Online Master's in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis
Bring Your Expertise to Diverse Law Enforcement Settings
100% Online
2 Years
30 Credit hours
$857 Cost per credit
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Add to the Success of Law Enforcement with Data
Leverage the latest practices in intelligence to promote safety and security with the Michigan State University online Master of Science in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis. You’ll become a subject-matter specialist in law enforcement intelligence, rather than national security.
Discover why our programs are ranked No. 10 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice, 2024 (tie).1
Program Details
- Learn from world-renowned faculty
- Build skills in industry-relevant internships
- Network with potential employers
- Apply without work experience
- Test scores are not required
Gain Insights Informed by the Department of Justice
10 Courses
30 Total Credits
At MSU, you won’t just explore theoretical concepts of law enforcement. In coursework informed by the DOJ, you’ll acquire practical skills that give you a competitive edge in the field. Learn to conduct ethical field research, utilize intelligence software and leverage the intelligence cycle to make a visible impact.
Course Highlights
- Comprehensive Threat Assessment
- Introduction to Crime Analysis
- The Intelligence Process and Counterterrorism
Apply Without GRE Scores or Work Experience
The MSU School of Criminal Justice reviews applications multiple times a year and offers fall, spring and summer start dates. Your application must include the following items:
| a completed online application |
| bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution |
| cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale |
| official transcripts for all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions |
| three letters of recommendation |
| personal statement |
Choose an Accessible Online Program
$857 Per Credit Hour
$25,710 Estimated Total Tuition
Paying for your education is an investment in your future, and we’re here to help make it as simple and stress-free as possible with financial aid assistance and information about other available resources.
Tuition Details
Enhance Your Law Enforcement Career With Leading-Edge Skills
Graduate ready to help law enforcement agencies effectively utilize data to fight crime as an intelligence analyst. Employment opportunities for intelligence analysts in the U.S. are expected to grow between 2 and 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, resulting in more than 8,500 new jobs over the decade.2
MSU’s online master’s degree in law enforcement can also open doors to a wide range of additional opportunities. You’ll be prepared to pursue a role as a crime analyst, criminal intelligence analyst, police supervisor, special agent and more.
Explore CareersGet Cold Case Experience
Students taking the CJ 894 Practicum Internship course will work directly with detectives in the Michigan State Police First District Cold Case Unit to assist in their investigation of cold case homicides. This involves working in the cold case library and networking with criminal justice professionals.
Students will also hear from expert guest speakers and receive training in case analysis, investigation, cultural and societal crime factors and more. Work in this cold case unit is designed to support the survivors affected by various crimes, and students will learn to approach cases through a compassionate lens. Upon completion, students will be familiar with law enforcement reports, case files and the investigative process.
Cold Case Unit ExperienceProgram Outcomes
Advance in law enforcement careers with new intelligence skills. Explore the nuances of field research, intelligence software and complex data as you practice detailed crime analysis and threat assessment.
What You’ll Learn
When you complete this program, you will be able to:
- Understand how the relationship between law enforcement and the intelligence community can be used to its fullest potential
- Utilize information sharing and the intelligence cycle
- Conduct research in the field ethically and legally
- Collect, query and manage data using applicable computer software
- Report on results of intelligence analysis to professional and lay audiences
Intelligence Experts Are a Click Away
Faculty members who teach Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis at MSU are experts who have helped construct a foundation of knowledge in the field. Their impressive experience includes work in the following:
- antiterrorism
- community violence
- crime analysis
- crime reduction
- physical security
- SWAT operations
- terrorism response
Dr. David Carter, Professor and Intelligence Program Director
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. David Carter
Dr. David Carter is a nationally and internationally recognized expert known for his research on law enforcement intelligence. His special interests also include policing issues, violent crime control and counterterrorism. He has served as a trainer, consultant and advisor to law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Credentials
- Ph.D., Sam Houston State University
- M.S., Central Missouri State University
- B.S., Central Missouri State University
Selected Awards
- Inducted into the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame in 2015
- O.W. Wilson Award from the Police Section of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for outstanding contributions to scholarship and practice in the field of policing, 2013
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws awarded from the University of Central Missouri for demonstrated professional accomplishments and exceptional contributions to the discipline of criminal justice, 2012
Selected Publications
- Carter, D. and Turner, J. (2017). Policy Development and Implementation of Legislation Permitting the Carrying of Concealed Handguns on College and University Campuses: Promising Practices. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice
- Carter, D., Carter, J., Chermak, S., and McGarrell, E. (2016). Law enforcement fusion centers: Cultivating an information sharing environment while safeguarding privacy. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. DOI: 10.1007/s11896-016-9199-4
- Bannister, A., Bonheimer, K., Carter, D., Gregory, R., Myers, R. (2016). Policing a New Economy: Promising Practices for the Delivery of Police Services. Washington, D.C.: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
As an online student with MSU, you become part of a diverse community of dedicated students, scholars, data scientists, working professionals and leaders. Receive the same high-quality education as an on-campus student — whether you want to study in the mornings or evenings, in coffee shops or at home.
Discover MSU OnlineAt MSU, we strive to make our online degrees accessible and affordable. We can connect you with many forms of financial aid, including scholarships, loans, and military benefits.
Financial AidFrequently Asked Questions
Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.
The shortest time to completion is two years. The typical student completes the MS LEIA in just under two and a half years.
According to O*NET Online, Intelligence Analysts earn a median salary of $86,280 and can expect 2- to 4-percent growth in job opportunities through 2032. To learn more about what you can do with an MS in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis, visit our career outlook page.
Our MS in LEIA curriculum is informed by the Department of Justice and taught by world-renowned faculty like Dr. David Carter, who not only helped build this area of research and practice but who also wrote the foundational text used in both academia and criminal justice agencies nationwide.
Combined with our more than 80-year history of educating criminal justice professionals, MSU’s network of alumni, faculty and criminal justice agency partnerships gives graduates a competitive edge when seeking new opportunities.
Though a criminal justice degree is preferred, you can join the MS LEIA program after having completed a bachelor’s degree in any field. While we welcome those already employed in the field, you do not have to have prior field experience to be accepted.
This 30-credit program costs $857 per credit, for an estimated total of $25,710. Cost is subject to change without notice. To learn about additional costs to consider, visit the tuition and financial aid page.
The following core courses are required, in addition to five electives of your choice.
- CJ 802 Proseminar in Law Enforcement Intelligence Operations
- CJ 811 Design and Analysis in CJ Research
- CJ 837 The Intelligence Process and Counterterrorism
- CJ 870 Introduction to Crime Analysis
- CJ 897 Comprehensive Threat Assessment
Sources
- U.S. News & World Report. “Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs 2024.” Retrieved April 23, 2024 from https://usnews.com/education/online-education/michigan-state-university-171100.
- O*NET Online. “Intelligence Analysts: 33-3021.06.” Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3021.06.