Police Studies, Bachelor of Science / Criminal Justice, Master of Arts
The Police Studies BS provides a comprehensive understanding of the police in the American criminal justice system. It is a dynamic curriculum that responds to issues of diversity as well as innovations and changes in the social and technological arenas that inform police professionals. The Police Studies major focuses on the police as an institution with concentrations on management and administration, crime analysis and investigations. The major provides a solid academic foundation for those students who wish to pursue graduate study. The program also allows students to enter the workplace with the theoretical and applied knowledge to accomplish four simply stated but vitally essential mandates of fair and effective policing:
- To prevent and reduce crime and disorder in communities;
- To reduce the fear of crime in communities;
- To improve the quality of life in communities;
- To accomplish these goals in a fair and just fashion.
The John Jay Criminal Justice MA has a large, diverse, and celebrated faculty who provide students with an advanced understanding of research and practice in the US criminal justice system and related issues. Core classes provide a mastery of the major works and theories of criminology, policing, corrections, judicial studies, quantitative research methods and policy analysis. Students are able to select from numerous electives to build a specialization in Criminology and Deviance, Criminal Law and Procedure, Police or Corrections Administration, and Terrorism Studies. Among the many available electives are courses such as Crime Mapping, Cybercrime, Crime Scene Investigation, Social Aspects of Alcohol and Drug Use, Homeland Security and Terrorism, and Criminal Law. Students are also able to select electives to earn Advanced Certificates in Terrorism Studies, Crime Prevention and Analysis, and Criminal Investigation. The Program also allows interested students to participate in faculty research or undertake internships with criminal justice employers for credit.
Undergraduate Learning outcomes. Students will:
- Use and critically evaluate a variety of practical and theoretical approaches relevant to policing.
- Use and critically evaluate a variety of practical/hands-on/research approaches relevant to policing.
- Analyze and assess the quality of operations and methods in policing.
- Integrate policing theory, research and policy in written reports and presentations.
- Explain and discuss the importance of diversity, ethical considerations and statutory requirements that police and law enforcement professionals encounter as community care takers and providers of public safety that impacts the level of crime and quality of life within the communities they serve.
Credits Required.
Police Studies BS
|
24 |
| General Education |
42 |
Other Required Undergraduate Courses
|
3-6
|
| Undergraduate Electives |
20-35 |
Criminal Justice MA
|
30-36
|
| Total Credits Required for B.S./M.S. Degree |
128-134 |
Undergraduate Major Coordinator. Professor Joseph Pollini, Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration (212.237.8409, jpollini@jjay.cuny.edu)
Graduate Program Director. Professor Jeff Mellow, Department of Criminal Justice (212-237-8035, jmellow@jjay.cuny.edu)
Graduate Program Advisor. Dr. Janice Carrington, Criminal Justice MA Program (212-237-8418, jcarrington@jjay.cuny.edu)
Baccalaureate/Master Programs. General information including qualifications and application process.
Additional information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this major in September 2017 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the program. See the Graduate Program Advisor.
Police Studies BS Core Courses
Required
| PSC 101 | Introduction to Police Studies | 3 |
| PSC 202 | Police and Diversity | 3 |
| PSC 255 | Research Methods in Policing | 3 |
| PSC 260 | Evidence-based and Problem-Oriented Policing | 3 |
| PSC 321 | Police Ethics | 3 |
| PSC 324 | Police Use of Force: Legal, Theoretical and Practical Implications | 3 |
| PSC 401 | Capstone Seminar in Police Problems | 3 |
| LAW 203 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 24
Other Required Courses
May be required depending on math placement
Advisors recommendation:
MAT 108 or
MAT 141 can fulfill the Required Core: Math and Quantitative Reasoning ares of the College's General Education Program.
Note: Students must complete
STA 250 when they are undergraduates.
Total Credit Hours: 3-6
Undergraduate Electives
Students must complete 20-35 credits of electives to fulfill the undergraduate portion of the degree program. Students have free choice of electives. Students can also opt to complete a minor.
Total Credit Hours: 20-35
Criminal Justice MA Program
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements
| CRJ 710 | Issues in Criminal Justice I | 3 |
| CRJ 711 | Issues in Criminal Justice II: Policing and Corrections | 3 |
| CRJ 715 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| CRJ 716 | Statistical Software in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| | Qualifying Exam Parts A and B | |
| CRJ 730 | Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
The Qualifying Exam prerequisites:
The two-part Qualifying Exam must be taken after completing the first four required core CRJ courses and before completing 24 credits of coursework. Part A may be taken upon completion of CRJ 710 and CRJ 711; Part B may be taken upon completion of CRJ 715 and CRJ 716. The two parts may be taken in the same semester or in different semesters.
