Doctor of Philosophy

The criminal justice doctoral program is designed to provide students with a command of criminological theory, research methods, and criminal justice policy; as well as in-depth knowledge in areas of specialization within criminology and/or criminal justice. The doctoral degree is awarded based on evidence that the candidate has achieved a high level of proficiency in independent scholarship and research. This is assessed through course grades, the comprehensive exam, the production of a publishable quality empirical paper, and successful defense of the dissertation.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The doctoral program in criminal justice requires students to complete a minimum of 60 credits towards the degree, including 42 hours of coursework and 18 hours of dissertation research. All requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy should be completed within five (5) years, and must be completed within seven (7) years of the first matriculation in the criminal justice Ph.D. program.

As part of their doctoral education, students are expected to regularly participate in professional development activities, including Professional Development Seminars, SCJ Colloquia, Distinguished Speaker Series, meeting with job candidates and attending their presentations, and attendance/presentation at professional conferences such as the American Society of Criminology Annual Meetings.
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Specific Credit Requirements for the Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Include:

  1. A minimum of 60 credits for the doctorate.
  2. A minimum of 42 credits of coursework, including 7 required 3-credit courses (described below) and 21 hours of electives.
  3. A minimum of 18 credits in dissertation research taken toward the degree.
  4. Grades of a B or better in all required courses. A grade of less than a B in a required course indicates an academic deficiency. Any required course in which the student earns less than a B must be repeated until a B grade is earned.
  5. No more than 6 credits with a grade of C+ or lower are allowed in meeting the requirements for the degree; these cannot be in a required course.
  6. The overall GPA for coursework in the program must be a 3.2 or better.
  7. No credits from undergraduate courses may be used for the doctoral degree.
  8. Up to 40% of coursework, not research credits, may be transferred from other graduate degree-granting institutions.
  9. A full-time, one-year residency (9 credits per semester for the first two semesters) is required for the first year of the program. After the first year, students may enroll part or full time for the remainder of the program.
  10. Courses taken to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree in Criminal Justice at Rutgers may, with approval, be counted toward the doctorate.
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Coursework

Ph.D. students take seven required courses (21 credits). The required courses include a two-semester theory sequence (foundations and contemporary); a two-semester statistics sequence (introductory and intermediate), research methods, policy, and one additional advanced statistics or methods course. In addition to the required courses, students must complete seven elective courses (21 credits), for a total of 42 credits of coursework toward the degree.

REQUIRED COURSES (21 Credits)
  • 27:202:511 Foundations of Criminological Theory
  • 27:202:518 Contemporary Criminological Theory
  • 27:202:521 Criminal Justice Policy
  • 27:202:542 Introductory Statistics
  • 27:202:543 Intermediate Statistics
  • 27:202:640 Research Methods
One of the Following (Advanced Research Requirement)
  • 27:202:641 Advanced Statistics
  • 27:202:647 Research Design for Causal Inference
  • 27:202:648 Qualitative Research Methods
Elective Courses (21 Credits)
  • Seven (7) Elective Courses

The additional elective coursework is to be distributed among the university’s offerings. Only graduate-level courses may be included. No more than12 credits may be earned at institutions other than Rutgers. Most coursework is expected to be taken in the School of Criminal Justice, augmented and enriched through the graduate offerings in other programs or units. Students who wish to take credits within other academic units at Rutgers should seek approval from the Ph. Program Director, contact the department offering the course(s) to determine whether they accept students from other units. When possible, electives should be selected to create a concentration in one or more areas of study.

Dissertation Research (18 Credits)

  • 26:202:701, 702, 703, 704 Dissertation Research
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Coursework Sequence

Coursework must be completed in the following sequence, except with approval:

Year 1 – Fall Semester
Foundations of Criminological Theory
Criminal Justice Policy
Introductory Statistics

Year 1 – Spring Semester
Contemporary Criminological Theory
Research Methods
Intermediate Statistics

Year 2 – Fall/Spring Semesters
Advanced Research or Statistics Electives

Year 3 – Fall Semester
Electives, completion of coursework
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Graduation Requirements

It is the responsibility of the student to complete all requirements for graduation by the scheduled dates listed below. Each student should consult with the graduate director of his or her program and with the Office of Academic Programs and Student Services with respect to the completion of the requirements for graduation. Conferral of degrees and diplomas occurs once a year at the annual spring commencement. Students who file the applications and complete all other requirements for the degree by the announced October or January dates will have a diploma dated for the respective month, although they will not receive it until the following spring. To provide proof that they have earned a degree before commencement, students may file a written request for a temporary certificate of completion with the Office of Academic Programs and Student Services. The school withholds diplomas from any student who is under financial obligation to the university.

Click here for doctoral candidate information

The electronic diploma application can be accessed at: https://grad.admissions.rutgers.edu/Diploma/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDiploma

Diploma DateApplication Deadline
January DegreeNovember 1
May DegreeMarch 1
October DegreeAugust 1

Commencement occurs in May annually. For more information, visit http://www.newark.rutgers.edu/commencement.
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Ph.D. Program Learning Goals

Graduates of the Ph.D. program in Criminal Justice will be prepared to make significant contributions to the understanding and study of crime and justice. Students will be prepared to pursue careers in academia as well as at other research organizations that focus on the study of crime and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. Graduates of the program will be prepared to conduct independent, original research and to produce high-quality scholarship.

In preparation for criminological research careers, students in the program will receive rigorous training in and develop a sophisticated knowledge of:

Learning Goal 1: Students will demonstrate foundational knowledge of the theories, policies, and research methodologies of criminology and criminal justice

Learning Goal 2: Students will generate original contributions to research in criminology and criminal justice

Learning Goal 3: Students will exhibit professional socialization required for a career in criminology and criminal justice
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Ph.D. Academic Online Forms and Guidelines