Criminology and Criminal Justice, Ph.D.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to synthesize and critically evaluate existing research studies in a given area, including the indentification of any gaps in the literature.
- Students will be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs used in criminology and criminal justice.
- Students will be able to identify under what circumstances specific research designs are appropriate.
- Students will be able to design their own independent research study addressing a relevant question in criminology and criminal justice.
- Students will be able to summarize the basic premise of each major criminological theory.
- Students will be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of major criminological theories.
- Students will be able to identify linkages between criminological theories and criminal justice policies.
- Students will be able to synethesize and critically evaluate research studies from a particular theoretical perspective, including the identification of gaps in the literature.
- Students will understand core ideas and empirical evidence in the field concerning the development, implementation, analysis, and evalution of law and policy related to the criminal justice system.
- Students will be able to identify and apply appropriate methods for public policy analysis.
- Students will complete the Ph.D. degree within a reasonable period of time and will obtain a research and/or teaching position that is appropriate for the degree.
Admission to the Ph.D. Program
Applicants must possess a baccalaureate or masters degree from an accredited college or university. An undergraduate or graduate degree in criminology, criminal justice, or a related social science is desirable. In addition to meeting all admission requirements of the University’s Graduate School, applicants to the Ph.D. program must submit a university application through the Graduate School, including a written statement of research goals and objectives. The statement should outline the applicant’s interests in criminology and criminal justice and discuss plans for developing a research agenda during the doctoral program of study. Applicant must also submit scores obtained within the last five years on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), three letters of academic reference, official grade transcripts from all previous institutions, and a recent sole-authored writing sample or thesis chapter written during previous degree program..
Degree Requirements (36 Post-Masters Hours)
Requirements for the Ph.D. degree include the following:
Students Admitted with Master's (M.A./M.S.) or Law Degrees
Core Courses (15 Hours)
Must be completed with a grade of B or higher.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 706 | Advanced Quantitative Analysis for Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 810 | Crime, Law, and Public Policy | 3 |
| CRJU 814 | Research Design in Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 821 | Advanced Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CRJU 816 | Applied Quantitative Data Analysis | 3 |
| or CRJU 817 | Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis | |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Note: With approval of the graduate director, substantially equivalent courses from outside the department may be substituted for CRJU 706, CRJU 814, CRJU 816, and/or CRJU 817.
Electives (9 Hours)
All of which must be at the 700-level or above.
Qualifying Examination
All students admitted to the Ph.D. program in criminology and criminal justice must successfully complete a qualifying examination prior to formal admission to candidacy.
Comprehensive Examination
Each student must successfully complete both a written and an oral Ph.D. comprehensive examination after completing all required core courses (CRJU 706, CRJU 810, CRJU 814, and CRJU 821). Students are examined on their knowledge of research methods and design, law and policy issues related to criminology and criminal justice, and their understanding of important issues related to criminological theory. If a student fails the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, the student will be permitted to retake the exam one time.
Dissertation Preparation and Defense (12 Hours)
12 hours of dissertation credit must be successfully completed to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation is an original research project that advances scientific knowledge in the student’s chosen area of interest. The dissertation must be orally defended by the student before the student’s dissertation examining committee. The oral defense before the examining committee cannot take place until after the successful completion of the comprehensive examination.
Foreign Language
The foreign language requirement established by The Graduate School can be satisfied either by passing a reading proficiency examination in one of the foreign language areas or by completing the research methods sequence with a grade of B or higher in each course. English is accepted as satisfying this requirement for those students whose native language is not English.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 706 | Advanced Quantitative Analysis for Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 814 | Research Design in Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 816 | Applied Quantitative Data Analysis | 3 |
| or CRJU 817 | Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis | |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Residency Requirement
Doctoral residency is established by meeting one of the following two options: (1) two consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment (9 or more credit hours per semester without an assistantship and 6 or more credit hours per semester with an assistantship); or (2) an approved program-specific alternative.
