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APPENDIX IV: INTERNATIONAL CRIME & JUSTICE, M.A
Dear Incoming Graduate Students of the Master of Arts Degree Program in International Crime and Justice,
Congratulations on your acceptance to the Master of Arts Degree Program in International Crime & Justice. In this letter, you will find preliminary information about course requirements and sequencing, along with recommendations about course load. It is to your advantage to register as soon as possible.
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The first thing to consider when scheduling your first semester is to factor in coursework that does not count towards your credit total but must be completed, in case you have been accepted with conditions. Some of you must take our undergraduate statistics course, STA250. STA250 will not count towards your GPA and thus I recommend that you take it pass/fail (you must file a form with the Registrar’s Office at the beginning of the semester to do this: http://jstop.jjay.cuny.edu/forms/Pass_Fail_Option.pdf).
Thirty-six (36) credits are required to complete your graduate program. Students should be able to complete the course of study in two years if they maintain full-time status (defined as three to four courses a semester1) or four years if they are part-time (fewer than three courses). If you take courses during the summer, you may complete the program in less than two years. If you work full time, I recommend you limit yourself to a maximum of two courses a semester. Remember, graduate coursework is more demanding than undergraduate coursework, and you must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing as well as graduate.
If you receive benefits from the Office of Military and Veterans Services and are required to take STA 250 as a condition of your acceptance, you MUST additionally file the Veteran Graduate Student Authorization for Undergraduate Courses and submit it to the veteran certifying official in the Office of Military and Veterans Services. Email your advisor to obtain the form.
Course Availability
Core courses are offered every semester either on campus or online (or both). Some electives are also offered during the winter session. Summer offerings may include both core and elective courses, based on student demand. On-campus students may register for their ICJ classes either campus-based or online (pending space availability). On-campus students are allowed to take up to 5 courses maximum online while enrolled in the on-campus degree program. Additionally, on-campus students are not
permitted to take ANY Criminal Justice (CRJ prefix) online courses.
Course Sequencing
Courses may be taken in any order except for the ICJ770: Capstone in International Crime and Justice course, which may be taken only after ALL other core courses are completed. Exceptions may be made to this rule for good reason. Elective courses may be taken at any time. A suggested sequence is detailed below for a full-time On-campus student who does not need to take any prerequisites. Students may use their 12 elective credits to complete courses toward the Advanced Certificate in Transnational
1 In order to be considered a full-time graduate student, students must register for a minimum of 9 credits per semester. However, a minimum of 12 credits per semester is still required for in-state students to receive flat rate tuition. For questions regarding instate tuition, contact the Office of Admissions.
(Note: This is just one example of course sequencing. Sequencing is based on personal preference and workload out of the classroom setting. ALL students are encouraged to combine elective courses with core course enrollment. Taking a lower course number - 700 or 701 - has no bearing on performance or difficulty in/of higher courses - 704 or 706).
Year 1 (Fall) ICJ 700 International Crime & Justice Theory ICJ 702 Comparative CRJ Systems ICJ 703 International Criminal Law Year 1 (Spring)
ICJ 706 Transnational Crime
ICJ 715 Applied Research Methods (Elective)
Year 2 (Fall)
ICJ 704 Crime, Justice & Cultural Struggles in IC&J
ICJ 701 Markets & Economic Justice
(Elective)
Year 2 (Spring)
ICJ 770 Capstone Seminar
(Elective)
(Elective)
Electives (3 credits each course, select 12 credits total - 4 courses)
Electives may be selected from the themed lists below or from any of the graduate courses offered at John Jay and CUNY, subject to the approval of the graduate program director. Elective course offerings will vary every semester and new electives may be developed. Graduate courses not on the list below (whether offered at John Jay, other CUNY colleges, or at other universities) MUST be approved by the graduate program director on a case-by-case basis as electives. ALL non-prefixed ICJ courses are subject to spacing and the approval of the respective program director (Criminal Justice/Psychology/Public Administration, etc.) for registration approval - even if it is an approved elective.
