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Criminal Justice

To assist the community of Penn State faculty and students interested in exploring the field of crime, law and justice, this guide has been developed to help you locate library resources.

Criminal Justice: Programs

What is criminal justice? 

Criminal justice is the study of the adult and juvenile justice systems, including law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. It is interdisciplinary and includes understanding the intersections of law, public policy, and behavioral science, in an effort to understand crime as a social problem and improve these systems for the good of society.

Course Program Code: CRIMJ

Note: description taken from the Penn State University Bulletin

World Campus Programs

Graduate Program in Criminal Justice

Criminology: Department & Programs

What is Criminology?

Criminology is a broad and interdisciplinary field of study that promotes an understanding of crime and the criminal justice system and how they relate to human behavior, social environments, and government policy. Examples of topics studied in Criminology are below.

  • The causes and consequences of deviant and/or criminal behavior
  • The structure and functions of the criminal justice system
  • Societal and individual reactions to crimes and criminal justice processing
  • The spatial and geographical elements associated with crime and poverty
  • The dynamics of criminal justice policy-making

Course Program Code: CRIM

Note: description taken from the Penn State University Bulletin

Criminal Justice Policy & Administration Programs

The Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration (CJPA) at Penn State leverages the university’s research strengths to offer an advanced professional degree. This program blends theoretical knowledge with applied research, equipping both current professionals and new entrants with graduate-level expertise in the field. It caters to a wide range of professionals, including those in:

  • Policing
  • Courts
  • Corrections
  • Probation/Parole
  • Treatment
  • Course Program 
  • Government and Administration
  • Course Program Code: CJPA

Note: description taken from the Penn State University Bulletin

Research Centers & Initiatives @ PSU