The field of criminology and criminal justice draws on diverse perspectives to explore the nature, extent, management, control, consequences, and prevention of crime and violence. The Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice offers current and aspiring professionals the opportunity to develop and enhance research and critical thinking skills, problem solving, and managerial and leadership skills to pursue positions in a variety of criminal justice settings, as well as government, research, and private nonprofit agencies. This certificate program meets Department of Education regulations for gainful employment programs; students are eligible to apply for financial aid.
Students currently admitted to the Master of Criminal Justice program or the Dual Master of Public Administration / Master of Criminal Justice program are ineligible for the Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice.
Current Master of Public Administration (MPA) students may count Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice coursework completed with a grade of B- or better toward their degree’s elective requirement, per program specific guidance.
Graduate certificate students may also become interested in enrolling in the MPA or MCJ program. Please see transfer credit information under the School of Public Affairs General Information section .
Policies and Procedures
Refer to the School of Public Affairs General Information section of this academic catalog for detailed eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures relevant to this program.
General Requirements
This certificate consists of four courses totaling 12 credit hours of graduate coursework. A grade of B- or better is required in each course counting toward the certificate. Certificate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA; students falling below a 3.0 GPA will be placed on probation and are subject to those requirements.