About PhD Program,
The Ph.D. Program in Criminal Justice, housed at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, offers an interdisciplinary education in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Ranked as a top 15 Ph.D. program in Criminal Justice and Criminology by U.S. News & World Report, the program is designed to prepare students for careers in research and teaching.
In accord with our strong research orientation, all students are well trained in the areas of research design and statistics and are prepared to critically analyze and evaluate criminal justice policy and programs and to test criminological theory. Our faculty, an internationally recognized group of empirical researchers, work closely with students for one-on-one advisement. Graduates from the program have taken academic positions as well as positions in criminal justice agencies and research institutions.
The Doctoral Program in Criminal Justice was started in 1981 and has since grown into one of the premier Criminal Justice Ph.D. programs in the U.S. The Program offers an interdisciplinary education in the field of Criminology and Criminal Justice. It prepares students for careers of research, scholarship and teaching, in addition to the general Criminology and Criminal Justice course of study.
Students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program receive rigorous training in Criminological Theory, Criminal Justice Process and Policy, Research Methods and Statistics. The program offers electives in these areas as well as International and Comparative Criminal Justice, Sociology, and more. The PhD program requires at least 60 credits of coursework with two exams. It culminates in a dissertation in the area of a student’s interest.
The faculty of the Doctoral Program in Criminal Justice include professors trained in a wide range of academic disciplines, including Criminology, Criminal Justice, Anthropology, History, Law, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Administration, Psychology and Sociology. Our faculty have received grants from the National Institute of Health, Department of Homeland Security, National Institute of Justice, National Science Foundation, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Guggenheim Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and other federal agencies and leading foundations.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
A minimum of 60 credits of approved graduate work is required. Some of these credits are required (core) courses, and the remainder are elective. Elective courses are chosen by the student, under the guidance of a faculty mentor, from a wide range of criminal justice graduate courses or approved courses taught in other doctoral programs of the City University of New York.
Each year the Ph.D. Program in Criminal Justice admits students who show considerable promise of succeeding in the program. The Admissions Committee evaluates each applicant’s scholastic record, paying attention to previous academic work, results from the GRE, career goals, professional experience and evidence of academic potential.
Consideration for admission into the Ph.D. program is based on the applicant’s completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.00 (B) on a scale of 4.00. Applicants with a Master’s degree should have a 3.50 GPA in their graduate work. A background in social or behavioral sciences is preferred, but not absolutely required.
The Ph.D. program is open to full-time students. Individuals who expect to remain employed in criminal justice or related fields but have already completed master’s degrees are encouraged to apply for the in-state tuition-only fellowship. The PhD program is no longer admitting students to the Policy, Oversight, and Administration track. For specific information about the Criminal Justice program and the in-state tuition-only fellowship, please contact us.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Fully funded students will receive a Graduate Center or John Jay fellowship that includes tuition, a $26,000 stipend, and health insurance for 5 years. Students receiving these fellowships are assigned as research assistants in year 1, as teaching assistants or instructors in years 2-4, and undergraduate research mentor in year 5.
We also admit up to 5 in-state tuition-only fellowships intended for professionals seeking their Ph.D. while working full time. Only students who have completed an MA/MS/JD or other advanced degree will be considered for admission to the tuition-only fellowships. Tuition-only fellowships are targeted at professionals working in the field of Criminal Justice, or adjacent professions in related areas of criminal justice.
Additional income can be made by adjuncting, research, applying for grants, loans, and Federal Work study. Please visit the Graduate Center’s financial aid website for information about fellowships and stipends.
Application Requirement,
Application form
Academic Transcripts
Submission of GRE scores
Personal Statement
Writing Sample
2 letters of recommendation
CV/Résumé
Application Deadline,
Jan 01, 2025
Application Fee,
Application fee (both doctoral and master’s) $75
