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Cedar Crest College is committed to providing students with ground-breaking opportunities to earn degrees that will transform their lives and make a difference in the world. That’s why we see you earning your Master of Science in Crime Science at the first graduate program of its kind in the nation.

Building on the strength of our undergraduate programs in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Psychology, the Master’s in Crime Science takes an interdisciplinary approach to crime prevention and detection that differs from most system-centered criminal justice degree programs. The goal of the program is to create more effective practitioners by teaching skill-centered concepts that can be used professionally. Ultimately, Crime Science aims to teach practitioners, policy-makers and community activists how to collectively and collaboratively manage resources in a way that effectively prevents criminal behavior, or, alternatively, more quickly solves the crime that does occur.

This graduate program can be a natural next step to an advanced degree for individuals from a wide array of professional and academic backgrounds. The program may be of particular interest to prospective students who hold a bachelor’s degree and are employed, or seeking employment, in law enforcement, court and corrections professions, as well as those who work in client-based services such as drug rehabilitation, foster care and mental health organizations.

Program Delivery

This 36-credit graduate degree is a weekend-centered program designed to be more accessible to the working professional. It can be completed in as few as 18 months.

The skill-based curriculum – which covers environmental criminology, forensic science, and forensic psychology – is comprised of 30 credits assigned to 1-, 2-, and 3-credit learning modules delivered mostly in hybrid format, with 6-credits dedicated to the capstone project. Each module is designed to teach the practitioner a skill that can be directly applied to the professional setting. The capstone project is an application exercise where students must apply what they have learned and create, evaluate, or re-design a criminal justice program, intervention, community initiative, or policy position.

The dates, times and content of the modules are published in advance so that schedules can be managed more effectively. Much, if not all, of what is taught is directly applicable to any criminal justice-related organizations, so professionals in those fields may be able to receive training credit and release time.

This graduate program may also be completed as a 4+1 program for students in the traditional undergraduate women’s college.

Dive A Little Deeper

Program Goals

Program Goals and Student Learning Objectives

Students completing the Master of Science in Crime Science will be able to:

  1. Create strategies and interventions that use the theoretical concepts of environmental criminology and the idea of cross-sector collaboration in ways that are designed to evaluate, investigate, or prevent criminal or deviant behavior.
  2. Create strategies and develop an assessment plan that identifies how patterns in both geographic and non-geographic data can be used by criminal justice agencies to aid the process of strategic learning.
  3. Develop an evaluation and assessment plan that is designed to measure the effectiveness of program goals and objectives.
  4. Develop a leadership philosophy statement that demonstrates an understanding of how leadership styles can be applied to criminal justice and community-centered organizations.
  5. Understand the unifying paradigm of forensic science and how it is correctly applied to the management and reconstruction of a crime scene.
  6. Students will understand how the processes and development of the human mind influence memory and behavior.
Tuition & Fees
Admissions Requirements

Admission Requirements

In order to be admitted into the Crime Science Program, each student must meet the following requirements:

  • A minimum of 1-year, full-time work experience (reflected in a resume) or if the student does not have one year of experience, a 1-page statement explaining how the student’s career goals align with the curriculum.   
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the student’s undergraduate field of study – If the student does not have a 3.0 in his or her undergraduate program, the student must complete an interview with the Program Direction. The purpose of the interview is to assess academic preparedness
  • Background check – the background check will be waived for any applicant already employed in the criminal justice, forensic, or social work systems. Any applicant not employed in one of those fields must submit a criminal background check and child abuse clearance form. A criminal history would not exclude a candidate unless the conviction was for a sex offense or weapons offense. This is necessary because those convictions would seriously inhibit the applicant’s ability to find work in the criminal justice, forensic, or social work fields.
  • Letters of recommendation – All students must submit two letters of recommendation. Letters must either be from criminal justice practitioners or an academic representative.

Adult & Graduate Open House

August 15, 2026 @ 10:00AM – 12:30PM
✨ Join us for an informative and engaging on-campus experience designed for adult learners and prospective graduate students. Discover the programs, resources, and support systems available to help you achieve your academic and career goals at Cedar Crest College. Whether…
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How To Apply

Ready to apply as a graduate student?

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Cedar Crest student smiling on campus

Accreditation

Cedar Crest College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801

Faculty & Staff

Who’s teaching you is as important as the curriculum you choose.
Let’s put a face to some of the names you’ll be seeing on the course listings!

Scott Hoke

Scott Hoke

Associate Professor
Curtis Hall 201
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x4454)
John_Lichtenwalner

John Lichtenwalner

Assistant Professor of Social Work
Curtis Hall Rm 234
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x3502)
Chelsea Toth

Chelsea Toth

Asst Professor/Dir of Field Education-BSW
Curtis Hall 231
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x4564)
Suzanne Weaver

Suzanne Weaver

Chair Social Sciences/Professor
Curtis Hall 233
Phone: 610.606.4666 (x3500)
Tammy Weider

Tammy Wieder

Administrative Assistant
Curtis 239
Phone: 610.606.4666
Contact: