Media Contact
Jennifer Ellen French
Public Relations Manager
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
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ATLANTA—Georgia State University’s online Criminal Justice Administration interdisciplinary master’s degree (M.I.S. in C.J.A.) has risen to No. 26 among the 74 programs rated in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs.
The online program, launched the fall of 2017, ranks highest in the areas of student/faculty engagement and student excellence. It is managed by Dr. Natasha Johnson in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology (CJC).
“We are thrilled to see our young online program gain this recognition,” Dean Sally Wallace said. “This ranking will help bring it to the attention of even more public safety professionals who seek advanced knowledge and skill sets that will help them excel in their careers while serving our communities.”
The degree combines courses in criminal justice and criminology with principles and practices in public management. Its interdisciplinary focus strengthens students’ core leadership abilities while broadening knowledge of the strategies necessary to address rapidly emerging issues in criminal justice systems.
The 30- credit hour program takes full-time students two years and part-time students three years to complete. It also offers a for-credit option to those who attend the school’s law enforcement leadership academies, reducing their time to degree.
The program admits a cohort of 25 students every fall.
“Our interdisciplinary focus on public management in criminal justice is rare, and our online, asynchronous courses offer students a large degree of flexibility,” said Dean Dabney, who chairs the criminal justice department. “Providing this program allows us to be well-versed in what works and doesn’t work in online education, knowledge that helps keep our faculty engaged and excited about teaching online.”
It also has informed the department’s development of an online bachelor’s degree and minor, which are going through approvals now, according to Dabney. The new B.S. in Criminal Justice will be delivered fully online with a substantive focus on digital criminology, covering cybersecurity and more, and legal studies.