MPA/CJ Dual Degree Requirements
MPA/Criminal Justice Dual Degree
Vision Statement
The Master of Public Administration and MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice dual degree program is a collaborative effort between the Schools of Public Administration and Criminology and Criminal Justice. The dual degree offers interdisciplinary preparation in the fields of public administration and criminal justice leading to both the master of public administration and master of science in criminology and criminal justice degrees with fewer required hours than it would take to obtain these degrees independently.
Students pursuing this program must complete 57 total hours and can be pursued both online or in person.
Program-Specific Requirements
Application Deadlines (Spring 2025 and Fall 2025)
- Spring: October 1
- Fall: June 1
Other Requirements
- Statement of Purpose/Admissions Essay: The essay should be two to four pages (doubled-spaced) and answer the following questions:
- Please tell us about the factors in your background that will help us understand your interest in a profession in the public or nonprofit sectors, and criminology and criminal justice.
- What are your professional goals? Ten years from now, what do you hope to be doing professionally?
- How can this dual degree help you to achieve these goals?
- Resume
- Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required, the recommendation requests are generated from your online application. These recommendations should be from professional and academic sources who are directly familiar with your skills and experience. At least one reference should be from an immediate professional supervisor. If you have graduated from an academic program within the past two years, it is suggested that at least one reference should be from a faculty member who can speak directly to your academic preparation for graduate education. References from family members, family friends, personal friends, personal therapists, or other non-professional/academic sources will not be scored.
Link to Course list in Catalog
Degree Requirements
| Course Number | Course name | Credits |
| PA 8050 | FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION | 3 |
| PA 8090 | ORGANIZATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOR | 3 |
| PA 8100 | ADVANCED MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS | 3 |
| PA 8300 | POLICY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION | 3 |
| PA 8400 | PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT BUDGETING | 3 |
| PA 8410 | PUBLIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| CRCJ Required Courses | ||
| CRCJ 8010 | NATURE OF CRIME | 3 |
| CRCJ 8020 | SEMINAR IN ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE | 3 |
| CRCJ 8030 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH THEORY AND METHODOLOGY | 3 |
| CRCJ 8950 | STATISTICAL APPLICATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC ADMIN | 3 |
| or CRCJ 8850 | RISK/NEEDS ASSESSMENT | |
| CRCJ 8120 | RACE, CRIME AND INJUSTICE | 3 |
| or CRCJ 8130 | SEMINAR IN WOMEN AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE | |
| CRCJ 8210 | PROGRAM EVALUATION AND POLICY ANALYSIS | 3 |
| or PA 8530 | PLANNING AND EVALUATION | |
| CRCJ Electives | ||
| Complete nine hours of CRCJ graduate courses (8000-900 level) | 9 | |
| Open Electives | ||
| Complete six hours of any PA or CRCJ graduate courses | 6 | |
| Exit Requirement | ||
| PA 8990 | CAPSTONE PROJECT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | 3 |
| CRCJ 8970 | CAPSTONE PROJECT IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| Total Credits | 57 |