This general Doctorate in Criminal Justice is built for senior leaders working across courts, corrections, law enforcement, or policy agencies who want to drive system-wide reform using applied research rather than pursue a purely academic track. Coursework covers organizational leadership, criminal justice policy analysis, and the practical application of research to agency-level decision-making.
Instead of a traditional dissertation aimed at an academic audience, you'll complete an applied capstone project that tackles a genuine reform challenge inside your own agency or jurisdiction, using doctoral research methods to build a plan your leadership can actually implement. Graduates take on roles such as agency director, criminal justice policy administrator, or executive-level systems reform lead.
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Thesis Courses
3 Courses
PHD 910Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Building fluency in both qualitative and quantitative approaches to doctoral-level inquiry.
- Comparing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods traditions
- Selecting instruments and analytic techniques suited to a research question
- Evaluating validity, reliability, and rigor across methodological approaches
PHD 911Preparing a Thesis
Structuring and drafting the components of a doctoral thesis before formal proposal.
- Organizing a thesis into coherent, defensible chapters
- Framing a research problem and articulating its significance
- Developing a working thesis statement and chapter outline
PHD 912Econometrics
Applying econometric modeling techniques to analyze relationships within research data.
- Building and interpreting regression-based models
- Testing assumptions and diagnosing model specification issues
- Applying econometric findings to real-world policy and practice questions
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Research Courses
5 Courses
ST 913Preparatory Thesis I
Framing the initial research proposal and identifying a viable dissertation topic.
- Narrowing a broad interest into a researchable problem statement
- Drafting preliminary research questions and objectives
- Presenting an initial proposal for committee feedback
ST 914Preparatory Thesis II
Conducting a comprehensive literature review to situate the proposed research.
- Synthesizing existing scholarship relevant to the research topic
- Identifying gaps the proposed dissertation will address
- Building a theoretical or conceptual framework from prior literature
ST 915Preparatory Thesis III
Designing the methodology that will guide the dissertation's data collection and analysis.
- Selecting a research design aligned with the study's questions
- Specifying sampling, instrumentation, and analytic procedures
- Addressing validity, ethics, and institutional review requirements
ST 916Preparatory Thesis IV
Planning the practical logistics of collecting and managing dissertation data.
- Developing data collection protocols and timelines
- Coordinating access to research sites, records, or participants
- Preparing data management and analysis workflows
ST 917Preparatory Thesis V
Finalizing the dissertation proposal and preparing to defend it before a committee.
- Integrating prior preparatory work into a complete proposal document
- Anticipating and rehearsing responses to committee questions
- Securing formal committee approval to proceed to dissertation research
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Dissertation Courses
1 Courses
T 918Dissertation
Conducting original doctoral research and producing a completed, defended dissertation.
- Executing the approved research design and collecting data
- Analyzing findings and drafting the full dissertation manuscript
- Defending the completed dissertation before the doctoral committee
$84,000
Total Program Cost
Fees are billed per term and are subject to change. Financial aid, scholarships, and flexible payment plans are available to students who qualify.
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Admission requires Master's Degree.
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Submit Your Application
Complete the online application with your basic and academic details.
An admissions advisor reviews your application and any transfer credit.
Receive your decision, complete enrollment, and start your first term.
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