
Overview
Thirty-eight-credit Master of Arts in Criminology with a thesis, in the graduate program that also awards the Ph.D.
- Official program name
- Criminology, M.A.
- Awarded degree
- Master of Arts · major: CriminologySource: 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
- University Park, PA
- Subjects
- Criminology — core of the degree
- Required credits
- 38 credits of course work including 6 thesis creditsSource: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- Not verified
Why this program is listed
Dedicated Master of Arts in Criminology at University Park, earned as the first step of the doctoral program or entered with a bachelor's degree.
Dedicated Master of Arts in Criminology at University Park, earned as the first step of the doctoral program or entered with a bachelor's degree.
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
- Not verified
Curriculum
Curriculum
- Coursework includes methods and statistics, two criminological theory courses and a course on the organization of the criminal justice system.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Thesis
- A master's thesis including 6 credits of thesis research is required.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
- Statement / essay
- RequiredA personal statement.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Writing sample
- RequiredA sample of written work such as a term paper.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Tests
- GRE General Test
- RequiredVerbal, quantitative and writing scores listed among selection materials.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
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/criminology/ — 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
Something out of date? Request a correction · Represent this school? Claim the profile
Similar programs at other schools
Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.
Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Master of Science in Criminal Justice Studies
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.