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Steps in Applying to a Master's Degree Program

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The master's programs at John Jay are among the best in the nation.  Students from around the world apply to our programs.  If you are interested in applying to a master’s program at John Jay College, you must meet specific standards for acceptance.

Some details:


Admission Requirements
In addition to a completed application, the following items must be submitted:

  • A non-refundable application fee of $125 (U.S.), check or money order, made payable to John Jay College.
  • Official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate work sent directly from the institution(s) of record to John Jay College.  If you graduated with a bachelor’s degree from John Jay College, you are not required to submit a transcript with your application.  To apply for any of the graduate programs, you should have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale).

  • Three academic references or letters of recommendation.  If you graduated more than two years ago, professional references are acceptable.

  • An essay of approximately 250-300 words indicating the reasons for pursuing graduate study with reference to career objectives.

  •   The Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination is required for admission to the Forensic Science, Forensic Psychology, and Forensic Computing Programs.  Applicants to those programs not requiring the GRE General Test whose overall undergraduate grade point average falls below 3.0 are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores as part of their application.

 Veterans
Many veterans attend John Jay College as undergraduate and graduate students.  If you are a veteran, your application and admission requirements are the same as for all other graduate student applicants.


Academic Requirements for Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
If you are applying to the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program, please note that the Admissions Committee for this program seeks students whose record of performance at the undergraduate level and whose writing skills indicate they are likely to do well in graduate school.  While the Committee understands that a variety of factors can influence undergraduate grades, applicants whose grade point average is below 3.0 are rarely accepted.  Applicants whose averages exceed this average should not, however, assume that they will automatically be admitted.


Academic Requirements for Master of Science in Forensic Computing
If you are applying to the Master of Science in Forensic Computing program, you should have completed courses on data structures, algorithms, an object oriented programming language, operating systems fundamentals and a year of calculus.


Academic Requirements for Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology
If you are applying to the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology program, you should have an undergraduate overall average of 3.1 or better, a minimum of 24 hours of undergraduate course work in the social sciences with at least 18 hours in psychology, which include Experimental Psychology and Statistical Methods or their equivalents.  These two specific prerequisite courses must be taken before registering for graduate level course work.


Academic Requirements for Master of Science in Forensic Science
If you are applying to the Master of Science in Forensic Science  program, you must have the appropriate science and mathematics courses in your background.  These include one year each of calculus, chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, and one semester each of biochemistry and physical chemistry.  Deficiencies must be completed at the undergraduate level.


Academic Requirements for Master of Science in Protection Management
If you are applying to the Master of Science in Protection Management program, you will concentrate in either security management, fire protection management, or emergency management, and should have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.


Academic Requirements for Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Administration Inspector General program
If you are applying to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Administration Inspector General program, you should have at least 18 undergraduate credits in the social sciences.  A 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average is preferred.  However, in exceptional cases, students with an undergraduate average of less than ‘B’ may be admitted if strong evidence of ability to complete graduate work successfully is obtained from GRE results, letters of recommendation, experience in public service, or the application essay.