Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Program Overview

Nova Southeastern University's Ph.D. in Criminal Justice offers a comprehensive online program with flexible specialty tracks in Organizational Leadership, Behavioral Science, and Juvenile Justice. The program emphasizes research methods, best practices, and independent research through a dissertation, preparing graduates for careers in criminal justice, criminology, and related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Take a comprehensive approach to understanding crime with a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeastern University, recognized by Forbes as one of the nation's only non-profit, fully accredited online programs. NSU’s doctoral criminal justice program offers a flexible online curriculum and specialty degree tracks to prepare you for your area of interest in this dynamic field.

Outline:

The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice is a 60-credit program that can be completed in two and a half years of full-time study. The program is divided into three parts:

• Core Curriculum: The core curriculum provides a foundation in the theories, research methods, and best practices of criminal justice.
Courses in this part include:
• Theories of Crime
• The Police and Society
• Criminal Law, Procedure, and Individual Rights
• Applied Statistics I
• Applied Statistics II
• Qualitative Methods
• Research Methods I
• Research Methods II
• Program Evaluation I
• Program Evaluation II
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Specialty Tracks: Students can choose to specialize in one of three areas:
• Organizational Leadership:
Learn about the various organizational systems in criminal justice and best practices for managing diverse organizations.
• Behavioral Science: Gain in-depth understanding of current psychological theories and practices in order to properly manage complex situations involving criminals and mental health.
• Juvenile Justice: Dive deep into the various challenges facing the juvenile justice system, including contemporary legal and ethical issues, and acquire the skills to remedy them.
• Dissertation: The dissertation is a major research project that demonstrates the student's ability to conduct independent research and contribute to the field of criminal justice.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Exams: Exams are given at the end of each course and cover the material that was taught in the course.
• Papers: Students are required to write a number of papers throughout the program, including a research proposal, a literature review, and a dissertation.
• Presentations: Students are required to give presentations on their research findings.
• Portfolio: Students are required to maintain a portfolio of their work, which includes their papers, presentations, and other materials.

Teaching:

The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice program is taught by a team of experienced faculty members who are experts in their field. The program is taught entirely online, which allows students to learn at their own pace and from anywhere in the world.

Careers:

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Criminal Justice program are prepared for a variety of careers in the field of criminal justice, including:

• Criminal Investigators
• Correctional Authorities
• Consultants
• Criminologists