American Public University System

Overview
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at Harrisburg with 30 credits and a thesis or master's paper track.
- Official program name
- Criminal Justice, M.A.
- Awarded degree
- Master of Arts · major: Criminal JusticeSource: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Degree level
- Master's
- Subject focus
- Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science or a closely related justice subject.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- School
- Location
- Middletown, PASource: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Subjects
- Criminal Justice — core of the degree
- Required credits
- 30 credits (thesis track or master's paper track)Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- Not verified
Why this program is listed
Dedicated Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at Penn State Harrisburg with thesis and master's paper tracks.
Dedicated Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at Penn State Harrisburg with thesis and master's paper tracks.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026We list associate, bachelor's, master's and research-doctorate programs in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science and related subjects at institutionally accredited US schools — degrees in the subject and formal concentrations, never certificates or one-elective degrees. Eligibility rules
Format and attendance
- Formats offered
- On campusSource: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Internship
- Internship requirement: not verified
- Study intensity
- Full-time, Part-timeSource: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Curriculum
Thesis and non-thesis options
- Thesis track includes 6 credits of thesis; the non-thesis track requires a three-credit master's paper.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Accelerated options
- An integrated B.S. in Criminal Justice and M.A. in Criminal Justice is listed.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Academic calendar
- Most courses are offered in the evening, with some during the day or on weekends.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Careers and licensure
Career and licensure statements for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
A degree does not guarantee police academy admission, sworn officer certification, federal employment, a security clearance, a position with a named agency, a forensic laboratory job or eligibility to practice as a psychologist. Those have separate training, scientific prerequisites, examinations or hiring requirements set by the agency, state or licensing board. Academic degrees vs police academy training
Admissions
- Minimum GPA
- RequiredMinimum 3 — Minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credits of undergraduate study.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Statement / essay
- RequiredA brief two-page statement of purpose or a writing sample.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Other requirement
- RequiredGRE, GMAT or LSAT scores are required if the GPA is less than 3.0.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Tests
Entrance and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.
Start dates and deadlines
Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Tuition and fees
Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Scholarships and funding
Program-specific scholarships: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026
FEPAC program accreditation
This program does not appear in FEPAC's accredited-program list. FEPAC accredits forensic science programs only and is optional; its absence is not a sign that a program is illegitimate, and the school's other programs or institutional accreditation do not imply it.
Sources and verification
- bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/criminal-justice/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
- DAPIP — MSCHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
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Similar programs at other schools
Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.
Master of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Penn State University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.