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Graduate Certificate in
Global Justice and Security

Program summary

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.

Application deadline

Apply by July 31 to start August 21

Credits and costs

9 Credits $1,007 per credit

Global Justice and Security Certificate — 100% Online

Global criminal activity has increased to unprecedented levels over the last three decades, and transnational organized crime groups have reaped the benefits of the ability to operate beyond national borders. In response, international security organizations and national criminal justice agencies have intensified their collaborative effort to stop and prevent transnational criminal activities around the world.

Would you like to assist in these enforcement efforts? Through Penn State World Campus, you can complete this online certificate program in one year and gain an understanding of:

  • how international criminal justice organizations work
  • police organizations and how they handle global terrorism
  • transnational crime, including counterfeit goods and firearm, human, and drug trafficking

Who Should Apply?

This certificate program is open to candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree. Designed mainly for working professionals, Penn State’s online Graduate Certificate in Global Justice and Security program is ideal for both domestic and international criminal justice practitioners who desire to expand their knowledge and skills in global justice and security issues to advance their careers in international security.

Online Education at Penn State

Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education and more than two decades of experience in online learning. We create an online learning environment that offers you the same quality education our residential students experience in a face-to-face setting. Learn more about Penn State World Campus.

Information for Military and Veterans

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

Courses

The 9-credit Graduate Certificate in Global Justice and Security prepares leaders to identify and mitigate international and transnational crime and global terrorism. The credits earned in this certificate can be rolled into the Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, if you apply and are accepted into the program.

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.

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.

Costs and Financial Aid

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.

2022–23 Academic Year Rates

How many credits do you plan to take per semester? Cost
11 or fewer $1,007 per credit
12 or more $12,082 per semester

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

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.

How to Apply

Deadlines and Important Dates

We must receive your completed degree application, including all application materials, by the following deadlines:

  • Fall DeadlineApply by July 31 to start August 21
  • Spring DeadlineApply by December 11 to start January 8
  • Summer DeadlineApply by March 31, 2024, to start May 13, 2024

Decisions will follow shortly after these semester deadlines.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the 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.

What You Need

Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. 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. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.

GPA and Test Scores — Postsecondary (undergraduate), junior/senior (last two years) GPA is required.

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 Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.

Start Your Application

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.

Begin the graduate school application

Choose Enrollment Type: "Certificate Admission"

Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus

Choose "Global Justice and Security (GLISSC_GCT)" as the certificate

Checking Your Status

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

Technical Requirements

Review the technical requirements for this degree program.

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 July 31 to start August 21. How to Apply

Start or Advance Your Career

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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

Student having a virtual meeting on a laptop with a career counselor

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 

A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree

A figure standing halfway up a set of stairs leading towards a graduation cap

Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.

Degree Program Related to This Certificate

Credits earned for this certificate can be applied to the following Penn State World Campus degree program, if you apply and are admitted to the program:

Learn to evaluate criminal justice policies and build your knowledge of the criminal justice system and criminal behavior. This online master's degree program can help you stand out among your peers in a field where educated professionals are in increasingly high demand.

Learn more about the Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration  

Contact Us

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

World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]

Faculty

  • Jennifer Gibbs

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

    Degree
    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

    • Degree
      Ph.D., Criminology, Sam Houston State University
    • Degree
      M.A., Criminal Justice, Penn State
    • Degree
      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

    Degree
    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

    Degree
    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 July 31 to start August 21. How to Apply