ICJ 705: Human Rights & Counterterrorism ICJ 720: Crime & Justice in the Balkans ICJ 721: International Perspectives on Women in Criminal Justice ICJ 726: Drug Trafficking ICJ 730: Human Trafficking ICJ 750: Special Topics in International Crime and Justice ICJ 755: Terrorism and Transnational Crime ICJ 762: Corruption and the Global Economy ICJ 780: Internship (6 credits)** ICJ 791: Thesis I** ICJ 792: Thesis II** ICJ 794: Independent Study** ICJ 803: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: International Rights & Beyond ICJ 806: Transitional Justice
Criminal Justice Courses
CRJ 713: White Collar Crime
CRJ 727/FCM 727: Cybercriminology CRJ 739: Crime Mapping CRJ 744: Terrorism & Politics CRJ 746: Terrorism & Apocalyptic Violence CRJ 759: Comparative Police Administration CRJ 784: Organized Crime CRJ 789: Violence Across the Globe CRJ 797: Homeland Security & International Relations CRJ 798: Homeland Security & Terrorism
Human Rights Courses
HR 701: Introduction to Human Rights HR 711: Human Rights and Humanitarianism HR 712: Civil and Political Rights and Civil Liberties HR 713: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Public Administration Courses
PAD 718: International Public Policy & Administration PAD 746: Comparative Public Administration PAD 772: International Inspection & Oversight
Psychology Courses
PSY 705: Victimology PSY 729: Terrorism PSY: 746: Empirical Profiling Methods
Internship, Independent Study, and Thesis Options**
Students are encouraged to pursue the Independent Study course (ICJ794) under the supervision of a full-time faculty member of the program, so long as the content is international in nature. Students who have completed 15 credits and have a GPA of 3.5 or above are eligible to take the following electives:
ICJ 780: Internship (6 credits) ICJ 791: Thesis I/ICJ792: Thesis II (6 credits)
The thesis elective is taken over a two-semester sequence as ICJ 791 and ICJ 792. The internship course (ICJ780) is an online course that is accompanied by a mandatory 280 hours in an internship site. Placements in internship sites are arranged at the initiative of the student in consultation with the program director. Students interested in the internship elective should start their search for an internship site at least one semester in advance. The IC&J MA program has an exclusive News & Information Page on the Blackboard interface. You are encouraged to view the postings on the program’s Blackboard page under the “Employment and Internships” tab. Students are encouraged to pursue one or more internships during their graduate studies, even if they are not taking the internship elective course, potentially as an Independent Study (3 credits) or for personal and professional experience.
UNITAR Global Diplomacy Initiative 2020-2021
UNITAR Global Diplomacy Initiative program provides a rare opportunity for students to learn about diplomacy from diplomats themselves. Although there is no shortage of courses on global politics and policies, few (if any) provide this education in the context of first-hand experience – experience the
United Nations is uniquely situated to provide. You will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the diplomacy initiative program. You will also have the opportunity to meet (and be taught by) former Ambassadors and other United Nations staff. The program also gives you access to the United Nations headquarters in New York, where you will be able to attend many open meetings, network and learn about the organization and from them! I serve as the program's liaison with UNITAR. There may be an opportunity for students to participate in Fall 2021. Students will work me as I coordinate this work with UNITAR, and upon my recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies, you will receive EXTERNAL CREDIT (3 credits as an elective course) toward your ICJ MA degree!
External Credit
Upon approval of the Office of Graduate Studies and the Registrar’s Office, matriculated students may be granted up to 3 credits for completion of non-academic credit training programs external to John Jay College of Criminal Justice. These credits are included within the 12 transfer credits permitted for matriculated students. Determination of the acceptability of external coursework for master’s degree credit shall be made by the appropriate graduate program director and the Dean of Graduate Studies and based upon substantial documentation.
Advanced Certificate Option
Students may use their 12 elective credits to complete courses toward the Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies or, students can take a combination of different electives chosen from the list of approved electives. If you are interested in pursuing the Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies as a way to channel your electives, please the list of approved courses below and consult with your advisor for more information.
ACTOCS Elective Courses
ICJ 705 Human Rights and Counterterrorism ICJ 725 Environmental Crime ICJ 726 Drug Trafficking ICJ 730 Human Trafficking ICJ 755 Terrorism and Transnational Crime ICJ 762 Corruption and the Global Economy CRJ 713 White-Collar Crime CRJ 727/FCM 727 Cybercriminology CRJ 784 Organized Crime
Important
To be awarded the certificate, you must submit the following forms to Jay Express Services (you can go in person to L - New Building or email jayexpress@jjay.cuny.edu and provide your full name, program, and EMPLID #) ADD or REMOVE Advanced Certificate Application AND the Advanced Certificate Completion Application. You may submit the former if you wish to enroll or withdraw from any certificate program. You may submit the Completion form when you are enrolled in the final certificate course(s) OR, at the beginning of the semester you intend to graduate.
Students must select an additional elective from the list of general IC&J MA electives if enrolled in the master’s program AND the certificate. Speak with your Advisor for more information.
Graduate Advisor Contact
Vanessa Gutiérrez, email: vanessa.gutierrez@jjay.cuny.edu. Please be sure to contact her for any inquiries or concerns you may have about the program.
Photo and Biographical Statement - optional
In preparation for orientation, I ask that you email Vanessa, a photo of yourself and a biographical statement of no more than 150 words. This will allow her to compile a handout that will enable us (students, faculty and administrators) to get to know each other better. The handout is posted on Blackboard and accessed only by program faculty, staff and classmates. Please send a one paragraph biography as well as photograph of yourself to icjma@jjay.cuny.edu no later than January 21,
2021.
Orientation
Graduate Student Orientation is on January 25, 2021. Please be advised that you will be formally invited to the Graduate Orientation by the Admissions Office via email. We hope you can attend the orientation. International students have additional orientations – you will be invited if applicable. Please consult with the Office of International Students & Scholar Services for more information.
I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you personally to John Jay College of Criminal Justice!
Best regards,
