Public Administration/ Criminal Justice Dual Master’s Degree (MPA/MSCJ)

Program Description

The MPA-MSCJ program provides graduate students with a unique set of knowledge and The Master of Public Administration/Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MPA/MSCJ) Program is a dual degree offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The objective of this program is to allow students who are interested in serving in public administration and criminal justice to register concurrently in both the MPA and MSCJ programs. The demand for leaders in both these career areas requires professionals well versed in how the public sector operates and how to administer effectively criminal justice programs. This dual degree program combines preparation in public management and criminal justice theory and practice to make graduates competitive in these growing fields.   

This program is a part of the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences .

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Admission, Enrollment, and Graduation Policies

Admission Requirements

The following are program-specific requirements beyond the general Graduate Admissions  requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

To be admitted into the dual degree program, the applicant must specify the option at the time of application to the Graduate School. Students interested in applying for the dual degree option MPA/MSCJ Program should consult with either the MPA Director or the MSCJ Director with regard to admission requirements and required courses. Applications will be considered for admission in the fall and spring semesters. MPA/MSCJ applications will be considered by a joint MPA and MSCJ committee of faculty who regularly teach in their respective programs.  Applicants will submit a single application package for admission to the dual degree.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with at least 2.75 grade point average; 
• A record of external validation, including at least ONE (1) of the following: 
  • A. Graduate Record Exam - GRE (verbal and quantitative — minimum combined score of 286 on the GRE’s current scale or 800 on the prior scale); 
  • B. Record of successful academic performance such as undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or better;  
  • C. Demonstrated record of successful work experience in the criminal justice or public administration field for a period of four (4) or more years. Examples may include: 
    • A police officer who has been promoted to a higher rank (sergeant, etc.) or a police officer who has received a significant award or similar recognition for his or her work-related achievement 
    • A correctional employee who has been promoted to a supervisory or management position (a warden, etc.) or a correctional employee who has received a significant award or similar recognition for his or her work-related achievement 
    • A court employee who has been promoted to a supervisory or management position (a clerk of court, case manager, etc.) or a court employee who has received a significant award or similar recognition for his or her work-related achievement.
• Submission of an application to the Office of Graduate Admissions and a non-refundable application fee;
• International students must also provide satisfactory TOEFL or IETLS scores; 
• Submit a statement of purpose essay of approximately 1,000 words addressing the following question: “In what way do you expect the Master of Public Administration - Master of Science in Criminal Justice dual degree to affect or enhance your career goals and aspirations?” 
• A current résumé
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty (preferred) or work supervisors with direct knowledge of the applicant that address the applicant’s potential for graduate study and use of an MPA-MSCJ dual degree.

Transfer Credit

No credit from outside institutions is accepted for this dual degree program.

Graduation Requirements

Each candidate must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of program requirements. For more information, please view the corresponding section of Academic Policies: 5.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & GRADUATION .

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Program Course Requirements