Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice

University of Central Florida

The Doctoral Program in Criminal Justice is a post-master's program of study and research. The program is composed of a substantive core focused on criminal justice theory and institutions, a research methods core that prepares social scientists in the scientific method and social-science statistics, and a selection of substantive criminal justice concentrations (policing, corrections, and juvenile justice). The program focuses on criminal justice and takes advantage of the city of Orlando and surrounding cities and counties to examine criminal justice issues from multiple angles and levels. The program is intended to serve many purposes. Chief among them are: Prepare disciplinary stewards capable of advancing scholarship in criminal justice Prepare a qualified workforce to assume criminal justice instructional responsibilities in postsecondary institutions Prepare analysts competent to staff federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies and Improve safety and justice in communities through research partnerships with neighborhood, city, county and state agencies and associations. Students completing the program will be well prepared to pursue academic positions in universities, research positions in criminal justice agencies, and consultancies in program evaluation and needs assessment. The Doctoral Program in Criminal Justice is a 57-credit-hour, post-master's program of study and research. Substantive emphasis is placed on core coursework in criminal justice theory and institutions, and on in-depth concentrations in policing, corrections, or juvenile justice. Students complete a minimum of 42 credit hours of doctoral coursework and 15 credit hours of dissertation research.