Post-Baccalaureate Criminal Justice Administration Certificate

Overview
Take your career in criminal justice to the next level with Xavier University's 100% online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration

Xavier University’s graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration is designed for working professionals ready to transition into leadership roles. This 9 credit hour graduate certificate is grounded in the real-world applications of management, human resources and accounting in contemporary prisons, probation, parole and the juvenile justice system. 

Admission

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Applicants are notified of the admission decision as soon as possible.

Applicants to the Online Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration must meet the following requirements:

  • Earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college
  • Have 3 years of experience in the field of criminal justice
  • GPA Requirements are:
    • 3.0 out of 4.0 in the last two years of undergraduate matriculation; or,
    • 2.7 cumulative GPA in undergraduate matriculation; or,
    • 2.5 cumulative in the last 2 years of undergraduate matriculation with 5 years of work experience in a criminal justice or related field.
  • Free Online Application
  • Official Transcript
    • One official transcript directly from all colleges or universities that you have attended for any undergraduate and graduate course work. Applicants must have a degree from a regionally accredited university. Send transcripts to:
      • Xavier University
        ATTN: Admission Processing Center
        3800 Victory Parkway
        Cincinnati, OH 45207-5131
      • For electronic transcripts, send to:
        xuadmit@xavier.edu
  • 2 letters of recommendation
    • 2 letters of recommendation from professional references who are able to assess your potential for success in this program. 
  • Test Scores (if needed)
    • Applicants not meeting the GPA requirements can submit official test scores for the GRE, MAT or LSAT.
      • GRE (Graduate Record Exam): The minimum score requirements is 143 on the verbal section and 3.0 of the analytical section
      • MAT (Miller Analogies Test): The minimum scoring requirement for the MAT is 390
      • LSAT (Law School Admission Test): The minimum scoring requirement for the LSAT is 138
    • Call (513) 745-3360 or email xuadmit@xavier.edu to request a MAT or GRE test booklet. If you have previously taken the GRE and want to have your scores sent to Xavier, please contact GRE at 888 GRE-SCORE. Visit the LSAT website for more information.

Due to state regulations regarding the delivery of distance education, as well as requirements of each individual state board of nursing, Xavier is not currently able to accept applications from all states into all of its online programs.

View the complete list of approved states on the State Authorization page. Students must reside and complete practicum hours in approved states only.

Xavier welcomes students from outside the United States to enroll in its online programs. However, some countries do not formally recognize foreign online degrees. This may have implications for enrolling in subsequent degree programs or for securing employment requiring these credentials. It is students’ responsibility to determine whether the online degree will be recognized in their country of residence or in any country in which they plan to work.

Additionally, students should inquire in their country of residence how the collection of student data may be used and whether they will be subject to additional withholding taxes in addition to the cost of tuition.

  • All international students are strongly encouraged to submit an official third-party course-by-course evaluation of their high school and/or college transcripts from an international credential evaluation service accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
  • International students must pass either the TOEFL or IELTS exam if English is your second language.
  • International students may have additional application requirements. Find more information on the International Admission page. 

Note: International students in the U.S. cannot enroll in an online degree program to fulfill the legal requirement for an F-1 or J-1 visa.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition

  • MS..............$739

Fees

  • Student ID Fee..............$15
  • Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking full-time..............$15 (per semester)
  • Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking part-time..............$10 (per semester)
The amounts listed are for the 2026-2027 academic year, and include classes from Fall 2026 through Summer 2027. Tuition cost is per credit hour unless otherwise stated.
For the full, official listing, please visit xavier.edu/costs.
Xavier University reserves the right to correct any computational or clerical errors.
100%
Online Format
9
Credit Hours

Why Choose Xavier Online?

Gain the administrative knowledge and ethical foundation required to lead in the field of criminal justice.

100% Online Flexibility

This program was designed for busy professionals. Earn your credentials without stepping away from your career.

Jesuit Values

Experience an education rooted in Cura Personalis (care for the whole person) and a commitment to changing the world for the better.

Small Classes, Big Impact

Benefit from personalized attention from faculty who are active practitioners in the field.

Curriculum (9 credit hours)

Our 9 credit hour Criminal Justice Administration Certificate is designed to fit the schedule of working professionals while ensuring you meet the highest academic standards.
This course presents organizational and management theories and practices within criminal justice settings. Management styles, management objectives, total quality management and other course topics are applied to issues in contemporary prisons, probation, parole and juvenile justice. Legal and ethical considerations are applied to actual practice situations.
This course examines the role of Human Resource Manager in strategic planning and decision making within their organizations.

This course introduces the basic concepts and techniques of fund accounting and the financial reporting for governmental and not-for-profit entities.

Additional course coverage includes identifying and applying appropriate accounting and reporting standards for government and private not-for-profit organizations, preparing fund basis and government-wide statements for state and local governments, preparing financial statements for private not-for-profit organizations, using nonfinancial performance measures to evaluate governmental and not-for-profit entities and describing auditing requirements for these entities.

Special attention will also be paid to forensic accounting and auditing, with emphasis on the audit of financial statements, and methods of examination relating to prevention and detection of fraud.

Did You Know?
Credits earned in this certificate program may be applied directly toward a Master of Science in Criminal Justice at Xavier, giving you a head start on a full graduate degree.
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