Master of Criminal Justice Policy and Administration at Pennsylvania State University

The M.P.S. in CJPA degree program capitalizes on Penn State's strengths as a premier research institution to provide an advanced professional degree in criminal justice policy and administration. Combining theory and applied research, this degree allows professionals and students entering the work force to gain graduate level expertise in this growing, applied field of study. The degree caters to professionals in criminal justice (broadly, policing, courts, corrections, probation/parole, and treatment), government, administration, and offender or victim services.

Upon graduation from this program, students should be able to:

• Describe and summarize crime rates, trends, and patterns, and apply foundational knowledge of criminological theories devoted to explaining crime. This objective coincides with goals # 1, # 2, and # 3 of the Graduate School, by teaching students core disciplinary knowledge, and requiring its application and communication.
• Describe organizational structures, processes, and challenges of criminal justice institutions, and analyze past and current criminal justice policies and evidence-based practices. This objective coincides with goals # 1, # 2, and # 3 of the Graduate School, by teaching students core disciplinary knowledge, and requiring its application and communication.
• Apply the foundations of contemporary ethical practices and effective leadership in the criminal justice profession. This objective coincides with goal #5 above of the Graduate School by requiring students to learn and engage in ethical research and practice in criminal justice.
• Employ advanced knowledge in social science research and applied statistical methods, specifically focused on criminal justice issues. This objective coincides with goals # 2 and # 4 of the Graduate School, by teaching students social science research methods, and requiring their use in studying criminal justice topics.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of criminal procedure. This objective coincides with goal # 1 of the Graduate School, in that it emphasizes the learning of core disciplinary knowledge in criminal justice.