Program Overview

Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration

The Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration is designed for those who want to address pressing criminal justice issues facing society. This program focuses on evaluating the societal workings that create crime, assessing equity in policy enforcement, and proposing data-driven and evidence-based solutions that benefit the greater society.

Program Overview

• The program is 100% online, allowing students to complete their coursework at their own pace.
• The application deadline for the spring semester is December 1, with classes starting on January 12.
• The program consists of 30 credits, with a cost of $1,037 per credit.

Stackable Credentials

• Students can earn up to three related graduate certificates along the way to their Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration.
• The available certificates include:
  • Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration and Procedure (9 credits)
  • Graduate Certificate in Criminological Theory and Research (9 credits)
  • Graduate Certificate in Global Justice and Security (9 credits) or Graduate Certificate in Impacts on Victims and Offenders (9 credits)

Required Courses

• The program requires 18 credits of core courses, including:
  • CJPA 501: Criminal Justice Institutions (3 credits)
  • CJPA 502: Theories of Crime (3 credits)
  • CJPA 803: Applied Research Methods for Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • CJPA 820: Criminal Procedure (3 credits)
  • CJPA 865: Criminal Justice Ethics in a Diverse Society (3 credits)
  • CRIMJ 503: Advanced Statistics in Criminal Justice (3 credits)

Electives

• Students can choose from a list of elective courses to tailor their program of study to their interests.
• Elective courses are available in the following areas:
  • Criminal Justice Leadership
  • Public Policy and Administration
  • Global Justice and Security
  • Law, Legal Process, and Sentencing
  • Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

Culminating Experience

• The culminating capstone experience provides students with an opportunity to apply their course knowledge to a project.
• Students will work with their faculty adviser to determine the choice of project topic and its exact form.

Career Opportunities

• Graduates of this program can be well-qualified for meaningful and rewarding work in the field of criminal justice.
• The leadership skills attained within this program can benefit those in law enforcement, court administration, corrections, and policy and advocacy.
• Potential job titles include:
  • Correctional Counselor
  • Criminalist
  • Probation and Parole Officer
  • Public Safety Director

Employment Outlook

• The employment outlook for occupational fields related to this degree is positive, with growth expected in areas such as:
  • Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (3.6% employment growth)
  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators (2.3% employment growth)
  • Emergency Management Directors (4% employment growth)

Faculty

• The program is taught by highly regarded faculty from the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts' Department of Sociology and Criminology and the Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs.
• Faculty members include:
  • Eileen M. Ahlin
  • Jennifer Gibbs
  • Ahmet Guler
  • Don Hummer
  • Jonathan Lee
  • Siyu Liu
  • Jennifer L. Schally
  • Emily R. Strohacker
  • Jeffrey T. Ulmer

Admissions

• Admission to the program requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a tertiary degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
• Applicants must submit official transcripts, a statement of purpose, a résumé, and references.
• Test scores, such as the GRE, are not required.
• English proficiency is required for international applicants, with minimum test scores and exceptions outlined on the Fox Graduate School's website.