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Graduate Certificate inGlobal Justice and Security

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Build the knowledge and skill base needed to succeed in the international security field. Courses from the 9-credit Graduate Certificate in Global Justice and Security can be applied to a Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Apply by August 1 to start August 25

9 Credits$1,027 per credit

Stackable Credential

Gain job-ready skills and update your résumé

Gain Skills to Help Protect Our Country and the World

  • Help stop and prevent transnational criminal activities around the world.

  • Understand how international criminal justice organizations work and how police organizations handle global terrorism.

  • Identify and mitigate international and transnational crime and global terrorism.

  • Join the fight against transnational crime, including counterfeit goods and firearm, human, and drug trafficking.

In the 9-credit Graduate Certificate in Global Justice and Security, you will study current global justice and security issues as well as international efforts to combat global crime.

Required Courses (9 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    This course studies how police organizations from different countries communicate, cooperate, and collaborate with each other in order to respond to global crime threats.

  • 3
    credits

    This course is about transnational crime activities happening around the world.

  • 3
    credits

    This course aims to understand the role of law enforcement in counterterrorism by analyzing the challenges, issues, and difficulties in policing global terrorism.

Using Stackable Certificate Credits toward a Master’s Degree

As part of the stackable pathway, the courses required for this 9-credit certificate may also be applied to the Penn State Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration (CJPA) degree, if you apply and are accepted into the program. The 9 credits from this certificate may satisfy the 9-credit elective requirement for the degree. You should plan to work closely with an adviser to determine the appropriate sequence of courses to match your education goals.

Courses may also apply to other degree programs. Students should contact their adviser to discuss transfer credit policies and application fees and details.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

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You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.

Job Titles Related to This Degree

Graduates can be well-qualified for rewarding work in international security, as well as in government, private, and nonprofit positions focused on global justice and security issues. As a graduate with this certificate, you could find work in such occupations as:

  • international security officer
  • international security advisor
  • international security specialist
  • international security manager

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

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From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

  • Opportunities to connect with employers
  • Career counselor/coach support
  • Occupation and salary information
  • Internships
  • Graduate school resources 

Ready to Learn More?

Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State graduate certificate?

Apply by August 1 to start August 25. How to Apply 

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Graduate Tuition

Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 Semesters
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?Cost
11 or fewer$1,027 per credit
12 or more$12,325 per semester

2025–26 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 Semesters
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?Cost
11 or fewer$1,037 per credit
12 or more$12,448 per semester

Paying for Your Certificate

Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.

Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.

Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.

Military Benefits

Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

Additional Cost of Attendance Details

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:

Technical Requirements

Review the technical requirements for this program.

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This certificate can serve as a stand-alone credential and as a step on your journey toward the Penn State Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration. Stackable credentials recognize your new skills and knowledge while you work toward your master's degree.

Earning graduate certificates from Penn State World Campus is a great way to gain new skills and quickly add valuable credentials to your résumé.

This graduate certificate’s courses satisfy requirements toward the following degree:

This master's degree is designed for those who want to address pressing criminal justice issues facing society. Learn to evaluate the societal workings that create crime, assess equity in policy enforcement, and propose data-driven and evidence-based solutions that benefit the greater society.

Learn more

Who Should Apply?

This program is designed for working professionals and is ideal for both domestic and international criminal justice practitioners. If you want to expand your knowledge and skills in global justice and security issues or advance your career in international security, this may be the program for you.

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Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

Our online courses typically follow a 12- to 15-week semester cycle, and there are three semesters per year (spring, summer, and fall). If you plan to take a heavy course load, you should expect your course work to be your primary focus and discuss your schedule with your academic adviser. 

To Finish Your Certificate in Less than a Year

  • Take 1–2 courses each semester

To Finish Your Certificate in One Year

  • Take 1 course each semester

Timelines may vary based on course availability.

 

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

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Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

Information for Military and Veterans

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Are you a member of the military, a veteran, or a military spouse? Please visit our military website for additional information regarding financial aid, transfer credits, and application instructions.

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Apply by August 1 to start August 25

Application Instructions

Deadlines and Important Dates

Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.

  • Fall Deadline

    Apply by August 1 to start August 25

  • Spring Deadline

    Apply by December 1 to start January 12

  • Summer Deadline

    Apply by May 1, 2026, to start May 18, 2026

Steps to Apply

  1. For admission to the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

    GPA — Postsecondary (undergraduate), junior/senior (last two years) GPA is required. All applicants are expected to have earned a junior/senior grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

     Students who do not have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the quality of their overall application. Work experience will be considered for applicants who have more than two years of experience in a related field.

