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 Master of Science in Criminal Justice, concurrently.
Students successfully completing this MPA/MSCJ 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/MSCJ dual degree program, students will receive two diplomas, one for Public Administration MPA and the other for Criminal Justice MS.
The dual degree track (Master of Public Administration / Master of Criminal Justice) 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: Public Administration (MPA) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. 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 http://global.ucf.edu/. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global 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
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 - Public Administrators in the Governance Process (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 all of the following
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- PAD6700 - Research Methods in Public Administration (3)
- PAD6701 - Analytical Techniques for Public Administration (3)
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- CCJ6704 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice (3)
- CCJ6706 - Data Analysis in Criminal Justice I (3)
Capstone
6 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- PAD6062 - Advanced Concepts and Applications in Public Administration (3)
- CJE6718 - Proseminar in Criminal Justice (3)
- MPA Capstone course, PAD 6062, is offered in fall and spring semesters only and may be completed after all MPA core courses.
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
For information on general UCF graduate admission requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog.Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to meeting general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- An official transcript meeting the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), in a sealed envelope, from each college/university attended.
- The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
- Three letters of recommendation specifically for the MPA/Criminal Justice MS program evaluating scholarly and professional capacity. Letters from professors from the colleges/universities attended are preferred, but if that is not feasible, letters from current or past supervisors will be accepted. The recommender must address the applicant's work ethic and ability to succeed at graduate-level academic work.
- Current professional résumé including public service experience (paid or voluntary).
- Goal Statement: The goal statement is a key component of the admission review process and serves as an example of the applicant's ability to express himself or herself in writing. The goal statement must be no longer than two pages double-spaced (500-800 words) and should address the following:
- Personal background and career aspirations in public service.
- Reason for pursuing graduate study in public administration, including future career goals and plans.
- Specific areas of public administration that interests you.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
- All international students must meet university minimum TOEFL score requirements regardless of the language in which the undergraduate program was completed.
Admission to this degree is competitive; applicants meeting the minimum university and/or program application requirements are not guaranteed admission to the program.
All requested material must be submitted by the established deadline date. Materials received after the established deadline may not be considered.
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.
