Online master's degree ranked no. 2 by US News & World Report

For the second year in a row, the online master’s degree  program at the ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice was recognized as one of the best in the country with a number two ranking by US News & World Report. It's also the highest ranked online graduate program at Arizona State University.

“The fact that our program is ranked no. 2 is very gratifying,” says Cassia Spohn, director of the school, “especially given the time and energy that we have devoted to developing core courses and to creating new courses—such as cyber terrorism—that address contemporary issues confronting the criminal justice system.”

One of four schools within the College of Public Service and Community Service, the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice began offering an online graduate degree more than five years go. Working with college and ASU Online professionals, professors, lecturers and faculty associates have taken classes taught to in-person students over a 15-week semester and turned them into 7.5 week classes that can be accessed on smartphones, tablets and computers.

“The faculty and staff in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice have worked hard to develop and implement an online master’s degree that is innovative, academically rigorous and intellectually challenging,” Spohn says.  

Manuel Vicens started his master’s degree in the summer. He’s a senior probation officer at at the Arlington Community Corrections Unit. Vicens likes how classes are academically rigorous, but flexible.

“ASU's masters degree program provides a solid foundation for any student or professional who is interested in contributing to the current issues in the field of criminal justice constructively," says Vicens. “All my classmates and my professors are very professional and all extend the support and camaraderie that are conducive to a great learning environment!”

Vicens, pictured above with his daughter Lia and wife Ellen, is one of 425 students enrolled in the school as of fall 2015. Three-quarters, like Vicens are from out of state. Most are professionals looking to advance their careers.

“I have always wanted to finish a master's degree,” Vicens says. “And I think this is the best time to do it, and the right school too!”

Brianna Gray just enrolled in classes through ASU Online. She earned her bachelor’s from the University of Texas San Antonio last month. She majored in history and a minored in legal studies. Gray is interested in working in crime scene investigations and forensics.

“I like attending ASU because I know that it's nationally recognized,” says Gray. “I live in Texas, wore an ASU shirt the other day, and someone asked about it because they had gone there too. My degree won't say 'online', it will say ASU, and people will know that I got my master's from a great school.”

The success of the criminology and criminal justice online graduate program led the College of Public Service and Community Solutions to offer masters degrees in public safety leadership and administration,corrections management, and emergency management and homeland security. The college also offers several certificates of interest to those in the criminal justice profession, including law enforcement administration, corrections management and criminal sentencing and sentencing advocacy.

The college started offering an online master’s of social work through the School of Social Work and ASU Online last fall. At a kick-off event, administrators at ASU Online noted how the new MSW online degree and a new social work undergraduate degree in community advocacy and social policy were two degrees that received the most requests for information. A full list of online degrees and certificates offered by the college can be found here.