The PhD in Juvenile Justice is built for scholars who want to study how societies respond to youth offending — the developmental theory behind adolescent risk-taking, the comparative structure of juvenile courts across jurisdictions, and the reform movements that have reshaped youth justice policy over time. Students work toward a dissertation that contributes original evidence on the effectiveness and fairness of youth justice systems.
This is a research-intensive path for those pursuing original scholarly contributions to youth justice policy, not an applied credential for practicing juvenile probation or corrections staff. Graduates commonly move into juvenile justice research faculty positions, policy institute roles, and program evaluation work for agencies serving justice-involved youth.
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Thesis Courses
3 Courses
PHD 910Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Integrated training in qualitative and quantitative techniques used to design rigorous, mixed-methods doctoral research.
- Comparing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research paradigms
- Designing data collection instruments for interviews, surveys, and archival sources
- Selecting appropriate analytic techniques for different research questions
PHD 911Preparing a Thesis
Structured guidance on planning, organizing, and drafting a doctoral thesis from initial concept to committee-ready proposal.
- Framing a researchable problem statement and set of guiding questions
- Structuring thesis chapters and building an argument across chapters
- Meeting institutional formatting, citation, and submission standards
PHD 912Econometrics
Application of econometric modeling techniques to test hypotheses and analyze relationships within social science data.
- Building and interpreting regression-based econometric models
- Diagnosing and correcting for bias, endogeneity, and model misspecification
- Applying econometric software tools to real-world datasets
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Research Courses
5 Courses
ST 913Preparatory Thesis I
First stage of thesis preparation focused on identifying a viable research problem and framing an initial proposal.
- Scanning the literature to identify gaps and research opportunities
- Drafting a preliminary problem statement and research questions
- Outlining a feasible scope and timeline for the thesis project
ST 914Preparatory Thesis II
Second stage of thesis preparation centered on building a comprehensive review of the existing scholarly literature.
- Systematically searching and organizing relevant scholarly sources
- Synthesizing prior findings into a coherent literature review
- Positioning the proposed study within existing theoretical debates
ST 915Preparatory Thesis III
Third stage of thesis preparation dedicated to designing the study's methodology and analytic approach.
- Selecting a research design suited to the study's questions
- Specifying data sources, sampling strategy, and measurement instruments
- Addressing validity, reliability, and ethical considerations
ST 916Preparatory Thesis IV
Fourth stage of thesis preparation covering the planning and execution of data collection procedures.
- Finalizing data collection protocols and instruments
- Coordinating access to research sites, records, or participants
- Managing and organizing collected data for analysis
ST 917Preparatory Thesis V
Fifth stage of thesis preparation focused on finalizing the proposal and preparing for committee defense.
- Integrating findings from prior stages into a unified proposal
- Rehearsing responses to anticipated committee questions
- Refining the proposal document for formal defense submission
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Dissertation Courses
1 Courses
T 918Dissertation
Independent, faculty-supervised completion of the doctoral dissertation from data analysis through final defense.
- Conducting independent data analysis and interpreting results
- Writing and revising the full dissertation manuscript
- Defending the completed dissertation before the faculty 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.
Explore Financial Aid
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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