Criminology

Our criminology program has an interdisciplinary focus, drawing on exceptional faculty from across Penn’s departments and schools including those with appointments in business, law, medicine, nursing, psychology, psychiatry, sociology and statistics. We also offer joint degrees—for example, with Penn’s Law School and with the Fels Institute of Government.

Penn is the only one of the nation’s top research universities (and the only institution in the Ivy League) to offer a Master of Science program in Criminology. We offer students a solid, interdisciplinary academic grounding in criminology and provide the skills to analyze crime data, map crime patterns, and use research to make evidence-based decisions on how to address crime. This scientific grounding and the rich intellectual atmosphere at Penn also serves as a foundation for research-oriented students who wish to continue their education in Ph.D. programs in criminology and related social sciences. By blending theory and application, the program enhances career advancement for those who want to contribute to the public interest in government, criminal justice agencies, legal settings, and non-profit organizations and increases opportunities for those choosing to go to research universities.

There are 8 courses required for completion. Of these, 7 are required and one is an elective.

Required courses:

CRIM 600 - Proseminar in Criminology
CRIM 601 - Proseminar in Criminal Justice
CRIM 602 - Evidence-Based Sentencing
CRIM 604 - Academic and Applied Criminology
CRIM 634 - Evidence-Based Crime Prevention
CRIM 603 - Research Methods/Crime Analysis Project
SOCI 535 - Quantitative Methods I

Electives - Students must select one of the following electives:

CRIM 605 - Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Criminology
LAW 503 - Criminal Law
LAW 748 - Criminal Procedure: Prosecution and Adjudication

Applications to the Masters Program MUST include the following:Completed application forms, including a personal statement.Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.Three letters of reference, with at least two from former professors or individuals who can evaluate academic preparation.Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken in the last five years. LSAT scores may be accepted in lieu of GRE scores if the test was taken in the last five years.Individuals with an undergraduate degree from Penn are not required to submit GRE or LSAT scores in order to apply to the M.S. program. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 100

Financial Aid

Students in the Criminology Masters program are eligible for fellowships or assistantships on research grants as available. Limited financial aid is also available. However, admissions offers cannot be tied to full financial support.