The Public Administration MPA - Criminal Justice MS Dual Degree Track provides the opportunity for students to earn graduate degrees from two academic programs, the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, concurrently.
Students successfully completing this MPA/MS dual degree program will have the skills and analytical techniques for successful careers in both public administration and criminal justice. After successful completion of the MPA/MS dual degree program, students will receive two diplomas, one for the Public Administration MPA and one for the Criminal Justice MS.
The dual degree track (Master of Criminal Justice / Master of Public Administration) consists of 51 credit hours. Each student completes a core of 11 courses (33 credit hours), two research methods and statistics courses (6 credit hours), two electives (6 credit hours), and a capstone experience of two courses (6 credit hours).
Total Credit Hours Required: 51 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Please note: The Public Administration / Criminal Justice (MS) may be completed fully online, although not all course options may be offered online every semester. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit www.international.ucf.edu. If you have questions, please consult International Affairs and Global Strategies at (407) 823-2337.
UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
39 Total Credits
Core
33 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- CCJ5015 - The Nature of Crime (3)
- CCJ5456 - The Administration of Justice (3)
- CCJ6106 - Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice (3)
- CCJ6118 - Criminal Justice Organizations (3)
- PAD6035 - Public Administration in the Policy Process (3)
- PAD6037 - Public Organization Management (3)
- PAD6053 - Foundations of Public Administration (3)
- PAD6207 - Public Financial Management (3)
- PAD6227 - Public Budgeting (3)
- PAD6335 - Strategic Planning and Management (3)
- PAD6417 - Human Resource Management (3)
Research Methods/Statistics
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Option 1- Complete the following:
- PAD6700 - Research Methods in Public Administration (3)
- CCJ6706 - Data Analysis in Criminal Justice I (3)
Option 2- Complete the following:
- CCJ6704 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
- PAD6701 - Analytical Techniques for Public Administration (3)
Capstone
6 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- PAD6062 - Public Administration Capstone (3)
- CJE6718 - Proseminar in Criminal Justice (3)
Electives
6 Total Credits
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- CJC5020 - Foundations of Corrections (3)
- CJE5021 - Foundations of Law Enforcement (3)
- CJJ6020 - The Juvenile Justice System (3)
- CJL6568 - Law and Social Control (3)
- CJL6520 - American Criminal Courts (3)
Grand Total Credits: 51
Application Requirements
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
Additional Program Requirements
Students must achieve a grade of a solid "B" or higher in every CCJ/CJE course and a grade of "B-" or higher in every PAD course in the core courses, research methods/statistics courses, and the Capstone courses. Students must maintain a program of study and graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher and can only graduate with a graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Independent Learning
Independent learning is demonstrated throughout the curriculum, through the process of inquiry and dialogue. Tangible projects, such as scholarly research, papers, internships, and the capstone experience also contribute to the self-development of students. The capstone courses, PAD 6062 and CJE 6718, provide the independent learning experience.
Please note: Students completing the Master of Public Administration/Criminal Justice dual degree program are not eligible for several graduate certificates due to share credit policy. Please discuss with an advisor prior to pursing a certificate.
