The fields of public administration and criminal justice share a close relationship, 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 degree is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to excel in various roles within public and nonprofit management and policy analysis, while the MCJ program prepares graduates to work in organizations dealing with criminal justice policy.

The dual degree program provides graduates with a well-rounded education that prepares them for a wide range of career options in public, nonprofit, and private organizations that require expertise in both criminal justice and management. Graduates can also pursue advanced research careers or graduate studies.

The program requires 54 credit hours, which is significantly less than the 72 credit hours required to complete each degree individually. Students can tailor their elective courses to align with their career goals and personal interests.

By pursuing a dual degree program in MPA and MCJ, students gain a competitive edge in the job market, as they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in today's complex organizational and policy environment. The program's comprehensive curriculum and practical training opportunities make it an ideal choice for those seeking to make a difference in the public sector.

Prerequisites

A bachelor's degree from a college or university of accredited standing, with grades sufficiently high to indicate the ability to pursue graduate work. The applicant may have majored in any field for the undergraduate degree.  Students should have a 3.00 (or better) undergraduate grade point average for admission into the MPA/MCJ program.

Application Materials

• Online Graduate School Application
• $60 non-refundable application fee
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended (official transcripts will be collected by the graduate college prior to the end of the semester
• Current resume
• Written statement that includes 500-word responses to the following three prompts:   
  • What are your career aspirations and how can your academic experience contribute to your career goals?
  • What is relevant in your professional or academic background that contributes to your anticipated success in your master’s experience?
  • Please provide an example of how your personal characteristics helped you overcome a specific challenge.
• Contact information, including an email address for two recommendations required from qualified references that establish the applicant's personal qualifications for graduate work if the undergraduate cumulative GPA is below 3.25.
  • Recommendations may be from professors, employers, and/or others who are acquainted with the prospective student's professional and/or academic work.

Deadlines

Admission to the MPA program is made on a rolling basis, and applicants are notified as soon as an admission decision is made. Application deadlines are as follows:

If you miss the deadline, please contact us.

Students who find they are not able to enroll during the semester for which they were accepted may defer enrollment for up to two semesters (including summer) by contacting CPS’s graduate student services specialist.

Students who have missed the deadline for the upcoming semester may register as unclassified students. Up to twelve credit hours of Public Administration or Criminal Justice coursework taken as a UCCS unclassified student may be applied to the MPA or MCJ degree program.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships

The dual MPA/MCJ program provides graduate-level instruction for individuals who wish to prepare themselves for administrative or policy careers in industries such as:

• Grant Writing, Management, and Program Evaluation
• Nonprofit Management
• National Security Intelligence
• Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Please visit the UCCS Academic Catalog for course descriptions and detailed program requirements.