Colleges & Schools

Each semester John Jay College of Criminal Justice keeps a promise made more than four decades ago to provide the highest quality education to thousands of students who enroll here, passionate about the issues of social justice, fairness and equality under the rule of law.

A global leader in educating for justice, John Jay offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum in a vibrant urban setting. During the years they spend at the College, John Jay students investigate both practical and theoretical aspects of the humanities, physical sciences and social sciences. It is an interdisciplinary approach that broadens their intellectual horizons and creates a body of knowledge that they may draw upon for the rest of their lives.

The College has an ethnically diverse student body of more than 15,000 students. Most are residents of the Tri-State area who commute directly from their homes or workplaces. But many have originally come from much farther away than that. John Jay has among the most international and diverse study bodies in the country. Enrolled here are individuals from as many as 130 nations. The majority are students who plan careers in public service. An impressive number of John Jay's alumni have leadership roles in public and private organizations around the world.

• The strength, reputation and vitality of the College are embodied in the commitment to academic excellence maintained by its faculty, many of whom are recognized experts in their fields. They conduct critical research in areas such as violent behavior, DNA analysis, drug abuse trends, child aggression, sexual abuse, eyewitness reliability, criminal law, police methods and crime reduction strategy.
• Undergraduate degrees are offered in 23 criminal justice-related majors: computer information systems in criminal justice and public administration, correctional studies, criminal justice, criminal justice administration and planning, criminology, deviant behavior and social control, economics, English, fire science, fire and emergency service, forensic psychology, forensic science, gender studies, global history, international criminal justice, judicial studies, justice studies, legal studies, police studies, political science, public administration and security management.
• The graduate program offers Master's degrees in 8 areas of specialization: criminal justice, forensic computing, forensic mental health counseling, forensic psychology, forensic science, international crime and justice, protection management and public administration. The Doctoral Program in Criminal Justice and in Forensic Psychology offered by CUNY are also centered at the College.
• John Jay's Lloyd Sealy Library houses one of the world's premier criminal justice libraries. With unique holdings of 440,000 books, periodicals, microforms and digital collections, the Library supports the general education and curricula aims of the College and provides opportunities for extensive research in the social sciences, criminal justice, forensic psychology, forensic science and related fields.
• In recognition of the complexity and universal impact of crime on public safety, the College has fostered the exchange of ideas and cooperation with practitioners, educators, researchers and policy makers from around the world. In the Dominican Republic, the College has entered into a partnership that will help to professionalize their 30,000 member national police force. John Jay also offers a Police Studies Certificate Program for New York City police officers, which is funded by the New York City Council. The Program is designed to give participants an understanding of the multicultural population they serve and an enhanced capability for leadership in supervisory ranks.
• To further facilitate academic research and provide professional development and training at the College, 16 vibrant centers and institutes produce intelligence that is used by corporations, academic researchers, policy makers and the media. One of our best-known research centers is the Center on Crime Prevention and Control, directed by David Kennedy, the preeminent scholar in the field of crime and gang violence. Other renowned research centers at John Jay include: Criminal Justice Center on Research and Evaluation, Center for Race, Crime and Justice, Center on Terrorism, Center on Media, Crime and Justice.
• Located in mid-Manhattan, John Jay's campus is just a short walk from two of the world's most renowned centers for music and dance - Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Its Westside neighborhood is dotted with dozens of cafes and coffee houses.