A student must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible to take the Qualifying Exam.
All students are required to register for the Qualifying Exam.
A student who is not registered for the Qualifying Exam prior to the exam date will not be allowed to take the exam.
A student must pass both parts of the Qualifying Exam before entering the final required core class, CRJ 730.
A student is allowed a second attempt at passing each part of the Qualifying Exam. Any student who fails a part of the Qualifying Exam twice may be dismissed from the program. However, in unusual circumstances and at the discretion of the program director, a student may be permitted to take a part of the examination a third time, provided that a plan of study has been approved by the CRJ program director. Students taking the Qualifying Exam in a semester in which they are not registered for classes must register for Maintenance of Matriculation (MAM) in order to sit for the exam.
Specializations
Students must take three classes (9 credits) in one of five specialization areas listed. The specialization lists provided are not intended to be exhaustive. The program director has discretion to substitute other courses, including courses in the 800-level series, to satisfy the specialization requirement. Students should consult with the program director before taking a course for specialization credit when that course is not on the specialization list. Dual specializations are permissible if the student has fulfilled the requirements of both specializations, but the same electives may not be used for two specializations.
Free Electives
Students must take four additional classes from any of the graduate courses offered at John Jay. Students may choose to take CRJ 793 Comprehensive Review as one of their electives to help prepare for the exam. Students choosing the thesis option do not need to meet the electives requirement (see below).
Thesis Option
Students who complete CRJ 715 and CRJ 716 with an A- average or better may choose to write a thesis instead of taking four elective courses. Students choosing the thesis option must first take CRJ 717 Reading in Research and receive an A- or better. Students must obtain permission from the program director to pursue the thesis option after completing CRJ 717. If permission is granted, they must take CRJ 791 Thesis Prospectus as an Independent Study with their thesis advisor who must be a member of the graduate faculty. Finally, students must submit a thesis approved by their advisor and a second reader within no more than one year after completing CRJ 791. Students choosing the thesis option will complete a total of 30 credits for the master’s degree, six fewer credits than those students who do not write a thesis. However, writing a thesis is a substantial undertaking usually requiring more work than that required by two additional courses.
CRJ Specializations Degree Requirements
Criminology and Deviance
Criminal Law and Procedure
Police Administration
| CRJ 738 | Perspectives on Race and Crime in America | 3 |
| CRJ 739 | Crime Mapping | 3 |
| CRJ 742 | Police Ethics | 3 |
| CRJ 745 | Legal Aspects of Undercover Activity | 3 |
| CRJ 751 | Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| CRJ 756 | Critical Issues in Policing | 3 |
| CRJ 757 | Police and the Community | 3 |
| CRJ 759 | Comparative Police Administration | 3 |
| CRJ 760 | History of Police Administration | 3 |
| CRJ 761 | Youth Crime and Delinquency Control | 3 |
| CRJ 762 | Investigation of Violent Crime | 3 |
| CRJ 771 | Special Topics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 783 | Crime and the Media | 3 |
| CRJ 786 | Problem-Oriented Policing | 3 |
| CRJ 787 | Seminar in Crime Analysis and Crime Prevention | 3 |
Correction Administration
| CRJ 703 | Critical Issues in Punishment | 3 |
| CRJ 704 | Probation and Parole: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CRJ 728 | Critical Issues in Corrections | 3 |
| CRJ 749 | Ethics of Punishment | 3 |
| CRJ 758 | Public Health Challenges in Criminal Justice: An Epidemiological Approach | 3 |
Terrorism Studies
| CRJ 744 | Terrorism and Politics | 3 |
| CRJ 746 | Terrorism and Apocalyptic Violence | 3 |
| CRJ 748 | Counter Terrorism Policy for Law Enforcement | 3 |
| CRJ 765 | Social Movements, Revolution, and Terrorism | 3 |
| CRJ 772 | Seminar in Terrorism Studies | 1.5 |
| CRJ 797 | Homeland Security and International Relations | 3 |
| CRJ 798 | Homeland Security and Terrorism | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 30-36
Total Credit Hours: 128-134