John Jay College of Criminal Justice Online offers online degrees, certificates, and individual courses in a variety of discipline areas from criminal justice and public policy to the liberal arts and sciences.

Online degree programs provide you with the flexibility to connect from anywhere anytime. You have the opportunity to conveniently pursue your career goals while pursuing your education.  You can have access to quality education from accredited institutions without having to relocate.  However, online programs also require students who have a great deal of motivation and discipline. You must be capable of efficiently managing your time and working independently, taking advantage of the all the resources offered by the program to optimize your experience.

No. Your transcript and your diploma will not indicate that you received your degree from an online program.

A John Jay College Master's degree holds the same value whether received traditionally or online. You receive the same diploma in both cases. Online degrees are widely accepted in every industry now and considered equivalent by professionals.

A wide spectrum of professional opportunities is open for anyone enrolled in these programs. Attaining a master’s degree or an advanced certificate allow professionals in the field to take a leap in their career. These programs also provide individuals just entering this field with the foundation they need to succeed.  You can choose a career in criminal justice, law, public administration, social work, criminal research, safety, law enforcement, policy evaluation, non-for-profit and numerous other fields after completing this program. 

You do not have to be an expert in computers to succeed in the program. You must be comfortable using the Internet and have basic knowledge of Microsoft office and social media. You can call our Technical Support Team at 212-237-8200 from 8am - 10pm Monday to Friday with any questions or email helpdesk@jjay.cuny.edu. All students will have to a mandatory orientation during which they will be guided through the different portals they will be using for the course.

Students are expected to ensure the equipment (including both hardware and software) is in good working order, prior to the start of an online course. The following are recommended technology requirements for online students. 

Hardware Requirements:

• A relatively new computer (PC or Macintosh, less than three years old). 
• High speed Internet connection (cable modem, DSL, LAN, etc.) 

Note: A mobile device may be used as a supplemental device to the computer, rather than a full substitute, for completing the requirements of online courses. 

Software Requirements 

• A Blackboard account (provided) 
• A College computer account (provided) 
• Productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Apple iWork) 
• A Web browser compatible with the Blackboard system (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox (most compatible with Blackboard) 
• Relevant plug-ins (e.g., Flash player, RealPlayer, QuickTime Player)

John Jay College of City University of New York is able to deliver our online programs in states outside New York through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) process.

SARA is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes one set of national standards and regulations for offering postsecondary distance education courses and programs. This agreement is administered by four regional educational compacts and overseen by NC-SARA.

New York is a member of SARA and John Jay College (CUNY) is an approved SARA institution. We adhere to the established SARA standards for offering online education among member states, districts and territories.

SARA benefits for University at Albany online students:

• Expands access to educational offerings
• Enhances overall quality of distance education
• Leads to better resolution of complaints from students in SARA states.
   

Students in online programs encountering a problem or grievance about university services should always attempt to resolve the problem with the program director or the student services professional of the specific program. In the event that a student complaint cannot be resolved through the program department, the student may contact the Dean of Graduate Studies or the Associate Provost at:

Office of Graduate Studies
Haaren Hall, Room 410
212.237.8423
graduatestudies@jjay.cuny.edu

Contact information for the agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning is available for current online students and prospective online students who are not New York state residents.

Agencies that handle complaints for New York state residents include the New York State Attorney General's Office and Office of College and University Evaluation.

Students enrolled in online courses and programs at John Jay College (CUNY) while residing outside of New York State may submit a grievance to the New York State Department of Education only after completing the complaint process established by the College.

The John Jay College Institution Complaint Process can be accessed at http://jjay.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2017-2018/Graduate-Bulletin/Policies-Rule

Additional Resources

Office of College and University Evaluation
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-1551
IHEauthorize@nysed.gov

For more information regarding NC-SARA and complaint resolution, please visit: http://nc-sara.org/content/sara-and-students

The application fee is waived only for John Jay College Alumni.

Contact Latanya Everett, Financial Aid Liaison for Online Programs at leverett@jjay.cuny.edu or call 646-557-4898

Students who are accepted into the program must pay a commitment deposit of $250, which will be applied to the first semester tuition. The commitment fee reserves your seat in the program and cannot be waived under normal circumstances. For exceptions you may call the office of Graduate Admissions at 212-237-8863.

Your commitment deposit may be submitted by check or money order, along with Graduate Student Commitment Deposit Form to John Jay College, Office of Admissions, 524 West 59^th Street, Suite L.64.00, New York, NY 10019.

Students enrolled in the online programs may receive financial assistance using a variety of resources: student loans, Veteran Benefits, employer tuition reimbursement and scholarships.  Each financial aid option is not available to every online degree program.  For more information on financial aid for graduate students, please click here.

Student of John jay can enroll in the SallieMae Tuition Monthly Payment Plan. Under this plan, you pay your tuition in equal monthly installments during the fall and spring semesters. This option is not available during the summer or winter session. There are no interest or finance charges, only a $16.75 enrollment fee. For more information or to enroll in the plan, please click here.

