Public Administration, MPA/Criminal Justice, MCJ Dual Degree

About the Program

The fields of public administration and criminal justice are closely connected, and students pursuing a career in either field can benefit from a dual degree program that combines the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ).

The MPA program equips students with the skills needed for leadership roles in public and nonprofit management and policy analysis, while the MCJ program prepares graduates to address criminal justice policy and practice. Together, these programs provide a comprehensive education that opens doors to diverse career opportunities in public, nonprofit, and private organizations requiring expertise in both management and criminal justice. Graduates may also pursue advanced research careers or further their graduate studies. Students complete the core courses from both programs and choose electives aligned with their career and personal goals, earning both degrees in 54 credit hours–compared to 72 credit hours if pursued separately.

MPA Core Competencies

Graduates of the MPA program will have the following competencies, as enumerated by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the program’s accrediting body. The ability to:

Lead and manage in the public interest;
Participate effectively in and contribute to the policy process;
Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective; and
Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

MCJ Program Student Learning Outcomes

PSLO 1: Students are able to draw on, apply, and communicate criminological theory and/or multiple disciplines, perspectives, and research traditions to identify and comprehend criminal justice issues.
PSLO 2: Students are able to draw on, apply, and communicate research, policy analysis, and evidence-based practices to criminal justice and/or victimization issues.
PSLO 3: Students are able to critically analyze crime, criminal justice, and/or victimization policy.
PSLO 4: Students are able to translate the academic skills learned in the program to the real-world criminal justice and/or public service fields.
PSLO 5: Students engage in systematic examination of diversity in criminology, victimization, and criminal justice.

Policies and Procedures

Refer to the College of Public Service General Information section of this academic catalog for the eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures relevant to this program.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 54 credit hours of graduate coursework with a total grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4-point scale) or better;
Grades of B- or better in all courses counted towards the degree; and
No more than 9 credit hours of independent study.

Coursework

MCJ Core Courses (9 credit hours)

MPA Core Courses (15 credit hours)

PADM 5001 - Introduction to Public Administration and Public Service

Students are expected to complete PADM 5001 within their first two semesters of enrollment.

Research Methods (3 credit hours)

CRJU 5003 - Research Methods

CRJU 5003 should not be taken in the first semester.

Elective Courses (21-24 credit hours)

Students complete 21-24 credit hours of electives (number of hours depends on the student’s selection of Capstone or Thesis for their culminating experience; students work with their faculty advisor to develop an individualized plan). A minimum of 6 elective credit hours must be in Criminal Justice, with the remaining hours chosen from CRJU and/or PADM elective courses. Electives include a mixture of specialized criminal justice and/or public administration courses, workshops, and other formats. Students may choose to focus these elective hours around a particular area based on their interests and career goals. Where appropriate, students may include specialized courses offered by other UCCS departments, with prior written approval of the program director. Any of the courses included in graduate certificates offered by the College of Public Service may be applied to the MPA degree as electives.

Internship / Field Study requirement for pre-service students

Pre-service students–those without at least one year of professional experience in a criminal justice-related field or a public administration-related field (e.g., government, nonprofit, national security, homeland security, or emergency management)–are required to complete either PADM 6910 Internship or CRJU 6910 Field Study in Criminal Justice , which replaces one elective course. Student employment is not eligible to count as relevant work experience.

The student’s need for an internship / field study is determined by the MPA and MCJ program directors at the time of admission; each student is notified of this decision in their admission letter. Students for whom an internship / field study is required should work with their advisor to find a placement that satisfies all requirements.

Students must have completed at least 9 credit hours of coursework to enroll in internship / field study. A minimum of 240 hours of supervised work is required to earn 3 hours of credit.

Should a student gain at least one year of professional experience during their tenure in the program, they may submit a Graduate Internship Waiver Request Form that will be reviewed by the MPA and MCJ program directors.

Culminating Experience: Capstone or Thesis

Dual MPA/MCJ students are required to complete either the Capstone Seminar or Master’s Thesis as their culminating experience.

Capstone Seminar (3 credit hours)

In PADM 5361 / CRJU 5361 Capstone Seminar students work with a client in a criminal justice or public service/nonprofit agency to identify a problem and then, using the knowledge and skills they have gained in the program, carry out a project and write a paper to address the problem. The Capstone Seminar requires 3 credit hours and should be taken after all core courses have been completed with a grade of B- or better, preferably during the final semester in the Dual MPA/MCJ program. Capstone Seminar is offered ONLY in the fall and spring semesters.

To enroll in PADM 5361 / CRJU 5361 Capstone Seminar, please follow the steps below:

1. Attend Capstone Orientation

Capstone orientation is held in both the fall and spring semesters and is a required component of the enrollment process. If you are unable to attend, you must contact a Capstone instructor listed on the course schedule to discuss alternative arrangements prior to completing the Capstone Checklist. It is essential that you attend the orientation in the semester prior to the one in which you plan to enroll in the Capstone Seminar.

2. Request Degree Audit

After you have attended an orientation, the semester prior to your Capstone semester, you must then request a degree audit from the Graduate Student Services Specialist. You can email cps@uccs.edu to request your audit. Once your audit is complete you can proceed with your capstone checklist.

3. Complete the Capstone Checklist

You’ll receive your Capstone Checklist once you attend the mandatory orientation, which will be held the semester prior to enrolling in Capstone. When your checklist is complete, including all reader signatures, please email the checklist to cps@uccs.edu.

4. Receive Permission Number

After your checklist is received and your eligibility has been verified, you will be issued a permission number to enroll in the Capstone Seminar.

Master’s Thesis (6 credit hours)

In PADM 6950 / CRJU 6950 Master’s Thesis students conduct a comprehensive review of the theoretical and research literature in the subject area of their thesis and collect original data or analyze existing data in new ways. The thesis requires 6 credit hours taken over two semesters. The thesis option is available to Dual MPA/MCJ students who have achieved an exceptional academic record and who wish to pursue independent research in greater depth than would normally be possible in Capstone Seminar. It is suited for students who intend to pursue a PhD degree or to enter a research or policy environment upon completion of the Dual MPA/MCJ program.

Minimum eligibility requirements for pursuing a thesis include:

Successful completion of all core courses.
Overall GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Demonstrated ability to pursue research work, as evidenced by two submitted research papers developed in CPS courses or elsewhere.
Preliminary identification of a thesis topic or area of interest.
Agreement from a CPS faculty member to serve as the thesis committee chair along with two additional faculty members to serve on the thesis committee.
- Committee members for a thesis should hold a PhD and be employed at UCCS or another regionally accredited university. If an exception to these requirements is needed, the student must request approval of the member(s) from the program director.
Minor exceptions to the above criteria may be made in exceptional circumstances.

A student desiring to pursue the thesis option should meet with their faculty advisor to establish eligibility under the above criteria. After establishing eligibility, the student should recruit a faculty member to serve as the thesis committee chair and then, in consultation with the chair, identify two additional faculty members to serve on the committee. Once the thesis committee is formed, the student must complete the thesis application form and submit it to cps@uccs.edu for review and approval. Upon approval, the student will be issued a permission number to register for the course.