PhD in Criminal Justice

Return to: College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The PhD in Criminal Justice program helps prepare students with the skills needed to pursue a range of criminal justice-related roles including leadership and education. Spanning topics such as homeland security, human services, and the role of technology in law enforcement, the curriculum examines contemporary criminal justice theory and practice while outlining some of the national and global issues facing the field today. Students can choose from six optional specializations to create a program of study that is tailored to their professional objectives.

Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students will be able to:

Evaluate the root causes of crime and its impact on criminal justice policies, practices, and procedures.
Evaluate management philosophies in managing human resources in criminal justice organizations.
Synthesize theory and research on the historical trends and current perspectives in criminal justice.
Apply data analysis techniques and research design methods to scholarly research in criminal justice.
Evaluate the role of criminal justice in advancing social justice and positive social change.

Program Types

General (Track I)—Track I is a program of study for students who have a master’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.

General (Track II)—Track II is a program of study for students who have a master’s degree in a discipline unrelated to the criminal justice field.

Specializations

Changing specializations may increase a student’s expected time-to-degree completion and cost.

General Program (below)
Emergency Management
Global Leadership
Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
Justice Administration (not a specialization option for the Track II program of study)
Law and Public Policy
Online Teaching in Higher Education
Public Management and Leadership

General Program (Track I)

Degree Requirements

Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
Introductory Courses (8 cr.)
Core Courses (40 cr.)
Electives/Specializations (15 cr.)
Completion of Doctoral Capstone
- Dissertation course

Curriculum

Introductory Courses (8 cr.)

Core Courses (40 cr.)

Electives/Specializations (15 cr.)

Select any three 5-credit-hour graduate courses from the PhD in Criminal Justice specialization courses.

Completion of the Doctoral Capstone

CRJS 9000 - Dissertation
*Students take this course for a minimum of 4 quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their Dissertation with final Chief Academic Officer (CAO) approval.

To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the Chief Academic Officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.

Course Sequence

Quarter	Course	Credits
1	CRJS 8002 - Foundations of Doctoral Study	3 cr.
1	CRJS 8350 - History and Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 1 face-to-face as soon as you begin your program; should be completed within 90 days of completing your Foundations course
2	CRJS 8351 - Policy and Analysis in Criminal Justice Systems	5 cr.
2	CRJS 8352 - Leadership: Putting Theory into Practice in Criminal Justice Administration	5 cr.
3	Elective/specialization course 1	5 cr.
3	RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods♦	5 cr.
4	Elective/specialization course 2	5 cr.
4	RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis♦	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 2 as face-to-face or virtual within 18 months of your start date or linked to your registration for or completion of your first research course.
5	Elective/specialization course 3	5 cr.
5	RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis♦	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 3 face-to-face by the end of your third year.
6	CRJS 8381 - Program Evaluation	5 cr.
6	CRJS 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 4 during your third year or beyond as: a face-to-face or virtual residency (RESI 8404) OR an approved professional conference (RESI 8900 based on program availability) OR a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your 9000 course. Contact Academic Advising to register.
7+	RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8460 - Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis	5 cr.
7+	CRJS 9000 - Dissertation *	5 cr. per term for a minimum of four terms; taken continuously until completion

*Students take this course for a minimum of 4 quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their Dissertation with final Chief Academic Officer (CAO) approval.

To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the Chief Academic Officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.

General Program (Track II)

Degree Requirements

Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
Introductory Courses (8 cr.)
Core Courses (55 cr.)
Completion of Doctoral Capstone
- Dissertation course
Four residencies

Curriculum

Introductory Courses (8 cr.)

Core Courses (55 cr.)

Specialization Courses (15 cr.)

Select any three 5-credit-hour graduate courses from the PhD in Criminal Justice specialization courses.

Residency Requirements

Complete Residency 1 face-to-face as soon as you begin your program; should be completed within 90 days of completing your Foundations course.
Complete Residency 2 as face-to-face or virtual within 18 months of your start date or linked to your registration for or completion of your first research course.
Complete Residency 3 face-to-face by the end of your third year.
Complete Residency 4 during your third year or beyond as:
a face-to-face or virtual residency (RESI 8404) OR an approved professional conference (RESI 8900 based on program availability) OR a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your 9000 course. Contact Academic Advising to register.
Optional: Complete a PhD Dissertation Intensive retreat (DRWI 8500) face-to-face during your dissertation. Contact Academic Advising to register.

Completion of the Doctoral Capstone

CRJS 9000 - Dissertation
Students take this course for a minimum of 4 quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their Dissertation with final Chief Academic Officer (CAO) approval.

To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the Chief Academic Officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.

Course Sequence

Quarter	Course	Credits
1	CRJS 8002 - Foundations of Doctoral Study	3 cr.
1	CRJS 8350 - History and Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 1 face-to-face as soon as you begin your program; should be completed within 90 days of completing your Foundations course.
2	CRJS 8351 - Policy and Analysis in Criminal Justice Systems	5 cr.
2	CRJS 8352 - Leadership: Putting Theory into Practice in Criminal Justice Administration	5 cr.
3	Elective/specialization course 1	5 cr.
3	RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods♦	5 cr.
4	Elective/specialization course 2	5 cr.
4	RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis♦	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 2 as face-to-face or virtual within 18 months of your start date or linked to your registration for or completion of your first research course.
5	Elective/specialization course 3	5 cr.
5	RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis♦	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 3 face-to-face by the end of your third year.
6	CRJS 8381 - Program Evaluation	5 cr.
6	CRJS 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus	5 cr.
	Complete Residency 4 during your third year or beyond as: a face-to-face or virtual residency (RESI 8404) OR an approved professional conference (RESI 8900 based on program availability) OR a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your 9000 course. Contact Academic Advising to register.
7+	RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8460 - Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis	5 cr.
7+	CRJS 9000 - Dissertation *	5 cr. per term for a minimum of four terms; taken continuously until completion
	Optional: Complete a PhD Dissertation Intensive retreat (DRWI 8500) face-to-face during your dissertation. Contact Academic Advising to register.

*Students take this course for a minimum of four terms and are continuously enrolled until completion of their Doctoral Study with final Chief Academic Officer (CAO) approval.

To complete a doctoral study, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the Chief Academic Officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.

Doctoral Writing Assessment

Students who start their doctoral program at Walden University in 2016 will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment on a rolling basis. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level. For more information, click here.

8-Year Maximum Timeframe

Students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements [https://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=158&navoid=52191]. Students may petition to extend the 8-year maximum timeframe, but an extension is not guaranteed.

Note on Licensure

Walden’s PhD in Criminal Justice program is not considered a Professional Peace Officer Education Program for the state of Minnesota and is not designed or intended to prepare graduates for licensure as a peace officer, police officer, or other law enforcement officer in any state.

Program Data

Walden is committed to providing the information you need to make an informed decision about where you pursue your education. Find detailed information for the PhD in Criminal Justice program relating to the types of occupations this program may lead to, completion rate, program costs, and median loan debt of students who have graduated from this program. This information will vary depending on whether you (1) hold a master’s degree in criminal justice or related field or (2) hold a master’s degree in a discipline unrelated to criminal justice.