Nov 24, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Doctor of Philosophy - Criminology and Criminal Justice

Plan Description

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Ph.D. provides an interdisciplinary, research-oriented perspective for advanced understanding of the nature and causes of crime, consequences of crime and crime control, and society’s reaction to these phenomena. Students are trained to conduct research and teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels in a wide range of criminal justice areas.  In addition, students are trained to assume advanced administrative positions in criminal justice agencies, related non-profit agencies, public policy institutes, or the private sector.​

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.
 

Plan Admissions

See Plan Admissions requirements below:

Admissions 1: Post-Bachelor’s

Admissions 2: Post-Master’s

Admissions 1: Post-Bachelor’s

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with at least 18 credits of criminal justice-related courses
  2. A final minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale - competitive GPAs are expected to be 3.5 or higher
  3. Submission of Verbal, Quantitative, and Writing Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores - competitive minimum GRE scores are 153 for Quantitative Reasoning, 155 for Verbal Reasoning, and 4.5 for Analytical Writing
  4. Three letters of recommendation that address the applicant’s character, work ethic, and potential to successfully complete a doctoral program - letters from faculty or academic supervisors are preferred
  5. One academic writing sample
  6. A personal statement of approximately 500 to 1,000 words describing personal and academic background, research interests, professional goals, a primary faculty member with whom the applicant wishes to work, and any other factors that suggest the applicant will perform well in the program
  7. A personal interview with program faculty members if selected as a finalist
  8. The admissions process requires submitting all information and materials through the UNLV Graduate College Online Application. See the Criminal Justice Department website for more details.
  9. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Admissions 2: Post-Master’s

  1. A master’s degree in criminal justice from an accredited institution - exceptions may be made in exceptional cases if the candidate holds a master’s degree in a criminal justice-related discipline
  2. A final minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale - competitive GPAs are expected to be 3.7 or higher
  3. Submission of Verbal, Quantitative, and Writing Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores - competitive minimum GRE scores are 153 for Quantitative Reasoning, 155 for Verbal Reasoning, and 4.5 for Analytical Writing
  4. Three letters of recommendation that address the applicant’s character, work ethic, and potential to successfully complete a doctoral program - letters from faculty or academic supervisors are preferred
  5. A master’s thesis and/or at least two original research papers written solely by the applicant - all submissions must be in English
  6. A personal statement of approximately 500 to 1,000 words describing personal and academic background, research interests, professional goals, a primary faculty member with whom the applicant wishes to work, and any other factors that suggest the applicant will perform well in the program
  7. A personal interview with program faculty members if selected as a finalist
  8. The admissions process requires submitting all information and materials through the UNLV Graduate College Online Application. See the Criminal Justice Department website for more details.
  9. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s

Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-Master’s

Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s

Total Credits Required: 90

Course Requirements

Required Courses - Credits: 21

Elective Courses - Credits: 9

Complete 9 credits of any advisor approved 600- or 700-level courses.

Thesis/ Comprehensive Exam - Credits 6

Additional Required Courses – Credits: 15

Additional Elective Courses - Credits: 15

Complete 15 credits of any advisor approved 600- or 700-level courses. A maximum of 9 elective credits can be earned by taking CRJ 716 and/or CRJ 799 courses. 

Doctoral Comprehensive Exam - Credits: 6

Dissertation - Credits: 18

Degree Requirements

  1. All core courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.  A failed course, proficiency examination, or comprehensive examination can be repeated only once.  Failed proficiency examinations or comprehensive examinations must be repeated on the next available departmental test date.

  2. Students will be placed on academic probation if:

    1. A grade lower than a B is earned in two or more classes

    2. The student’s overall GPA drops below a cumulative 3.20 average

    3. The student fails any proficiency or comprehensive examination

  3. Students are expected to follow the curriculum plan (outlined above) for their specific subplan.  Students who deviate from the curriculum plan subplan must adhere to maximum time permitted for degree completion.

  4. Maximum time permitted for degree completion:

    1. Post-Bachelor’s subplan: 8 academic years

    2. Students may petition the department to extend these time requirements in exceptional cases

Graduation Requirements

  1. The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis or comprehensive exam by the posted deadline. The thesis defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
  2. If a thesis is completed, the student must submit their approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
  3. The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
  4. Student must submit their approved, properly formatted dissertation to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
  5. Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway for both the Master’s and Doctoral portions of the program.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-Master’s

Total Credits Required: 72

Course Requirements

Required Courses - Credits: 18

Elective Courses - Credits: 30

Complete 30 credits of any advisor approved 600- or 700-level courses. A maximum of 9 elective credits can be earned by taking CRJ 716 and/or CRJ 799 courses. 

Comprehensive Exam - Credits: 6

Dissertation - Credits: 18

Degree Requirements

  1. All core courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.  A failed course, proficiency examination, or comprehensive examination can be repeated only once.  Failed proficiency examinations or comprehensive examinations must be repeated on the next available departmental test date.

  2. Students will be placed on academic probation if:

    1. A grade lower than a B is earned in two or more classes

    2. The student’s overall GPA drops below a cumulative 3.20 average

    3. The student fails any proficiency or comprehensive examination

  3. Students are expected to follow the curriculum plan (outlined above) for their specific subplan.  Students who deviate from the curriculum plan subplan must adhere to maximum time permitted for degree completion.

  4. Maximum time permitted for degree completion:

    1. Post-Master’s subplan: 6 academic years

    2. Students may petition the department to extend these time requirements in exceptional cases.

Graduation Requirements

The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

 Student must submit their approved, properly formatted dissertation to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Plan Graduation Requirements

See Subplan for Graduation Requirements