Yes, registration begins before the tuition deadline. However, if you fail to pay the tuition on time, all registered courses on your account will be dropped.

Federal work-study is available to all John Jay students. This consists of part-time employment through the office of Student Financial Services on or off campus. For more information on this, please visit Federal Work Study Requirements. 

If your tuition is being paid through an employer-sponsored program, John Jay will defer your tuition and fee balance to the amount stated on the voucher or letter from the sponsoring organization. When making payments, you must present a voucher or letter on the organization’s letterhead, stating your name and social security number, the semester and amount that the organization is willing to pay. 

A conditional voucher or letter will not be accepted under any circumstances.

For more information, please contact Bursar at 212-237-8555 or email at bursar@jjay.cuny.edu.

You can apply anytime at www.online.jjay.cuny.edu

The deadline for submitting a complete application is June 30 for Fall admission, December 1 for spring admission, and March 1 for Summer admission.

No, you are not able to apply to more than one program. Each online program offered at John Jay Online is intensive. Please refer to the program directors if you have questions on which program may be best for you.

You do not have to complete the entire application in one sitting. You can save the application and access it later by logging in to your account. Make sure to save all changes every time you work on your application.

John Jay Alumni do not need to mail their transcripts. Their transcripts are stored in the CUNY system. 

After you have been admitted to John Jay College, you may defer your admission for up to one year.

Applicants are encouraged to re-apply if denied admission the first time. John Jay Online offers highly competitive programs and selection is based upon academic and professional records. You can speak to our enrollment advisors at 212-393-6342 for suggestions on how to improve your application.

Students already accepted to the on-campus program may transfer to the online program by submitting a change of degree application. The program director may conduct an interview with the transfer applicant before making a final decision on the application.

Students admitted to the online masters program may transfer only up to 12 credits of courses before starting their study in the program, and the transferability of each course will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Students must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or an international equivalent.
• An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.

We encourage you to speak to an enrollment advisor at 212-393-6342 if your GPA does not meet the eligibility criteria.  Applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Some online degree programs do not require a pre-requisite course. However, students enrolled in the Master of Public Administration or Criminal Justice require a statistics course. Those who have not taken that course as an undergraduate must do so before the second semester. If the course is completed at another college, the student must submit an official transcript showing completion of the course to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

You do not require professional experience in the field in order to apply to the programs. However, preference is given to those with relevant experience.

Although a bachelor's degree is required for a master's program, it is not a requirement to have the degree or prior coursework specifically in security management. Nevertheless, preference tends to be given to those with a relevant academic background.

No entrance exam is required to qualify for the online degree programs.

John Jay Online has a strong online presence and we are consistently building our virtual community. The best place to interact with former/current students is to like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JohnJayOnline and follow us on twitter @JohnJayOnline.

You can call 212-393-6342 to speak to an enrollment advisor with any questions regarding your application. You can also email your inquiries or set up an appointment with our advisors at onlineprograms@jjay.cuny.edu

No. Online students are not required to submit an immunization record. You will have to submit an immunization record if you decide to take 6 or more credits on campus. 

If offered during those sessions, yes.

It depends on which degree program you are enrolled in and whether you are full-time or part-time. A master's program typically takes two years, and a certification can be completed within a year. If you are applying for the Masters of Public Administration, you have the option of enrolling in the 2-year program or 3-year program.

All the programs are 100% online. All the courses required to complete your degree will be offered online.

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Security Management and the Advanced Certificate in Terrorism Studies are structured in six accelerated 8-week session formats, including two sessions in fall, two sessions in summer and two sessions in spring. You can take up to 6 credits every session. 

The Master in Public Administration is structured in a regular 16 week format and you can take up to 12 credits per semester. 

An online master's degree is typically an intensive and accelerated program designed to be completed in two years. We do not encourage students to take more than 6 credits per session or 12 credits per semester.

Yes, you may take a hybrid of online and on-campus courses. If you take more than 6 credits on-campus you must submit your immunization records. Once you enroll in the online program, you will be charged the online tuition fee per credit even if you take an on-campus class. All on-campus courses however, may not satisfy your degree requirements. Please contact your program director before registering for a course to ensure that you can add the credits for a particular on-campus course towards your degree.  

Courses in the online masters programs are offered in various sequences to allow for individualized flexibility. For you to be able to enroll in some of the advanced level courses within the program, you may have to complete one or more of the core courses first. If you are an MPA student, you must consult with your academic advisor before registering for courses. 

However, courses in the online certificate program are offered in sequence to allow timely completion of the program.

Our faculty has in-depth experience teaching online courses and making the sessions interesting and interactive. You can contact your professors through email and telephone with any questions or concerns. You can also make an appointment with your professor to speak to him/her on video chat or in person if convenient for you and your professor.

The online program is 100% asynchronous. Every effort has been made to make the learning as flexible as possible. Students will have weekly required work to complete, however, it is up to the professor, and you will be notified if there will be scheduled web conferences.