Flanked by Amanda Geller (front row, left) and Charis Kubrin (front row, right), co-directors of the university’s top-ranked online M.A.S. program in the subject, are some of the 95 students in the current cohort. Photo by Jessica Y. Gutierrez
UCI’s online criminology master’s program tops list
Forbes has ranked UC Irvine’s Master of Advanced Study (M.A.S.) in criminology, law and society as the nation’s best online criminology master’s program for 2023.
“This is really a testament to our fantastic faculty and staff, and the enthusiasm and engagement our students bring to the M.A.S., from wherever they happen to be located,” says Amanda Geller, associate professor of criminology, law and society and the program’s co-director. “It’s exciting to see this recognized.”
Charis Kubrin, professor of criminology, law and society is the other co-director.
The No. 1 ranking mirrors the U.S. News and World Report ranking, which also placed it at the top of its list.
Forbes picked UCI because, it notes: “At the University of California, Irvine, students can enroll in an online master of advanced study in criminology, law and society. The curriculum focuses on theoretical and practical applications of crime prevention and management, social policy and legal matters. While this program is available primarily online in an asynchronous format, students must take a course at the UCI campus near the beginning of their studies. This program culminates in a capstone course, where learners delve into a social issue related to crime, criminal justice and law, leveraging their research to produce a comprehensive research paper or well-informed policy proposal.”
Created more than 20 years ago, M.A.S. was the first online degree offered in the University of California system. It’s designed to meet the goals of students seeking leadership positions within their organizations in a range of fields, including corrections, law enforcement, social services, probation/parole and forensic psychology, as well as a variety of public administrative roles.
The program has graduated more than 600 students who have gone on to pursue doctorates, law degrees or careers as police administrators, educators, federal law enforcement agents, forensic psychologists, etc. About 100 students presently are enrolled in the program.
— Mimi Ko Cruz