American Public University System

Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, M.P.S.
Overview
Thirty-credit Master of Professional Studies in criminal justice policy and administration offered online through World Campus.
- Official program name
- Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, M.P.S.
- Awarded degree
- Master of Professional Studies · major: Criminal Justice Policy and AdministrationSource: 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, PAFor the online option this is where the school is located — not a residency requirement, and not a guarantee that you may enroll from your state.
- Subjects
- Criminal Justice — core of the degree (“Criminal Justice Policy and Administration”)Criminal Justice Administration — core of the degree (“Criminal Justice Policy and Administration”)
- Required credits
- 30 creditsSource: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Duration
- Not verified
Why this program is listed
Dedicated professional master's in criminal justice policy and administration delivered through World Campus.
Dedicated professional master's in criminal justice policy and administration delivered through World Campus.
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
- OnlineSource: worldcampus.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Online delivery
- Fully onlineAll coursework is online and the institution states no required campus attendance for the online option.All coursework is online and the institution states no required campus attendance for the online option.Source: worldcampus.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Campus visits (online option)
- Campus visits: not verified
- Class schedule (online option)
- Not verified
- Internship
- Internship requirement: not verified
- Study intensity
- Not verified
The program page does not say whether the online option requires campus visits. Ask the school before you apply — missing information is not “no requirement”.
Curriculum
Capstone
- Culminating experience is a three-credit capstone project course.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Other
- The program lists up to three related graduate certificates that can be earned along the way.Source: worldcampus.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
Technical preparation
- Work experience
- OptionalWork experience is considered for applicants with more than two years in a related field.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Minimum GPA
- RecommendedMinimum 3 — Applicants below a 3.0 undergraduate GPA are considered case by case.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Statement / essay
- RequiredA 2-3 page statement of purpose.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation submitted through the online application.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Résumé / CV
- RequiredA current curriculum vitae or resume.Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
- Transcripts
- RequiredOfficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.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
- Year not printed
Application deadline
December 1 · for January 11 start (World Campus)
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: worldcampus.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Tuition and fees
| Category | Amount | Basis and year |
|---|---|---|
| All students — World Campus graduateFrom the school's online tuition table | $1,048 | per creditCalculated tuition$31,440 = 30 credits × $1,048 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: worldcampus.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026 |
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.
State authorization (online students)
Not verified — check the school's state authorization page before applying from outside Pennsylvania.
International applicants
Not verified for the online option.
Sources and verification
- bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/criminal-justice-policy-administration/ — 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
- worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-criminal-justice-policy-and-administr — Official program page, verified October 24, 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.