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Introduction to the Criminal Justice PhD Program
The Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice is a nationally recognized program offered by the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. This full-time doctoral program is designed for students with backgrounds in various fields, including counseling, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, and urban studies. The program focuses on producing impactful research that helps policymakers and practitioners solve pressing problems in the criminal justice field.
Program Overview
As a Criminal Justice PhD student, you will be part of a community of driven individuals passionate about making the world a better and more just place. The program allows students to form expertise in an area of specialization within the criminal justice field through advanced interdisciplinary research. Students can engage directly with community-based organizations and criminal justice agencies, working on real-world problems such as gun violence and substance abuse.
Research Areas
Students pursuing their PhD in Criminal Justice study and conduct research in a wide array of subjects within the criminal justice field, including:
- Court processes
- Criminal justice policymaking
- Criminal law
- Criminological theory
- Issues in policing
- Organized crime
Program Format and Curriculum
The 48-credit Criminal Justice PhD curriculum is comprised of core courses, electives, a publishable research paper, two comprehensive examinations on criminal justice and theory, and a dissertation and defense. The core courses required include:
- Advanced Methods and Issues in Criminal Justice Research
- Advanced Statistical Issues in Criminal Justice Data
- Decision-Making in Criminal Justice
- Law and Social Order
- Research Methods in Criminal Justice
- Statistical Issues and Analysis of Criminal Justice Data
- Theories of Crime and Deviance
Community and Faculty
The College of Liberal Arts at Temple comprises many academic disciplines and research areas, offering an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that is invaluable for future pursuits. Students work closely with diverse faculty members who are highly esteemed in their field and with a curious, passionate community of peers.
Related Graduate Degrees
Related graduate degrees offered by Temple University include:
- Applied Sociology PSM
- Criminal Justice MA
- Decision Neuroscience PhD
- Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior and Plasticity MS
- Psychology PhD
- Sociology MA
- Sociology PhD
Tuition and Fees
Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level, course load, in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the tuition costs are:
- Pennsylvania resident: $1,148.00 per credit
- Out-of-state: $1,577.00 per credit
Student Clubs and Organizations
Students can supplement their coursework and enhance their graduate education experience through student clubs and organizations, such as:
- The Criminal Justice Graduate Student Association (CJGSA)
- The Temple University Criminal Justice Society
Study Away Programs
Temple's study away programs offer students the opportunity to spend an academic year, semester, or summer abroad, completing coursework, participating in internships, or collaborating in research while immersing themselves in the culture, history, and people of their host city. Students in the Criminal Justice PhD program have the unique opportunity to complete courses and pursue research opportunities at Temple's Rome campus.
Accreditation
The Department of Africology and African American Studies is accredited by the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS). Temple University's departments and programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.