The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and Criminology program is designed to train researchers and teacher-scholars in criminal justice and criminology. The program provides intensive one-on-one mentorship, a flexible curriculum, and core teaching and research skills that enable graduates to excel in university settings as well as research think tanks. Current and former doctoral students are involved in presenting their research at regional and national conferences. Faculty members in the department have involved doctoral students in their research projects, resulting in numerous publications with students. In addition, graduate students help plan and attend research colloquia and participate in student governance.

Designed by award winning faculty in criminal justice and criminology research, the Georgia State Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree will help you advance in your career. The program offers two academic concentrations that can be earned on-campus or online: Crime and Justice or Legal Studies. The Crime and Justice concentration provides a blend of traditional criminal justice curriculum and forward thinking emphasis on digital criminology, while the Legal Studies concentration is designed for criminal justice majors desiring more intensive exposure to law often in preparation for law school. Students may also elect to pursue a minor in Digital Criminology online along with the Bachelor of Science.

Why the Criminal Justice Program at Georgia State Works

• Fair and open dialogue: Our faculty have designed a program that stresses an integrated view of the criminal justice system, highlighting relationships among the many different institutions involved and the need for cooperation and humane practices across: law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and the juvenile justice system.
• Theoretical framework combined with current events: You will study how our criminal justice system was designed and examine the parts of the system, including the roles of victims and offenders. Paired with an examination of the causes and consequences of traditional and digital crime, you will receive a comprehensive criminal justice education to prepare you for a career that is relevant to the critical issues facing justice agencies of today and tomorrow.
• Your success matters: You will work with the undergraduate advisement center throughout your time at Georgia State to make sure you are enrolling in the correct courses.

Because a bachelor’s degree at Georgia State also requires general education classes, you will find yourself speaking more clearly and effectively, thinking more analytically and critically evaluating the materials you read by the time you graduate.

Crime and criminal justice are at the forefront of national policy and practice. The increasing emphasis on professional preparation in criminal justice careers places additional academic demands on the in-service professional. To meet this need, Georgia State’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in criminal justice, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree in criminal justice and criminology.  

The Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology offers a minor in criminal justice to all undergraduate Georgia State students.  The minor is comprised of 15 credit hours and offer students the opportunity to complement their major studies with practical, career-orientated courses that will lead to additional skill sets marketable to the public or private sector. Why our program works

• Fair and open dialogue: Our faculty have designed a program that stresses an integrated view of the criminal justice system, highlighting relationships among the many different institutions involved and the need for cooperation and humane practices across law enforcement, the courts, corrections and the juvenile justice system.
• Theoretical framework combined with current events: You will study how our criminal justice system was designed and examine the parts of the system, including the roles of victims and offenders. Paired with an examination of the causes and consequences of traditional and digital crime, you will receive a comprehensive criminal justice education to prepare you for a career that is relevant to the critical issues facing justice agencies of today and tomorrow.
• Your success matters: You will work with the undergraduate advisement center throughout your time at Georgia State to make sure you are enrolling in the correct courses

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology emphasizes issues of crime and justice occurring in urban environments from a multicultural, interdisciplinary perspective to inform science, policy and practice. The department produces students who are critical and ethical thinkers, knowledgeable about the issues of crime and justice, and prepared for leadership positions in public and private criminal justice.

The minor in digital criminology is open to all undergraduate Georgia State students. The Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology offers a minor in digital criminology.  The minor is comprised of 15 credit hours and offers students across Georgia State the opportunity to understand cybercrime and develop real-life, practical skills to prepare them for public or private sector careers in cybersecurity. The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology emphasizes issues of crime and justice occurring in urban environments from a multicultural, interdisciplinary perspective to inform science, policy and practice. The department produces students who are critical and ethical thinkers, knowledgeable about the issues of crime and justice, and prepared for leadership positions in public and private criminal justice. The Evidence-Based Cyber-Security Group is housed within the department and strives to advance our empirical understanding of cyber crime and cybersecurity and train the next generation of professionals to put these lessons into practice.

Georgia State’s online master’s degree in criminal justice administration blends courses in criminal justice and criminology with managerial principles and practices in public management. The criminal justice system is affected and influenced by social, political, and economic factors. The Georgia State online CJ approach will have you studying these interconnected facets, including:

• How offenders and victims fit within the criminal justice system.
• How society influences and is influenced by crime and criminal justice institutions.
• Evidence-based solutions for crime prevention and restorative justice practices.
• Knowledge of how governments fund the criminal justice system and the financial challenges they face to support services

The criminal justice administration master’s degree prepares you to:

• Lead and manage in criminal justice systems at the local, state and federal levels.
• Think critically to solve problems and make decisions that affect short- and long-term outcomes for the institutions you lead.
• Articulate and apply a set of ethical principles in the criminal justice system that comports with democratic values and respect for human rights.
• Understand and analyze research on crime and criminal justice policy.
• Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

Our graduates gain a sophisticated understanding of the ways in which law enforcement, judicial and correctional institutions interact with other segments of government and society to administer high-functioning, forward-thinking and humane justice systems.