Criminology and Justice, Master of Arts

Admission

Application Requirements

All applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution or the international equivalent prior to enrollment at the graduate level. In addition to the application form and non-refundable application fee, candidates should submit the following:

• Statement of professional goals and resume
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools attended.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation obtained from professional and/or academic references. 
• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English.
• Students with international credits must also submit a course-by-course foreign credit evaluation with GPA calculation from a NACES member.

For additional information, please contact:
Office of Graduate Admission
718-990-1601
[email protected]

Graduate Assistantships

St. John’s University awards a limited number of graduate assistantships each year to qualified students. Please visit Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships for more information. 

NYPD Scholarship

St. John’s University grants a public scholarship to all members of NYPD who are admitted to the M.A. program. The scholarship provides a 33 percent tuition reduction for uniformed members of the service.

Courses

Required Courses (15 credits)

• CRM 103 Pro-Seminar
• CRM 127; 127L Statistics for Social Science
• CRM 231 Evaluation of Criminal Justice Policies
• CRM 232 Criminological Theory
• CRM 300 Strategies and Tactics of Social Research

Thesis Option (30 credits)

• Required courses (15 credits)
• Elective courses (9 credits) chosen under departmental advisement
• CRM 900 Master's Research: two semesters (six credits) of
  research under the supervision of an assigned mentor
• A thesis, to be examined by a committee of readers composed of the mentor and one other faculty member

Non-Thesis Option (33 credits)

• Required courses (15 credits)
• Elective courses (18 credits) chosen under departmental advisement
• Comprehensive examination

Elective courses may include:

• Class, Race and Criminal Justice
• Comparative Criminology
• Cyber-Crime
• Drugs and Society
• Environmental Crime and Justice
• Family Violence
• Field Internship
• Forensic Psychology
• Global Crime
• Human Trafficking
• Identity Theft
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Law and Global Society
• Organized Crime
• Punishment and Reform
• Restorative Justice
• Situational Crime Prevention
• Terrorism
• Victimology
• White Collar Crime

Career Outcomes

Our graduates have pursued careers in a wide variety of areas related to crime and justice. 

Recent alumni hold positions at:

The program also benefits research-oriented students, many of whom have continued their education in law school and in doctoral programs in criminology and related social sciences. As a master's student in Criminology and Justice at St. John's, you may be eligible for pathways to doctoral study. 

Internships

We strongly encourage you to combine your coursework with experiential learning through internships in the multitude of government and non-profit agencies based in New York City.

M.A. Criminology & Justice students have pursued internship opportunities at:

In addition to invaluable work experience that may be directly applicable in future employment, you may also earn academic credit for your internship.

Additional Information

Why should I apply to the St. John's program?
What better place to study crime and modern crime control than New York City?  What better place to engage in an internship or launch a career than New York City?  What better place to study than St. John's University, New York?  Our reputation, our published and active faculty, our location, and your potential, all combine here to create unlimited possibilities for you.

What are the admissions requirements?
Applicants much have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Acceptance requires a minimum of 18 credit hours of undergraduate coursework in the social sciences.  Deficiencies must be corrected under departmental direction. International students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Is the GRE required for admission?
No, but you may need to submit GRE scores for an academic assistantship. 

How long will it take to finish the degree?
The program is designed so that students can enroll either full-time (minimum of nine credits per semester) or part-time (minimum of six credits per semester). Full-time students may complete the program in as little as three semesters and part-time students in five semesters.

I work during the day. Can I take classes after work?
Yes. Most classes are offered in the early evening (7 - 9 p.m.). Others are offered in the late afternoon (4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.).

Is financial assistance available?
Yes. Students can apply for loans or grants through Student Financial Services.

Will I be able to get credit for an internship?
Yes. You may earn up to six credits for internship experience by enrolling in supervised field placement courses. 

Can I take classes in the summer?
Yes. Selected classes will be offered during the summer term. 

How can I contact an alumnus or a current student?
We will gladly get you in contact with one of our current and/or former students. Contact the department for more information. 

Where can I live?
St. John's has brand new residence halls for graduate students that include a modern dining hall, a fitness center, a self-contained computer center, and rooms that are fully wired for personal computers and laptops. Residence Life can also help you find a reasonably-priced apartment off-campus.