Criminal Justice

PHD

Why study Criminal Justice?

The Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice faculty has devoted considerable time to designing a curriculum that will firmly ground doctoral students in the core of the discipline of criminal justice and criminology. Our goal is to ensure that all University of Cincinnati graduates share a common, rigorous training that will prepare them for criminal justice and criminology research. At the same time, through electives and dissertation research, students have the flexibility to develop expertise consistent with their unique interests.

Upon completion of the Ph.D., doctoral students will be well-versed in criminal justice, criminology, and research methods. Doctoral students must complete course requirements in one area of concentration, choosing from Criminal Justice, Criminology, Corrections, Crime Prevention, or Policing. To enhance professional development, the curriculum also includes practicum courses on teaching effectiveness and the research process.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students will complete the UC Graduate Admissions Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.

The doctoral program only admits for a Fall semester start. Review of applications typically begins in early January.

Admission requirements include:

  • A bachelors degree or higher from an accredited institution
    • Preferred minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
    • Masters degree is not required 
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
    • Preferred scores in 50th percentile or above
    • Students who have completed at least 6 graduate credits at UC in a relevant field with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher are eligible for a GRE waiver. 
  • At least two (2) letters of recommendation (3 preferred)
  • A personal statement describing relevant qualifications, goals, and program fit
  • Recent writing sample
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume 

Additional requirements for International applicants:

Graduates of this program will be prepared for the careers listed below. All opportunities may not be listed. 

The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.

Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Criminal Justice

Application Deadlines

The priority application deadline for Fall semester admission is January 10. The final application deadline for Fall semester admission is April 1.

The review of completed admission applications begins in early January. Prospective students should complete the application by January 10th for priority consideration for admission and funding. 

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Betsy Yeakle
2610 McMicken Cir
School of Criminal Justice
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(513) 556-1819
betsy.yeakle@uc.edu

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Program Code: 18DOC-CJ-PHD