Requirements

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A one- to two-page essay on reasons for applying to the program
  • A current resume
  • An RSC graduate school application
Apply Now
Equal Justice Under Law

Your Future Career with a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice & Community Corrections

Whether you’re beginning your career, pursuing advancement or changing fields, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections will increase your marketability.

You will be uniquely qualified for employment opportunities within government, for-profit and not-for-profit and human service organizations that provide community-based alternatives to incarceration.

Community-based alternatives include community supervision (parole and probation), reentry and reintegration services, pre-trial options, specialized courts, mental health and drug/alcohol-related services, and other alternatives to incarceration within the community.

Personal advising, experienced faculty

Our Criminal Justice & Community Corrections faculty are both experienced professors and practitioners in the field, so they’ll share their up-to-date experience and knowledge with you.

Kimberly J.
Brayton, Ph.D., J.D.

Assistant Professor of Forensic Mental Health

Learn more about Kimberly
Jeffrey Golden
Jeffrey
Golden, M.S., J.D.

Assistant Professor of Practice in Criminal Justice, Law, and Behavioral Science; Program Director, M.S. in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections

Learn more about Jeffrey
person sitting outside smiling at the camera
Cailyn
Green, Ph.D., CASAC-M

Adjunct instructor

Learn more about Cailyn
Professor Gabrenya from Sage's criminal justice degree program assists students.
Bobbi
Gabrenya, JD

Associate Professor Emerita

Learn more about Bobbi
Woman with arms crossed outside smiling at camera dressed in a blazer and dress shirt.
Jenna
Curren, Ed.D.

Adjunct Professor, M.S. Criminal Justice & Community Corrections

Learn more about Jenna
Man in business suit smiling at camera.
John
Watts, D.C.J.

Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice and Community Corrections

Learn more about John

Related Resources

Exterior view of The New York Supreme Court located at 60 Centre Street in New York City.

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Russell Sage College’s Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections offers a first in the nation, unique program that focuses on the development, evaluation, and management of alternatives to incarceration, including the array of critical interdisciplinary, community-based services, and the cultivation of leadership and professional opportunities. As more resources are channeled away from mass […]

Why Pursue a Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections

Master’s in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections Overview Pursuing a master’s in criminal justice and community corrections can provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to advance their careers and make meaningful contributions to the field of community corrections. By completing core courses, networking with classmates and faculty, and advancing skills in the […]

Need help?
Jeffrey Golden, M.S., J.D.
Assistant Professor of Practice in Criminal Justice, Law, and Behavioral Science; Program Director, M.S. in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections
[email protected]
352-724-3425

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