John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers a joint BA/MA Degree program in Criminal Justice, Forensic Psychology and Public Administration. Students admitted can graduate with both a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree after completing 128 - 134 credits. The program is designed for academically advanced students pursuing the BA or BS in criminal justice, criminal justice administration and planning, or police studies, or the BA in forensic psychology or public administration.

Students admitted to the program must maintain a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in graduate as well as undergraduate courses. Students who fail to maintain the 3.5 GPA will not be able to receive the joint degrees. Students who are considering applying to the BA/MA program should keep in mind that the graduate courses are typically more academically demanding than the undergraduate courses. Students who have completed at least 60 undergraduate credits and maintained a 3.5 grade point average are eligible to apply. However, admission is granted based on each student's application, transcripts, recommendations, and related considerations (see application process below). To complete the program most students take 92-98 undergraduate credits (which include the college general education requirements and undergraduate major requirements), and the entire graduate course of study. The minimum number of graduate credits required for each of the programs varies as indicated below:

Program	undergraduate credits + graduate credits = total credits
Criminal Justice (standard track)	98 + 36 credits = 134
Criminal Justice (thesis track)	98 + 30 credits = 128
Forensic Psychology	95 + 42 credits = 137
Public Administration	92 + 42 credits = 134

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These programs allow exceptional students the opportunity to complete the two degrees in a five year period. In addition to the recognition associated with an advanced academic program, and the potential for accelerated degree acquisition, the BA/MA program has a built in scholarship incentive. Students are charged the undergraduate tuition rate for graduate courses until they reach 120 credits. Students are then charged graduate tuition rates. If you would like more details about each of the graduate degree programs, click here.

The BA/MA program also provides its students with academic enrichment opportunities such as a designated research scholarship, special lectures, and receptions. The Research Incentive Scholarship for BA/MA students has been established. This scholarship provides awards up to $2,000 based on student's GPA and participation in a research project. Also special lectures, receptions and related activities are held periodically for BA/MA students.

The BA/MA program has minimum and maximum requirements as set forth by the State of New York Education Department and the City University of New York (CUNY). The basic parameters are 128-134 credits. These parameters are applied flexibly in individual cases.

PURPOSE AND HISTORY
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice BA/MA Degree program was established following a mandate of the Board of Higher Education in June of 1974. Initially it was offered in the areas of Criminal Justice and Public Administration. Subsequently, the Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology was added. The BA/MA Degree program was designed to attract and retain the brightest and most academically advanced students to CUNY Colleges. The BA/MA Degree program provides the exceptionally qualified student the flexibility to simultaneously earn credits toward the Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. This is accomplished by substituting graduate courses for some of the undergraduate courses. The current director of the program is Professor Chitra Raghavan. All questions relevant to the BA/MA program can be directed via email (bamadirector@jjay.cuny.edu) and/or by phone to the BA/MA office (212 237 8417). The prior BA/MA program Directors have been Professor Matthew Johnson (2003-2006), Professor Anna Goldoff (1978-2003), Professor William Wetteroth (1977-1978), and Professor James Gilford (1973-1976).


APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
Application process - To be eligible to apply to the John Jay College BA/MA Degree program a student must have completed at least 60 credits and less than 85 credits and maintained a 3.5 or better grade point average. Applicants must submit an application form (which can be completed and submitted on-line by clicking here) along with their complete college transcript, two letters of recommendation from current or former professors, a writing sample that demonstrates writing/research skills (such as a term paper or research paper), and a 500-1000 word personal statement of their interest, qualifications, and career goals. application materials (INCLUDING the Application Form) should be delivered or mailed to:

Professor Chitra Raghavan
Director BA/MA Degree Program
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
445 West 59th Street, Room 2122, New York, NY 10019.

Please note! The application deadline for Fall 2010 is March 5, 2010 (12Noon).

Admission criteria -The BA/MA Director will make admission decisions based upon review of each student's application, transcripts and the other sources noted above. In addition, prospective students may be invited in for an interview.

