Criminology and Social Justice, PhD

Degree requirements

Each year, prior to course registration, the order and timing of course offerings will be released by the faculty and communicated to students.

Courses offered by other faculties at the university or at other institutions can only be taken for credit if first approved by the graduate program director.

To be eligible for the PhD in Criminology and Social Justice, students must successfully complete 55 credit hours. Students must complete the following courses: either SSCI 5065G - Advanced Qualitative Methods 2  or SSCI 5015G - Data Analysis 2 - Graduate ; one course in Criminological Theory; one course in the Criminal Justice System; one Special Topics course; and SSCI 6940G - Professional Development and Teaching in the Social Sciences . Typically, the Professional Development and Teaching course will be taken in the student’s third year. In addition, students must enroll in SSCI 6920G - Professional Seminar  for the first three years and in SSCI 6900G - PhD Research  every year that they are in the program. Students must complete SSCI 6930G - PhD Proposal and Candidacy Exam  within 18 months of admission; it consists of a written proposal and an oral exam. Students must pass comprehensive examinations that will typically be taken near the conclusion of the second year (SSCI 6950G - Comprehensive Examinations ). At the conclusion of the program, students must successfully write and defend their thesis (SSCI 6910G - PhD Thesis ).

Students who have not previously taken equivalent coursework may be required to take additional courses at the university.