An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to a diverse student body in a vibrant urban setting. In teaching and research, the College defines justice both narrowly, with an eye to the needs of criminal justice and public service agencies, and broadly and humanistically, in terms of enduring questions about fairness, equality, and the rule of law.

The College has an ethnically diverse student body of more than 14,000 students. Many are members of uniformed criminal justice and fire agencies. 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 nineteen 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, fire science, fire and emergency service, forensic psychology, forensic science, government, international criminal justice, judicial studies, justice studies, legal studies, police studies, public administration and security management.
The graduate program offers Master’s degrees in six areas of specialization: criminal justice, forensic psychology, forensic science, public administration, security management, and forensic computing. 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.
Fifteen vibrant centers and institutes further facilitate academic research and provide professional development and training at the College. The newest additions include the Center for Modern Forensic Practice and the Center on Media, Crime and Justice. The Institute for Criminal Justice Ethics, which seeks to foster greater concern for ethical issues among practitioners and scholars in the criminal justice field, also publishes the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, Criminal Justice Ethics.
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.

Liberal Arts and Sciences

John Jay’s mission is to develop graduates who have the intellectual acuity, moral commitment and professional competence to confront the challenges of crime, justice and public safety in a free society. Thus, our degree programs incorporate specialized courses in these areas with the traditional courses in liberal arts.

Special Programs

BA/MA Program: The Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program (BA/MA) provides academically advanced students the opportunity to pursue simultaneously the baccalaureate and master’s degrees. It is available to students studying criminal justice, forensic psychology and public administration.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program: The Interdisciplinary Studies Program offers students an opportunity to explore issues of contemporary significance from many points of view. Students in Interdisciplinary Studies enroll in a theme, which is examined through a group of related courses. The traditional format is varied by team-teaching, guest speakers, student debates and class discussions, as well as by the use of films, visual art, music, legal and psychological case studies and other media.

Internship Program: Internship courses provide students with an opportunity to earn 3 academic credits while gaining experience working in a field placement. An internship usually requires a minimum attendance of eight hours each week in an assigned agency.

CO-OP Program: The CO-OP Program combines academic study with paid work experience in both public and private sectors. CO-OP agreements, work and school schedules may vary by employer.

Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program: The Ronald McNair Program is a federally funded program. It is designed to increase the participation of first generation, low-income students from underrepresented groups in graduate education, particularly in doctoral programs.

Facts

The College is named in honor of the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
John Jay’s faculty are recognized authorities in criminal justice that the media, other educational institutions and government regularly solicit for their expertise.
The College is a world-renowned center and clearinghouse for research in the criminal justice field.
John Jay graduates have gone on to assume public service and public safety leadership roles in a wide variety of public and private sector organizations.

Travel Directions

Subway: #1, 9, A, B, D to 59th Street & Columbus Circle; R, N to 57th Street and 7th Avenue.

Bus: M10, 11, 28, 103.

College Contacts

Graduate Admission:

Mr. Jonathan Rosser
Room 4260N
(212) 237-8863
graduate.admissions@jjay.cuny.edu

Undergraduate Admission:

Ms. Sandra L. Palleja
Room 4205N
(212) 237-8861
admiss@jjay.cuny.edu

Financial Aid:

Mr. Ali Morgan
Room 3400N
(212) 237-8156
finaid@jjay.cuny.edu