Transfer students - An official transcript from all colleges, other than John Jay College, must be submitted along with the application. It can either be mailed directly to Professor Raghavan from the designated college registrar or delivered in a sealed envelope along the other application materials. If a student is transferring from a college with an articulation agreement with John Jay College, he or she can simultaneously apply to the BA/MA program. However, transfer students may be required to first enroll in 12 credits at John Jay before being admitted into the program. Considerations will be done on a case by case basis. Students considering transferring to John Jay College for the BA/MA program, as well as students who have already transferred to John Jay College and who are considering application to the BA/MA degree program, are advised to contact Professor Raghavan or her assistant directly.

To complete the BA/MA degree program each student must complete the College's undergraduate general education requirements, the relevant undergraduate major requirements (graduate courses are substituted for some undergraduate major requirements and electives), and the required graduate course of study. The requirements for each of the Graduate Degree programs are spelled out in the college catalogue and through the College's Graduate Degree programs web-site.

The Directors of the Master's Degree programs are:

Criminal Justice, Co-Directors:
Prof. William C. Heffernan - Law, Police Science
Prof. Andrew Karmen - Sociology

Forensic Psychology, Director:
Prof. Diana Falkenbach - Psychology

Public Administration, Directors:
Prof. Marilyn Rubin - Director of Public Management
Prof. Warren Benton - Director of MPA- Inspector General Program


ADVISEMENT
Once admitted into the BA/MA program, students will receive academic advisement from the BA/MA Director and/or faculty in the student's respective program.


FAQ's (Frequently asked questions)

Q:	I have already completed 60 undergraduate credits and I am currently taking 15 credits, can I still be admitted to a BA/MA program?
A:	Yes, if you have the requisite cumulative GPA (3.5) you can apply for admission for the upcoming Fall or Spring semester.
Q:	I am a part-time student at John Jay College. Can I pursue the BA/MA program as a part-time student?
A:	Yes, if you meet all the other qualifications, you can pursue the joint degrees as a part-time student.
Q:	I have transferred to John Jay College from another college where I completed 76 undergraduate credits but only 52 were accepted by the John Jay College Registrar. Am I eligible to apply to the BA/MA program?
A:	The eligibility is based upon the number of credits accepted with your transfer. Before applying, you must first establish a 3.5 grade point average for at least one semester (12 credits) at John Jay College. See colleges with articulation agreements with John Jay College for certain exceptions.
Q:	I am planning to apply to become a John Jay College McNair Scholar. Can I be a BA/MA student while also being a McNair Scholar?
A:	Yes, you can though it is advised that you discuss it with the McNair Program Director.
Q:	What happens if I finish all my required credits but my GPA falls below 3.5?
A:	You can receive the baccalaureate degree and complete the masters degree separately. The details of this procedure can be provided by the Director of the BA/MA programs.
Q:	What is the maximum number of undergraduate credits I can have and still be eligible for the BA/MA program?
A:	Students should apply when they have completed 60-85 undergraduate credits. Those students having more than 85 credits will require individualized review.
Q:	What are the demands and requirements of graduate courses in comparison to undergraduate courses?
A:	In general the graduate courses are much more demanding than the undergraduate courses, and thus students are advised to take fewer courses per semester.
Q:	Are the GRE's required for admission to the BA/MA program?
A:	GRE's are not required for admission?

ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS
The following colleges have articulation agreements with John Jay College of Criminal Justice and thus GPA's earned at these colleges establish eligibility for the John Jay College BA/MA Degree Program.

Adirondack Community College, Alfred State College, Dean College, Essex County College, Farmingdale SUNY, Finger Lakes Community College, Hostos Community College, Hudson Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, James Town Community College, Kingsborough Community College, La Guardia Community College, Mercer County College, County College of Morris, Nassau Community College, NY College of Podiatric Medicine, Orange County Community College, Passaic Community College, Community College of Philadelphia, Queensboro Community College, Raritan Valley County College, Rockland Community College, Schenetady County Community College, Union County Community College, Westchester Community College.

(At the time this website was last updated, negotiations were in progress with Bronx Community College, Broward Community College, and others. Students are advised to check with Prof. Johnson for recent additions to this list.)