Program Progress
Students who accumulate more than 6 hours of graduate credit below the grade of B will not be permitted to continue the program. No course may be repeated more than one time.
Audited Courses
Core courses may not be audited. Other courses may be audited, but students must remember that audited courses cannot be repeated for credit.
Transfer Credits
Students may transfer up to 6 credit hours from other programs and/or institutions provided they meet departmental requirements. Transfer credits may not be applied to core courses.
Students Admitted with a B.A./B.S. Degree Only
Master's-Level Course Work (24 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 701 | Survey of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 702 | Law and Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 703 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 705 | Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 741 | Criminology | 3 |
| Three additional elective courses | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
Note: No more than two elective courses (6 credit hours) below the 700 level may be applied to the program. Students who accumulate more than 6 hours of master’s-level graduate credit below the grade of B will not be permitted to continue the program. No course may be repeated more than one time.
Core Courses (15 Hours)
Must be completed with a grade of B or higher.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 706 | Advanced Quantitative Analysis for Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 810 | Crime, Law, and Public Policy | 3 |
| CRJU 814 | Research Design in Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 821 | Advanced Criminological Theory | 3 |
| CRJU 816 | Applied Quantitative Data Analysis | 3 |
| or CRJU 817 | Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis | |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Note: With approval of the graduate director, substantially equivalent courses from outside the department may be substituted for CRJU 706, CRJU 814, CRJU 816, and/or CRJU 817.
Electives (9 Hours)
Must be at the 700-level or above.
Qualifying Examination
All students admitted to the Ph.D. program in criminology and criminal justice must successfully complete a qualifying examination prior to formal admission to candidacy.
Comprehensive Examination
Each student must successfully complete both a written and an oral Ph.D. comprehensive examination after completing all required course work. Students are examined on their knowledge of research methods and design, law and policy issues related to criminology and criminal justice, and their understanding of important issues related to criminological theory. If a student fails the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, the student will be permitted to retake the exam one time.
Dissertation Preparation and Defense (12 Hours)
12 hours of dissertation credit must be successfully completed to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation is an original research project that advances scientific knowledge in the student’s chosen area of interest. The dissertation must be orally defended by the student before the student’s dissertation examining committee. The oral defense before the examining committee cannot take place until after the successful completion of the comprehensive examination.
Foreign Language
The foreign language requirement established by The Graduate School can be satisfied either by passing a reading proficiency examination in one of the foreign language areas or by completing the research methods sequence with a grade of B or higher in each course. English is accepted as satisfying this requirement for those students whose native language is not English.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRJU 706 | Advanced Quantitative Analysis for Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 814 | Research Design in Criminology and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJU 816 | Applied Quantitative Data Analysis | 3 |
| or CRJU 817 | Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis | |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Residency Requirement
Doctoral residency is established by meeting one of the following two options: (1) two consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment (9 or more credit hours per semester without an assistantship and 6 or more credit hours per semester with an assistantship); or (2) an approved program-specific alternative.
Program Progress
Each student must successfully complete both a written and an oral Ph.D. comprehensive examination after completing all required course work. Students will be examined on their knowledge of research methods and design, data analysis, law and policy issues related to criminology and criminal justice, and their understanding of important issues related to criminological theory. If a student fails the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, the student will be permitted to retake the exam one time.
Audited Courses
Core courses may not be audited. Other courses may be audited, but students must remember that audited courses cannot be repeated for credit.
Transfer Credits
Students may transfer up to 6 credit hours from other programs and/or institutions provided they meet departmental requirements. Transfer credits may not be applied to core courses.
Terminal Master's Degree
Students admitted to the Ph.D. program with only a baccalaureate degree and who complete all requirements for the Ph.D. other than the dissertation may be awarded a M.A. degree in criminology and criminal justice. Students choosing this option will not be permitted to complete the dissertation or be awarded the Ph.D. degree.