Qualify for Crime Analysis Jobs with a Master’s in Criminal Justice
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice concentration in Crime Analysis at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) develops your expertise in using and analyzing a variety of data sources to inform the investigations, strategies, and policy decisions of criminal justice organizations. This set of skills is crucial to a growing field within law enforcement and related domains in criminal justice, since policework is not just knocking on doors and interviewing witnesses anymore. The proliferation of data generated by surveillance cameras, body cams, GPS, mobile devices, social media, email and text exchanges, wearable tech, sensors, and other sources has enhanced the potential to map hotspots, discern patterns and trends, gather evidence, solve crimes, and demonstrate results. Having the skills to analyze this data is critical for tactical, operational, and strategic efforts in law enforcement, and essential to research and policy development and reform.
Program at a Glance
- Top 4 Online Programs since 2015
- Online and On Campus
- Part-Time or Full-Time Study
- 32 Credits
- 8–16 Months to Completion
- 4 Full-Time Faculty Members
- No GRE/GMAT
- Tuition & Fees Range—Part-Time Study*: $21,240–$24,640
*Based on 2024–2025 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.
Advance Your Criminal Justice Career
The Crime Analysis concentration of BU MET’s MS in Criminal Justice prepares you to fill in-house crime analyst roles or similar positions, while strengthening the overall skillset of individuals who are involved in investigations, management, and operations.
You also have the option to complete both the Crime Analysis concentration and the Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity concentration by completing just ten courses (40 credits). See Dual Concentration for more information.
![US News & World Report Best Online Programs - Criminal Justice 2024](/met/files/2024/02/2024_cj-usnews-badge.png)
#3 in 2024, and top 4 since 2015
MET’s online master’s degree in criminal justice is ranked #3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2024.
Learn More![Criminal Justice Career Outlook](/met/files/2021/11/cj-career-outlook-promo.jpg)
Criminal Justice Career Outlook
Top criminal justice careers in cybercrime, crime analysis, and management.
Learn More“I graduated in September 2017. Shortly after, I earned a position in Florida as a crime analyst for a sheriff’s office. Now, I’m an investigative analyst for the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in New York, New York.” —Michael-Angelo Zummo (MET’17), Investigative Analyst for the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in New York, New York
Why BU’s Criminal Justice Master’s Has Been Top 4 since 2015
- Active Learning Environment: Benefit from a criminal justice master’s that employs case studies, simulations using real data, and hands-on problem solving to develop practical skills you can immediately apply on the job.
- Career Counseling: MET’s Career Development office and BU’s Center for Career Development offer a variety of job-hunting resources, including one-on-one career counseling by appointment for both online and on-campus students.
- Engaged Faculty: Collaborate with faculty who have subject-matter expertise, research-based insight, and extensive field experience in law enforcement, corrections, cybercrime investigation and digital forensics, research and policy, forensic mental health, the judicial system, strategic management, and many other areas.
- Extensive Network: Study alongside classmates whose diversity of criminal justice experience inspires discussion and debate, along with the opportunity to form valuable, long-lasting connections in the field.
- 15:1 Class Ratio: Enjoy an exceptional student-to-instructor ratio, ensuring close interaction with faculty and access to support.
- Valuable Resources: Make use of Boston University’s extensive resources, including the Center for Career Development, Fitness & Recreation Center, IT Help Centers, Mugar Memorial Library, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, Center for Antiracist Research, Initiative on Cities, Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, George Sherman Union, and many others.
- Flexible Options: Study at the pace that works for you, evenings on campus or fully online. Courses begin fall, spring, and summer; online courses have two starts per term.
- Track Record: Learn from the best—BU MET has offered criminal justice education since 1973, introducing the master’s degree in criminal justice in 1980, which became BU’s first fully online program in 2002.
- Merit Scholarships: US citizens and permanent residents are automatically considered during the application process and nominated based on eligibility. Learn more.
Prepare for the Future of Criminal Justice
The Crime Analysis concentration is part of BU MET’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), focusing on the data-driven and intelligence-led approaches to crime that are rapidly becoming the standard among contemporary criminal justice organizations.
The master’s in Criminal Justice at BU MET is designed for professionals who want to enter or advance in the field of criminal justice—or simply gain a deeper understanding of this fascinating discipline and how it intersects with careers in mental health, public health, journalism, and law. Emphasizing practical, insightful, and adaptable knowledge, BU MET’s criminal justice courses develop practical skills that can be immediately applied on the job while informing your career growth for years to come.
Graduate with Expertise in Crime Analysis
Metropolitan College’s Criminal Justice master’s degree concentration in Crime Analysis will equip you to:
- Understand the wide variety of data sources available for crime and intelligence analysis, including the methods of data collection, uses, strengths, and limitations.
- Prepare different sources of data for use in analysis processes (e.g., data reorganization, matching).
