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Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership, Master of Professional Studies

This program is designed to educate students on current leadership skills and trends in Homeland Security and Law Enforcement.

The Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership provides students the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and credentials to succeed in public sector or private sector agencies. The program is designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals, with classes available either online, or on campus and delivered by a faculty of industry professionals.

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Degree Type
MPS
Area of Interest
Law, Policy & Government
Associated Colleges or Schools
Program Location
  • Queens Campus
  • Online
Required Credit Hours
36

Learning Outcomes

  • Upon graduation, students may choose to continue their education and apply for the St. John’s Doctor of Professional Studies in Homeland Security Program.
  • Students develop sought-after skills and expertise needed to develop organizational policies and plans.
  • The Master of Professional Studies degree provides you the credentials to qualify for a new career, or to advance in your current career.

Integrating Vincentian Traditions and Values

The Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership program at St. John’s helps you fulfill your potential by combining your leadership skills with Vincentian values. The graduates from this program are actively engaged in fighting injustice throughout our communities.

Career Outcomes

There are numerous and challenging career-track opportunities in the Homeland Security and Criminal Justice fields. If your goal is to work in these professions, this program will provide the skills and academic background necessary for you to take advantage of the many career opportunities available.

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • Police Agencies: Local and State
  • New York Police Department (NYPD)
  • U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
  • U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
  • U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)
  • Office of Inspector General (OIG)
  • Correctional Agencies
  • Probation Departments
  • Parole Agencies
  • Victim Services Agencies
  • District Attorneys’ Offices
  • Juvenile Justice Agencies
  • Court Systems: Federal, State and Local
  • Sheriffs’ Departments
  • Counterterrorism Agencies
  • Corporate Security Departments
  • Non-Profit Ex-Offender Organizations

Online Learning

Earn Your Degree Online

Pursue your St. John’s degree entirely on your computer. Our fully accredited Online Learning programs allow you to take courses electronically. Log in at your convenience to enter our virtual classrooms, learn from our accomplished faculty, and engage with classmates.

Our online courses offer the same high academic quality that students experience on campus. Professors deliver lectures and post assignments via Blackboard, our electronic course management system. Students use it to attend virtual classes, share documents, take exams, and exchange ideas with faculty and classmates.

A Fully Academic Experience

You also enjoy the outstanding services available to all St. John’s students, for example:

  • Eligibility for scholarships and financial aid
  • Tuition and fees identical to those for on-campus courses
  • Access to library collections, career services, mentoring, and other academic resources.

Please note that California residents in online programs at out of state nonprofit institutions, like St. John’s University are ineligible for all forms of federal aid, including federal student loans based on current federal state authorization rules.

Unique Benefits

Ranked "Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs": #30 tie (U.S. News and World Report, 2024)

Female student sitting at table working on computer

Build More Connections

Students have access to St. John’s extensive alumni relations network.

33%

Students employed in Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Agencies are granted a 33% Public Service Scholarship.

Build Your Own Path

Students obtain assistance in career planning provided through the University Career Center.

Outstanding Faculty

Students participate in classes taught by outstanding faculty, all of whom have been practitioners and leaders in their respective fields.

Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership Curriculum

CourseTitleCredits
HLS 301Police and Homeland Security Leadership3
HLS 203Critical Issues in Correctional Administration3
HLS 302U.S. Constitution and Homeland Protection3
HLS 304Criminal Justice Policy Formation and Analysis3
HLS 202Leadership in Public Administration3
HLS 106Ethical Leadership: Principles and Practices3
CourseTitleCredits
HLS 401Introduction to Research Methods3
HLS 400Applied Research Project: The Capstone3
CourseTitleCredits
HLS 308Selected Topics: Criminal Justice3
HLS 307Leadership Issues in Critical Incident Management3
HLS 311Criminological Theory3
HCL 301.2Leadership Topics I3
HCL 301.3Leadership Topics II3
HCL 301.4Seminar in Stress Management3
HLS 305Seminar in Global Terrorism3
HLS 303Issues in Global Security3
HLS 308Selected Topics I3
HLS 312Court Administration and Leadership3
HCL 302.6Contemporary Legal Problems in Criminal Justice3
HLS 309Selected Topics II3
HCL 304Police Leadership: A Global Perspective3
HCL 500Applied Seminar in Leadership Practicum3
HLS 232Organizational Behavior3
HLS 280Organizational Development3

Program Benefits 

  • Enroll in courses that are conveniently scheduled to accommodate working professionals
  • Take courses in three delivery modes: Conventional Classroom; Online; and Hybrid Classes
  • Participate in classes taught by outstanding faculty, all of whom have been practitioners and leaders in their respective fields
  • Attend classes with other professionals with similar interests and goals
  • Join a diverse student body
  • Attend full-or part-time
  • Receive one-on-one academic advisement
  • Participate in internships

Watch Our Video

Student Stories

Julia Varvaro ’18TCB, ’20MPS

St. John’s Fuels Doctoral Student’s Passion for Homeland Security

Julia has found it to be a valuable learning experience to work alongside her peers who are very seasoned professionals.

Julia Varvaro ’18TCB, ’20MPS The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies

Highlight

Julia has found it to be a valuable learning experience to work alongside her peers who are very seasoned professionals. “I have been able to listen to their advice and learn from their service, since I lacked their practical and tactical experience,” she said. “But they have also leaned on me for advice, as they have returned to school for the first time in years after a long career. By leveraging our strengths and weaknesses with each other, we have grown extremely close.”

Additional Information

On September 11, 2001, first-responders and those who work in the American Criminal Justice System recognized instantly that their professions had changed dramatically. From that fateful and horrific day forward, it was apparent that America’s public safety system and network had to be reconceptualized and expanded; it had to be reengineered at the local, state, and federal levels of government to address new and emerging terrorist threats. This, of course, was a complex task that involved extensive planning and the coordination of numerous emergency management agencies, law enforcement departments, and private sector organizations. It also involved our government having to make several legislative and policy decisions to balance the frequently conflicting demands of freedom versus order.

An entirely new and equally pressing demand was placed on the St. John’s University Criminal Justice faculty to reengineer its existing Criminal Justice Leadership Program to reflect and respond to the rapid changes that were taking place in homeland security, the police service, the courts and the correctional service.

The result of all this fine-tuning and curriculum reengineering is the new and creative Graduate Program in Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership.

 

Office of Graduate Admission

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Michelle Bae
Graduate Admission Representative
[email protected]

 

 

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Karen Mangan
Graduate Admission Representative
[email protected]

 

 

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Sasha Velez
Graduate Admission Counselor
[email protected]
718-990-2025

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