Criminal Justice and Criminology MS / Public Administration MPA MS, MPA
Students in the criminal justice and public administration master’s program explore criminal justice policy and develop skills to manage public agencies and programs.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus, Online
Expand Your Knowledge
This collaborative program provides students with theoretical and practical exposure to evolving professional practice in the field of criminal justice.
Students acquire a deep understanding of criminal justice systems, fiscal control, quantitative analysis, organization management, decision analysis, and a working understanding of government institutions and legal procedures.
I chose the master’s in criminal justice and public administration in order to prepare myself to be a top administrator in my field. I have applied for several chief’s jobs for multiple departments throughout the country and was a finalist several times. This would not be possible without UWM. I am extremely proud to have completed this program.
Contemporary public officials are required to make complex choices and implement programs and policies within difficult financial, legal, political and organizational constraints. More than ever, it is important that administrators be able to work with a variety of people, both within and outside the public sector.
Professional education thus encompasses fiscal control, quantitative analysis, organization management, decision analysis, and a working understanding of government institutions and legal procedures.
This is a joint degree program — students earn two master’s degrees. Students can enroll in this program on a part- or full-time basis. Most classes are online.
The total credits for the coordinated Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology and Master of Public Administration (MPA) program would typically be completed in both programs at the same time, rather than one program after the other.
Students will take 30 credits for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice & Criminology and a minimum of 39 credits for the Master of Public Administration. Degrees will be awarded simultaneously. A student not completing the requirements for the coordinated degree program would need to complete all requirements for an individual program in order to receive a degree.
Track A
Students with significant public or nonprofit sector work experience may, at the discretion of the MPA director, have the Public Service Administrative Internship course (Pub Adm 921) waived. Students seeking placement in this track will need to meet with the MPA director to discuss this possibility. They will be required to provide documentation of current public or nonprofit sector work experience.
Track B
Students with no significant public or nonprofit sector work experience are required to enroll in and successfully complete the Public Service Administrative Internship course (Pub Adm 921). The requirements for this course include completing one or more internships in either the public or nonprofit sector while enrolled in the MPA program. The MPA director will assist students with obtaining an internship.
Time Limit
Students in the coordinated program must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student.
The total credits for the coordinated program would typically be completed in both programs at the same time, rather than one program after the other. A student not completing the requirements for the coordinated degree program would need to complete all requirements for an individual program in order to receive a degree.
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology and Master of Public Administration program is between 54-57 credits. Students who have significant public or nonprofit sector work experience may have the 3-credit Public Service Administrative Internship course waived.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice & Criminology
| Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRM JST 773: Criminological Perspectives | 3 |
| CRM JST 743: Proseminar: Administration of Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| CRM JST 756: Proseminar: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research | 3 |
| CRM JST 713: Measuring Crime and Analyzing Crime Data | 3 |
| CRM JST 920: Criminal Justice Master’s Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Electives | |
| Select 12 additional credits within the criminal justice and criminology program. | 12 |
| Criminal Justice and Criminology Total | 27 |
Master of Public Administration
| Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BUS ADM 738: Human Resource Management | 3 |
| PUB ADM 763: Scope and Dynamics of Public Administration | 3 |
| PUB ADM 769: Analyzing and Evaluating Public Policies and Programs | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 |
| BUSMGMT 709: Predictive Analytics for Managers | |
| PUB ADM 792: Decision-Making for Nonprofit and Public Organizations | |
| CRM JST 756: Proseminar: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 |
| BUS ADM 441: Diversity in Organizations | |
| BUS ADM 443: Special Topics in Human Resources Management | |
| BUS ADM 737: Managerial Decisions and Negotiations | |
| Capstone | |
| PUB ADM 959: Capstone Seminar in Public Administration | 3 |
| General Public Administration | |
| Select three of the following: | 9 |
| BUSMGMT 724: Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations | |
| PUB ADM 400: Ethics and Responsibility in Public Administration | |
| PUB ADMN/URBPLAN 630: Budgeting and Finance in the Public Sector | |
| PUB ADM 750: Public Administration Risk and Analysis | |
| PUB ADM/POL SCI 914: Seminar in Intergovernment Relations | |
| PUB ADM 958: Seminar in Public Administration | |
| PUB ADM 965: Municipal Management | |
| Internship | |
| PUB ADM 921: Public Service Administrative Internship* | 3 |
| Master of Public Administration Total | 27-30 |
| Grand Total | 54-57 |
| *Potential to be waived with work experience. |
- Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice & Criminology
- Graduate Program Coordinator, Criminal Justice & Criminology
- asheeran@uwm.edu
- 414-251-8687
- Enderis Hall 1135
Field Programs
Summer Deadline: April 1, 2026
Fall Deadline: July 1, 2026
Spring Deadline: Nov. 1, 2026
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The GRE is not required.
Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator
414-251-8687
asheeran@uwm.edu
Douglas Ihrke, PhD
Public and Nonprofit Administration
Professor
dihrke@uwm.edu