- Conduct analysis using a variety of different techniques, including mapping and spatial analysis and other advanced methods.
- Incorporate analyses into effective written and oral reports that are useful to investigation, strategy, and policy decisions within law enforcement organizations.
- Comprehend the ethical and legal rules and values that govern crime analysis within law enforcement organizations operating in a democratic society.
- Inform effective data-driven or intelligence-led investigations, strategies, and policies based on awareness of contemporary law enforcement and security approaches.
Certificate-to-Degree Pathway
You can also earn the master’s in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Crime Analysis by completing the Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice and the Graduate Certificate in Crime Analysis. Students currently enrolled in a graduate certificate who are interested in transitioning into a master’s degree should contact their academic advisor to declare their interest in this pathway. A new master’s degree application is not required. Connect with a graduate admissions advisor at apssadmissions@bu.edu to learn more about this option.
Dual Concentration Option
Students in the MS in Criminal Justice program have the option to complete both the concentrations in Crime Analysis and Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity by completing just two additional courses (for a total of ten courses/40 credits). Along with the four required courses, candidates for the dual concentration would also complete the following:
- MET CJ 610 Cybercrime
- MET CJ 612 Crime and Intelligence Analysis
- MET CJ 620 Cyberterrorism and Cyber Defense
- MET CJ 710 Applied Digital Forensic Investigation
- MET UA 654 GIS and Spatial Analysis
- And one course selected from the list of Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity electives
Connect with a graduate admissions advisor at apssadmissions@bu.edu to learn more about this option.
Master’s in Criminal Justice Curriculum
Required Courses
(Four courses/16 credits)
MET CJ 570 Criminology and Crime Policy
MET CJ 571 Criminal Justice Administration and Ethics
MET CJ 590 Research and Evaluation Methods
MET CJ 591 Applied Analytical Methods
Crime Analysis Concentration Requirements
(Four courses/16 credits)
MET CJ 612 Crime and Intelligence Analysis
MET UA 654 GIS and Spatial Analysis
Plus at least one course from the following list:
MET CJ 620 Cyberterrorism and Cyber Defense
MET CJ 640 Performance Management Analytics
MET CJ 705 Threat Assessment
MET CJ 840 Applied Crime Analysis Project
MET CS 521 Information Structures with Python
MET CS 555 Foundations of Machine Learning
MET CS 677 Data Science with Python
MET CS 699 Data Mining
And one additional criminal justice (CJ) course or approved course in a related discipline.
Any request for addition or substitution of elective courses requires approval from the department.
Criminal Justice Faculty
Tuition & Financial Assistance
Competitive Tuition
Our part-time rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education.Comprehensive Financial Assistance
Our services include scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans.How Much Does This Program Cost?
BU MET programs offer the flexibility of part-time or full-time study, either on campus or online. Tuition, fees, and total program cost are determined by enrollment status. If you enroll in 1–2 courses (4–8 credits) in a semester, you are charged the part-time per-credit rate. If you enroll in 3–4 courses (12–16 credits) in a semester, you are charged the full-time semester rate.
MS in Criminal Justice, Crime Analysis Concentration (Online and On Campus)
Enrollment Status | Part Time | Full Time | |
Courses per Semester | 2 courses (8 credits) |
4 courses (16 credits) |
3 courses (12 credits) |
Time to Degree | 4 semesters (16 months) |
2 semesters (8-12 months)*** |
3 semesters (12-16 months)*** |
Tuition* | $550-$975 per credit** |
$33,335 per semester |
$33,335 per semester |
Fees per Semester* | $60 | $478 | $478 |
Total Degree Cost* | $21,240– $24,080 |
$67,626 | $75,486 |
*Based on 2024–2025 Boston University tuition & fee rates.
**Cost per credit is determined by course number (100–599 = $550/credit, 600–999 = $975/credit).
***Summer semester enrollment is not required for international students to maintain F-1 visa status. Enrollment in summer semester coursework will expedite completion of program and reduce total program cost.
International students seeking an F-1 visa for on-campus study must enroll full time and demonstrate availability of funds to cover the Estimated Cost of Graduate Study; those who wish to study online may enroll part-time but are not eligible for a visa. Learn more about International Student Tuition & Fees.
Questions? Please contact us to hear from an Admissions Advisor who can help you determine the best enrollment pathway. For information regarding financial aid, visit BU MET’s Financial Aid page.
![graduates](/met/files/2020/05/mscj-ca-get-started.jpg)
Get Started
Please visit the BU MET admissions page for details on how to apply, financial assistance, tuition and fees, requirements for international students, and more.
What to Read Next: MET Criminal Justice Knowledge Center
- Why Get a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice at BU MET?
- What Do My Career Options Look Like with a BU Master's in Criminal Justice?
- Are There Different Criminal Justice Graduate Programs or Specializations at BU?
- Alumni Profile: BU MET Master's in Criminal Justice
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