The John Jay Criminal Justice Master of Arts Program has a large, diverse, and celebrated faculty who provide students with an advanced understanding of research and practice in the US criminal justice system and related issues. Core classes provide a mastery of the major works and theories of criminology, policing, corrections, judicial studies, quantitative research methods and policy analysis. Students select electives in areas such as Criminology & Deviance, Criminal Law & Procedure, Policing, or Terrorism Studies. Among the many available electives are Crime Mapping, Crime Scene Investigation, Deviant Behavior, and Terrorism & Apocalyptic Violence. The program is designed for those who wish to obtain a terminal master’s degree as a credential for entry into the criminal justice professions, are employed in the criminal justice system and wish to acquire job-related knowledge or broaden their perspectives, those already employed in the criminal justice system and seek to teach at the community college level or to obtain a post in some other area of the criminal justice system, and those interested in an academic career in higher education, who wish to obtain a master’s degree before entering a doctoral program.
Key components of the online program are:
- 100% online courses - Flexible course schedule. No scheduled meeting times. You can study when and where you want.
- Small class size - Typically no more than 20 students per class. That means more one-on-one time with the instructor.
- Accelerated 8-week session format - Earn credits every 8 weeks.
- Prominent faculty - Our faculty members are leading authorities in criminal justice studies.
- Affordable price - We offer one of the most affordable criminal justice studies programs in the U.S.
- A prestigious credential - Online or on campus, you’ll obtain a credential that is recognized worldwide.
A senior college of The City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a preeminent national and international leader in all aspects of education related to criminal justice and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
For more information about our program, please click here or apply today for admission.
The aim of the online Masters of Arts in Criminal Justice program is to broaden the perspective of those already in the Criminal Justice profession or those seeking a mastery of the major works and theories of criminology, policing, corrections, judicial studies, quantitative research methods and policy analysis. The courses provide a general survey of the field, covering research methods, causes of crime and analyses of the police, courts and the correctional system.
Students complete four (4) required courses: CRJ 710, 711, 715, 716, and 730. Students must pass the CRJ Qualifying Exam before they are granted permission to enroll in CRJ 730, Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice.
The specialization lists provided are not intended to be exhaustive. The program director has discretion to substitute other courses to satisfy the specialization requirement. Students should consult with the program director before taking a course for specialization credit when that course is not on the specialization list. Dual specializations are permissible if the student has fulfilled the requirements of both specializations, but the same elective may not be used for two specializations.
To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:
- One class in undergraduate statistics is required, though students may be accepted on the condition that this requirement is met within the first year of the program. Accepted grades for the undergraduate statistics course is of a B or higher.
- 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 (or meet contingency requirements as determined by the program on a case-by-case basis)
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or IELTS, is required for international applicants who have not studied in English-speaking countries. John Jay College’s TOEFL code number is 2115-99. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, and 79-80 for the Internet-based test. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.
- Submission of a complete application (see Application Process below)
Apply Online