Joint MSCJ / MPA

Master of Science in Criminal Justice / Master of Public Administration Joint Degree Program

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Department of Public Policy and Administration have a joint degree pathway culminating in both a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA). The joint degree pathway prepares graduate students for overlapping careers in criminal justice and public management. It is intended to prepare students for positions in public, private, and nonprofit organizations that require both criminal justice and management knowledge. Under the joint degree pathway, a student can obtain both degrees in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively.

Important criteria relating to the joint degree pathway are as follows:

• Candidates to the joint degree pathway must meet the entrance requirements established by each individual program. Candidates must indicate their intention to pursue the joint degree option. Students deciding to pursue the joint degree option after having been admitted to one program will indicate this intention only on their second application.

• Applications for a joint degree pathway will not be accepted from candidates who have already completed either degree. MSCJ or MPA students must apply and be admitted by no later than the second to last semester in which they are expected to complete their original degree requirements.

• Joint degree candidates will not receive either degree until all requirements for both programs have been satisfied. Students deciding against completing a second degree must satisfy all first degree program requirements as if the student had never been a joint degree candidate.
• The joint degree pathway requires a total of 60 credit hours. Candidates must complete 13 core courses included in the MSCJ and MPA programs (39 credits) and 7 electives (21 credits). A minimum of 4 electives must be taken within the MSCJ and MPA programs.