Graduate Program
The Division of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a program of study designed to provide students a broad-based understanding of the criminal justice system and society’s response to crime. A major goal of the program is to develop understanding of the applied and theoretical aspects of crime and criminal justice.
The program provides students with a high degree of flexibility and allows students to tailor the program to match their own career interests. Core coursework consists of classes in the theoretical foundations of criminology and criminal justice, methodology, and criminal justice policy analysis.
Students are required to develop a specialization in a substantive area outside of the Division of Criminology and Criminal Justice. In consultation with an adviser, students identify and complete a minimum of four classes, thereby creating a specialty that is unique for each student. Potential specialization fields include public management, political science, urban studies, and geographic information systems.
Criminology and criminal justice graduate courses also support other PSU degree programs, such as the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, Master of Urban Studies, Ph.D. in Urban Studies, and Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Policy.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general University requirements for admission to graduate study, prospective students should arrange for the Division of Criminology and Criminal Justice to receive:
- Departmental Application form (also available at the Division of CCJ and its web site).
- Transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended, including PSU.
- Two (or more) letters of recommendation from faculty members at colleges or universities previously attended, or from others in a position to comment on the student’s academic and professional background and experience.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for consideration.
- A 500-word statement of purpose describing academic and professional career goals, including subfields of primary interest. The statement may also be used to provide any other additional information pertinent to the applicant's qualifications.
- Applicants required to submit TOEFL scores to the Office of Admissions should also submit them to the Division (a score of 550 or more is needed).
- A resume or curriculum vita is optional.
- Students interested in a Graduate Assistantship should include a completed application form (see CCJ website).
In order to be considered for regular admission to the program, applicants should have a total undergraduate GPA of 3.20 or higher or a graduate GPA of 3.20 or higher for a minimum of 9 credit hours. Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be considered for conditional admission under exceptional circumstances.
Applicants are required to submit GRE scores for consideration with their application and 2 letters of reference.