Criminal Justice Concentration: Master of Legal Studies
Criminal justice professionals work within the legal system every day, and they would benefit greatly from understanding how laws impact their work. An M.L.S. in criminal justice gives hard-working criminal justice professionals insight into the legal system. Unlike a traditional Master of Criminal Justice degree that focuses on research methods, an online M.L.S. in criminal justice provides practical legal knowledge that criminal justice professionals can use to advance in their field.
Individuals looking to enter criminal justice or advance their careers in the field can benefit from SMU Dedman School of Law’s M.L.S.
Who is this program for?
Individuals working in criminal law or hoping to advance their careers in the field can benefit from SMU Dedman School of Law’s M.L.S.
This concentration will be particularly useful for professionals who currently hold or want to pursue roles in criminal justice:
- Federal, state and local law enforcement officers
- Probation officers
- Victim advocates
- Paralegals
- Court clerks
- Legal assistants
Criminal justice concentration course structure
Students will choose either Business Associations or Negotiation and Effective Communication. If you’d like to take both courses, one may count toward your elective requirement.
- Business Associations
- Negotiation and Effective Communication
Students will choose either Business Associations or Negotiation and Effective Communication. If you’d like to take both courses, one may count toward your elective requirement.
- Business Associations
- Negotiation and Effective Communication
- White Collar Crime and Internal Investigations
- Criminal Law and Procedures
- Advanced Criminal Law and Policy
- Regulatory Law
Learn more about course options for the sports law concentration.
Learning outcomes
After completing this concentration, students will be able to:
- Recognize how the legal system shapes, governs and influences the operations, protections and practices involved in criminal justice.
- Partner and effectively communicate with lawyers, probation officers, law enforcement and court staff in the course of their work.
- Recognize key criminal law principles, including substantive and procedural aspects, to analyze and apply criminal statutes in the real world.
- Engage in legal decision-making to address complex issues within the criminal justice system, ensuring adherence to legal standards and the protection of individual rights.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Yes. The M.L.S. in criminal justice provides an in-depth examination of federal white-collar crimes such as fraud, bribery, racketeering and money laundering. Students gain a thorough understanding of the criminal law process, including investigation techniques, witness interviews, evidence evaluation and legal reporting. The program also explores how corporations conduct internal investigations, from the initial report of misconduct to the conclusion of the investigation
Yes. The M.L.S. in criminal justice provides an in-depth examination of federal white-collar crimes such as fraud, bribery, racketeering and money laundering. Students gain a thorough understanding of the criminal law process, including investigation techniques, witness interviews, evidence evaluation and legal reporting. The program also explores how corporations conduct internal investigations, from the initial report of misconduct to the conclusion of the investigation
Traditional master’s in criminal justice programs focus on research methods, data and theory. Students collect and analyze crime data and consider how it informs the criminal justice system.
The M.L.S. in criminal justice focuses on how the law influences and interacts with the criminal justice system. Students learn about criminal procedure, internal investigations, regulatory enforcement and white-collar crime. This program helps professionals understand how laws are applied and interpreted in criminal contexts, not just how the system operates in theory. Criminal justice professionals seeking career advancement will benefit from this practical degree
Traditional master’s in criminal justice programs focus on research methods, data and theory. Students collect and analyze crime data and consider how it informs the criminal justice system.
The M.L.S. in criminal justice focuses on how the law influences and interacts with the criminal justice system. Students learn about criminal procedure, internal investigations, regulatory enforcement and white-collar crime. This program helps professionals understand how laws are applied and interpreted in criminal contexts, not just how the system operates in theory. Criminal justice professionals seeking career advancement will benefit from this practical degree
Ready to learn more? Download our brochure, and explore our curriculum, admission and FAQ pages.
Request information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the online Master of Legal Studies offered by Southern Methodist University, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 469-871-6018.