  2. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application

    Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. If you are a Penn State alum, you do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history.

    Test Scores — GRE or GMAT scores are NOT required for admission.

    English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Fox Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.

  3. To begin the online application, you will need a Penn State account.

    Create a New Penn State Account

    If you have any problems during this process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].

    Please note: Former Penn State students may not need to complete the admissions application or create a new Penn State account. Please visit our Returning Students page for instructions.

  4. Associated programs in the criminal justice policy and administration stack:

    Certificates

    • Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration and Procedure
    • Graduate Certificate in Criminological Theory and Research
    • Graduate Certificate in Global Justice and Security
    • Graduate Certificate in Impacts on Victims and Offenders

    Degree

    • Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration

    If you begin with a certificate and are interested in pursuing the Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, work with your adviser while completing your first certificate to determine which program to apply to next.

    Up to 15 credits earned in any of these certificate programs may be transferred to the Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit.

  5. You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.

    • Choose Enrollment Type: "Certificate Admission"
    • Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus

    Checking Your Status 
    You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form. 

  6. 6. Complete the application.

    Penn State Fox Graduate School Application

Admissions Help

If you have questions about the admissions process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].

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Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Global Justice and Security, please contact:

Ahmet Guler, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology
[email protected]

This program is offered in partnership with the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts Department of Sociology and Criminology and the Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs.

These are the same faculty members who teach students in our Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration. Furthermore, a Penn State degree is renowned throughout the industry, giving you a recognized and respected credential to add to your résumé. 

Faculty

  • Jennifer Gibbs

    • Ph.D., Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland, College Park
    • Certificate, University Teaching and Learning, University of Maryland, College Park
    • M.S., Criminal Justice Administration, Niagara University
    • B.A., Psychology, Keuka College

    Dr. Jennifer Gibbs' research interests focus on policing topics, including violence against police, public attitudes toward police, diversity in recruitment and retention, and terrorism. Her work on social distance and attitudes toward police, co-authored with Dr. Jonathan Lee, received recognition in the 2016 Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence. At Penn State World Campus, Dr. Gibbs typically teaches courses on policing (CRIMJ 210: Policing in America; CRIMJ 408: Police Administration) and ethics (CRIMJ 465: Ethics in Criminal Justice).

  • Ahmet Guler

    Ph.D., Public Administration and Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany

    Dr. Ahmet Guler, associate teaching professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Penn State, is director of graduate studies in criminal justice policy and administration. His research focuses on criminal justice policy, policing, terrorism, criminal justice reform, information technology in criminal justice, and transnational crime.

  • Jonathan Lee

    • Ph.D., Criminology, Sam Houston State University
    • M.A., Criminal Justice, Penn State
    • B.A., Economics, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

    Dr. Jonathan Lee is an associate professor of criminal justice at Penn State Harrisburg's School of Public Affairs. He specializes in quantitative research on sociology and psychology of deviance, police-public relations, and police decision-making. He is associate editor of International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, a consultant to Dauphin County DA's Office and police agencies, and principal investigator of criminal justice projects funded by U.S. Department of Justice.

  • Emily R. Strohacker

    Ph.D., Sociology, University of Central Florida

    Dr. Emily Strohacker joined the School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg in August 2017 as an assistant professor of criminal justice. Her areas of research interest include criminology, deviance, and victimology, specifically in the areas of cyber victimization and sexual victimization. She regularly teaches courses in victimology, research methods, and criminology. Her published works have appeared in Crime & Delinquency, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, and Police Quarterly.

  • Jeffrey T. Ulmer

    Ph.D., Sociology, Penn State

    Dr. Jeffery T. Ulmer is a professor of sociology and criminology at Penn State, and serves as associate department head. His work spans such topics as courts, criminal case processing, sentencing, and corrections, as well as criminological theory, religion and crime, and violent crime. 

Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State graduate certificate?

Apply by August 1 to start August 25. How to Apply 

Explore Other Academic Programs

Criminal Justice Administration and ProcedureGraduate Certificate
Impacts on Victims and OffendersGraduate Certificate
Criminological Theory and ResearchGraduate Certificate
Criminal Justice Policy and AdministrationMaster of Professional Studies